Willie Green had warned: when the All-Star Game returned, the attack would go through the return to favor of “Point Zion”. The Pelicans coach was not bluffing. Last night against the Rockets, Zion Williamson once again played the role of conductor of New Orleans. And it worked very well with a comfortable victory, and a Zion Williamson who perhaps weighs on the game like never before.
However, this is not the first time that the Zion Williamson experiment as a “leader” has been attempted in Louisiana. The former Duke – who had already explained that he appreciated this role in particular thanks to his time under Coach K – started last season with several matches as “point guard”, two years after having been launched for a while in creation by Stan Van Gundy when the team had just lost Lonzo Ball to injury.
Nearly six passes on average for 15 matches
With 27 points and 9 assists against Houston, Zion Williamson confirmed that he can create. Over his last 15 games, he has averaged almost six assists, while still being just as dangerous in scoring (23.9 points at 59%, 5.7 assists). Another telling stat: this season, when Zion Williamson signs five assists or more, the Pelicans have a record of 20 wins for 4 losses, or 83% wins.
“ We see Zion improving as the season progresses » estimated Willie Green after the meeting. “ He was excellent. That's what happens when you put the ball in his hands, especially early in the game. He finds CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, whoever. Then he has moments where he sees a situation that he likes and he will continue to attack it. When he plays like that, he's hard to stop. »
Zion Williamson knew how to find the balance between making others shine and punishing the Rockets defense himself. It was he who started the fatal series in Houston with six points in the first two minutes of the third quarter.
This new use of his vision of the game has more than one advantage. It forces opposing defenses to adapt and oppose a defender who is sufficiently mobile, but possibly less strong, to hinder him. Taking it with two inevitably leaves open one of the many shooters in New Orleans. And seeing him start actions beyond the 3-point line also allows him to be able to launch from further towards the circle, and therefore with more speed.
The cocktail opens a little more the field of possibilities for the Pelicans, currently fifth in the West, but under threat from Phoenix, 7e just one victory behind.
“ We know what's at stake » reacted Zion Williamson who has not yet participated in any play-off match in his career, the fault of recurring injuries. “ I think the sense of urgency needs to go up a notch » for his part considered CJ McCollum. “ Every match counts. We've been to the play-in a few times (the last two seasons, editor's note), we know to what extent a match can literally change a season. »
| Zion Williamson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 24 | 28 | 58.3 | 42.9 | 64.0 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 22.5 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 61 | 33 | 61.1 | 29.4 | 69.8 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 27.0 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 29 | 33 | 60.8 | 36.8 | 71.4 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 26.0 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 44 | 31 | 58.5 | 36.4 | 68.4 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 22.4 |
| Total | 158 | 32 | 60.0 | 34.6 | 68.9 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 6.6 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 24.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
