Zion Williamson, Pelicans Witnessed LeBron James' Masterclass In Consistency, Winning
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NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans were utterly embarrassed Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. New Orleans was on a national stage facing one of the greatest players in the game's history, LeBron James, and it looked like they didn't belong on the court. Instead, King James and Anthony Davis put on a masterclass and led the Lakers to a 133-89 victory in Las Vegas.
The pregame hype buildup featured an old guard versus a new kid on the block theme, focusing on the LeBron James and Zion Williamson matchup. The 38-year-old James did his part, scoring 27 of his game-high 30 points in the second and third quarters and looking nothing like a 21-year aging veteran in the league. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson, who scored just 13 points, looked unengaged at times, especially on the defensive end of the court.
Dec 7, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) go for the ball during the fourth quarter in the NBA In Season Tournament Semifinal at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Williamson said all the right things postgame about how he needs to play better individually and for his teammates. "I've got to be better. I've got to be more aggressive finding my shot", Williamson said. "I've got to do more things to get my team going. I think I was too laid back tonight.....Defensively, I've got to be better." Those definitely are the right words to say, but the actions lately have not matched.
A new report suggests the Pelicans organization has stressed to Zion the need for his conditioning to improve. According to the report, Williamson "doesn't listen." New Orleans extended a commitment to Zion this offseason with a five-year, $193 million rookie max extension. So far, Williamson has yet to extend the same courtesy of commitment back to the Pelicans.
Former players and analysts like Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley have critiqued Williamson's lack of discipline, weight issues, and consistency on the court. Zion often draws comparisons to Barkley, being an undersized but athletic power forward in the NBA. Barkley specifically points out Williamson's lack of rebounding as a leading indicator of his lack of effort.
Dec 7, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) in the NBA In Season Tournament Semifinal at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
"I've told you, "I've been very disappointed. He's averaging six rebounds a game. He's only had two double-doubles all season," Barkley commented during the TNT telecast. "A big guy that talented should never get less than ten rebounds. He should be averaging 11-12 rebounds a game. But he doesn't run the floor at all."
Barkley didn't just talk about rebounding; he also backed it up. In his career, Charles averaged less than ten rebounds a game just once in his rookie season. Zion's career-high in rebounds is 15 twice in an NBA game. Sir Charles, Barkley's nickname, averaged 14.6 rebounds in the 1986-1987 season. In his fifth season in the league, Williamson has 25 double-doubles. Barkley had 29 in his rookie season alone.
Coach Willie Green believes Zion's offensive performance can be enhanced by their commitment to rebounding. "He (Zion) has to get the ball in different ways. Number 1, transition, so rebound the ball, and you can push before their defense is set."
The "L" taken on Thursday shouldn't just be a loss for Zion Williamson and the Pelicans but also a lesson. A lesson that commitment to yourself and your teammates is key to success in this league. Zion Williamson has the potential to be a star; he needs to play like one consistently.
