For years, people have criticized Zion Williamson’s effort and conditioning. That criticism continues after a disastrous in-season tournament loss to the Lakers by 44, a game where Williamson scored just 13 points. Though much of the criticism surrounding Williamson’s weight crosses a line, it’s more than fair to question his effort this season.
Even during a down season, Williamson averages 22.2 points, 5.6 boards and 4.8 assists per game on 60.3% true shooting, well above league average. But for Williamson, the scoring and efficiency are both career-low marks. For his talent level, Williamson has played well below his standard.
It’s difficult to find positive takeaways on the defensive end. Though the otherworldly athleticism occasionally pops up, the status quo has been and continues to be lax throughout Zion’s career. He looks as lethargic as ever on the defensive end, slow and uninterested in guarding the ball and off of the ball.
Williamson’s low moments cloud even the highest of high points. Off of the ball, Zion stares down cutters and rollers roaming into his area. He’s consistently late on his rotations, failing to tag opposing bigs and sink on drivers into the lane. Disinterest permeates his defensive game both on and off of the ball. It’s becoming difficult to rectify.
On the court, what can New Orleans do here? Practicing greater intentionality concerning spacing and positioning could be the answer. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s difficult to discern whether offensive scheme errors fall on the players, coaching or some combination of both. But this has been an issue for much of Williamson’s career.
When the Pelicans call plays to move Williamson downhill — especially ones involving their other offensive stars — the results tend to be good. But too often, other players clog the lane and fail to cut with purpose when Zion is on the ball. This burden falls on Zion too, as he often loafs around after passing out of drives, clogging up lanes for his other teammates to create.
When the Pelicans offense runs on high, the results this season have been excellent. Sometimes, Williamson will fly off of screens or dribble handoffs for easy layups and dunks. He’ll duck in for post-ups after a possession of ball movement.
Though Willie Green and the rest of the staff can make improvements, regarding offensive scheme and defensive lineups (pairing Williamson with Herbert Jones, Dyson Daniels and Naji Marshall more often), the onus will fall on Williamson himself. No lineup or coaching decision can explain and excuse a blatant lack of effort and focus on both ends of the ball. If the Pelicans want to make noise in the postseason this year, it will start and end with their superstar returning to form.
Written by contributor Ben Pfeifer.
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I don’t totally believe the supposed negative comments about Zion especially on the defensive end of the court. Zion has gotten better defensively with steals & blocks. Most high profile players coming into the league are that way because of what they can do offensively PERIOD. I remember back when Klay Thompson came into the league he was horrible defensively but got better with time. We want to see Zion bang bodies & score 30+ nightly but also be one of the best defenders in the league? It’s definitely possible but how many times have we seen refs blow the whistle on Zion for barely touching a jersey? Yeah he could be better at moving his feet quicker and I feel it’s coming but crucifying him this early in his career on a few defensive mistakes and overlooking the impact he brings nightly is just wrong. Who knows maybe the negative press he’s getting on the defensive side will make him work harder in that area. I think the TEAM needs to be more consistent defensively and if Zion trusted his jumper more he wouldn’t have to bang so much and he’d have more energy on the defensive side. Just me 3 cents….
Zion doesn’t need to be elite on defense, but it is unquestionable his effort does need to be better. He doesn’t need to be Herb II. But he is capable of better.
While Zion Williamson’s performance has faced scrutiny, it’s evident that his impact on the court remains crucial for the Pelicans. However, addressing defensive lapses and offensive structure could elevate the team’s success. Integrating AI analytics could provide valuable insights into optimizing offensive plays and defensive strategies, ultimately enhancing Williamson’s contributions and the team’s overall performance through AI integration.