The Pelicans Were -58 In 104 Minutes With Zion Williamson On The Floor In The Bubble

3 Min Read

When it comes to basketball in New Orleans, everything revolves around Zion Williamson. The Duke product is one of the league’s most hyped-up prospects since LeBron James and one quick look at his past will tell you why.

The kid is strong, athletic, and a natural leader both on and off the court. In 24 games in the NBA, Williamson has averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 58% shooting.

He single-handedly led the charge that put the Pels in position to take the West’s eighth and final seed.

Unfortunately, he may also be part of the reason for their meltdown after the NBA restart. He looked pretty rough in the bubble and, as detailed in a piece by ESPN’s Zach Lowe, he actively made the team worse when he was on the floor.

Williamson was awful in the bubble — lead-footed, lacking any urgency. Given the circumstances — the long hiatus, Williamson leaving and returning — he should probably get a mulligan.

New Orleans was an unthinkable minus-58 in 104 bubble minutes with Williamson on the floor. They allowed almost 130 points per 100 possessions — not quite the level where you’d be better off fouling the worst opposing free throw shooter, but not all that far away. It appears New Orleans’ improvement on defense with Williamson on the floor in February and March was part illusion — built on (among other things) random bricky 3-point shooting from meh opponents.

The Pelicans were hot right before the hiatus, so there was reason to believe they’d be a threat to make the playoffs once things started rolling again.

But whether because the run was a fluke, or the effects on the bubble were too much, they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

So where do they go from here? Obviously, they will continue to work and build around Zion. He’s their guy and no matter how much he may be struggling, they’re going to be rolling with him for the foreseeable future.

But, for their sake, they better hope he pans out to be the player everyone expects him to be.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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