Pelica Debrief
Fansided

3 Christmas wishes to help fix New Orleans Pelicans issues

By Willie Lutz

METAIRIE, LA - DECEMBER 17: Lonzo Ball gifts his teammates an Xbox after New Orleans Pelicans shootaround on December 17, 2019 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
METAIRIE, LA - DECEMBER 17: Lonzo Ball gifts his teammates an Xbox after New Orleans Pelicans shootaround on December 17, 2019 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images /
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New Orleans Pelicans
PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 23: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans warms up before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 23, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

First Wish: Zion Williamson is the real deal when he returns next month

If there’s any team that’ll be excited to receive their reinforcements after the New Year, this New Orleans Pelicans team has to be thrilled that Zion Williamson is looking closer to the hardwood than ever before, as the rookie has been practicing for the last few weeks.

Zion isn’t quite back to his high-flying ways yet, the rookie phenom is still working his way through light shooting and simply running up-and-down the court as he conditions for his return.


While the Pelicans don’t know the date of Williamson’s return quite yet, he continues to slowly ramp up the action and based on the tape we’ve seen, he looks pretty good (and kinda skinny).

If the New Orleans Pelicans want any chance to make a run at the playoffs this season, it revolves around Zion Williamson being pretty awesome during his rookie year.

Based on what we know from Zion’s lone college season at Duke and four games of NBA Preseason action, the rookie should be able to go toe-to-toe with a lot of the really good players in this league during his first season.

However, if Zion isn’t at full speed following the October surgery on his right knee, the Pelicans probably won’t be able to make the leap into the playoffs.

This team is starting to play a much more winning brand of basketball, but that won’t matter without a high impact return from Zion Williamson.

Even if not at full power, Zion will certainly thrill and add some excitement to what’s been a turbulent season for the New Orleans Pelicans’ win column.

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