New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for 98-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs
Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs: Player Grades for the power forwards
Power Forwards
ZION WILLIAMSON. A-. . Williamson. New Orleans Pelicans
Zion’s game reflected the Pels overall. It wasn’t pretty but he got the job done.
Zion notched his third double-double in three games, with 18 points and 11 rebounds while leading the Pelicans in minutes with 38.
Zion did a much better job of taking care of the ball, turning it over only once, and played much better defense, grabbing a career-high five steals and looking far more engaged on that end.
Zion is going to have nights when the other team focuses on shutting him down and he has to resist the urge to force it, as that is when he turns the ball over. Zion let the game come to him and found ways to contribute other than scoring, which is a good sign for his overall development.
A+. . Power Forward. New Orleans Pelicans. NICOLO MELLI
Nicolo Melli had his best game of the season, contributing to the win by not playing a single second in the game.
The Pelicans only played eight players, and you have to wonder if they regret not even trying to find a rotation player in the draft.
Melli is unplayable until he shows he can make a shot, and until then the Pels’ bench is mighty thin. Counting on him to contribute has been one of David Griffin’s big mistakes of the offseason.