New Orleans Pelicans: How Zion Williamson dominates without scoring
Zion Williamson dominates the game for the New Orleans Pelicans, even when he doesn’t score.
Zion Williamson had a relatively quiet night for the New Orleans Pelicans in their 120-116 win over the Toronto Raptors.
But he still dominated the game.
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Zion ended with 21 points and seven rebounds after a more aggressive second half, but it was his presence alone that dominated the Raptors.
Zion Williamson doesn’t necessarily need to score 30 points a night for the New Orleans Pelicans to win, as he affects the game in so many ways, often before it is even played.
New Orleans Pelicans: How Zion Williamson dominates a game
#1: The Game Plan
If you watched the Pels vs. Raptors, then you probably noticed that the Raptors built their entire game plan around stopping Zion Williamson.
They crashed the defense into the lane, double and triple-teamed him every time he touched the ball, and basically forced anyone else to beat them.
This is a sound strategy, as jumpers and 3-point shots are far lower percentage shots than Zion layups and dunks.
Selling out to stop one player is also a recipe for disaster when he has teammates who can score, and Zion Williamson does.
He passed out of double-teams early in the game before finding a rhythm early in the second half when Stan Van Gundy found ways to get him more space.
The point is that the Raptors did everything to try and stop 20-year-old Zion Williamson and he still had 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
If teams continue to focus their game plan around Zion Williamson it is going to open up the game for his teammates and create mismatches, even when he isn’t the leading scorer.
#2: The Fouls
Another way Zion Williamson can dominate a game without scoring is by getting the other team in foul trouble.
The Raptors were in the bonus nearly the entire game, had several guys in foul trouble, with Pascal Siakam eventually fouling out of the game.
Zion and Brandon Ingram went to the line a combined 24 times, largely because Zion had the Raptors in the bonus all game.
The Pels sealed the game at the line while Siakam looked on.
Zion Williamson forces the opposition to foul or give up easy shots, which puts a lot of pressure on the other team, especially if they are not deep.
#3: The Wear and Tear
I’ve compared Zion Williamson to a big running back who eventually wears down the defense in the 4th quarter.
He just keeps pounding down low, playing physically and just tiring the other team out as the game goes on.
It’s not easy work trying to body Zion Williamson, sort of like trying to take down Jerome “The Bus” Bettis back in the day. You might stop or slow him in the beginning but eventually, he just starts breaking through.
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It has been nice to see Zion Williamson closing out games so he can take advantage of the other team’s foul trouble and fatigue.
There aren’t many 20-year-olds in the history of the NBA who required double-teams or game plans to be built to stop them.
Zion Williamson is special and dominates even without scoring.