New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for blowout loss to the Utah Jazz
Pelicans vs. Jazz: Player Grades for the power forward and centers
Power Forwards and Centers
A. . Power Forward. New Orleans Pelicans. ZION WILLIAMSON
Zion Williamson was amazing again against the Utah Jazz and his offense was the only thing that kept the Pelicans in the game in the first half.
Zion has been thriving with the ball in his hands, taking it to the hoop from all over the floor instead of always starting in the lane.
He’s turning the ball over less and getting more assists out of double teams, so the problem is definitely not Zion. He could have had ten assists last night had Lonzo Ball (or anyone else) knocked down any of the shots Zion created.
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His defense is still a work in progress but he has been better at closing out on shooters and avoiding stupid fouls.
Zion’s offense has been getting better, unfortunately, everyone else’s seems to be getting worse.
. Center. New Orleans Pelicans. STEVEN ADAMS. B-
Steven Adams had five offensive rebounds in the first quarter, which helped to keep the cold-shooting Pelicans in the game.
He ended with nine rebounds overall but only played 24 minutes and barely got off the bench in the second half, when Gobert was pulling down every rebound.
Hopefully, Adams is not injured, as it seems strange that he wasn’t in the game to try and slow Rudy Gobert, who ended the night with 18 rebounds.
. Center. New Orleans Pelicans. JAXSON HAYES. F
After stringing together some good games, Jaxson Hayes got absolutely worked by the Jazz.
Watching him trying to defend Gobert was flat-out ugly and a stark reminder of how far Hayes has to go before he is ready to handle big minutes.
Two steps forward, 25 steps back.