New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for the first month of the season
New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for the power forward and centers after the first month
Power Forwards and Centers
New Orleans Pelicans. ZION WILLIAMSON. A. . Power Forward
Zion Williamson still has a long way to go defensively but I don’t know how much more people can expect out of a 20-year-old who still hasn’t even played half an NBA season.
Zion has been handling the ball more and starting his offense from the perimeter, which has made him more difficult to defend.
His points and rebounds are up from last season, he is playing more minutes, shooting a higher field goal percentage and making more free throws.
If you want to nit-pick parts of his game, go ahead, but there haven’t been many 20-year-olds who the other team has to gameplan around, and Zion is one of them.
A. . Center. New Orleans Pelicans. STEVEN ADAMS
Steven Adams has helped the Pelicans’ interior defense, as they have gone from giving up 52 points per game in the paint to just 40 this year, a marked improvement.
His screens are already the stuff of legend, he is near the top of the NBA in offensive rebounding and has flashed above-average passing skills for a big man.
Adams has been one of the best additions of the offseason and his Kiwi fans are a joy to deal with on Twitter. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Steven Adams era so far.
C. . Center. New Orleans Pelicans. JAXSON HAYES
Jaxson Hayes started the season poorly but has played much better of late.
It’s always two steps forward one step back with Hayes, who has been rebounding and blocking more shots, but still gets trucked on defense pretty regularly.
I have liked Hayes’ energy and he is getting better, which is all you can ask for out of a 20-year-old who probably shouldn’t be the primary backup.