New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for lackluster win over the Pistons

Pelicans vs. Pistons: Grades for the power forward and centers

Zion Williamson quieted his critics once again (yes, they exist) some of whom suggested he should not have been selected to the All-Star team. I mean, it’s terrible that the league wants to promote its most exciting young player who happens to be having an All-NBA season. Why should games be entertaining?

This comes with greatness, as there are still idiots who call LeBron James “LeBum” and talk about him “choking” in the playoffs. The better you are, the more hate there will be, so Zion can probably expect this nonsense to continue.

For those of us who aren’t miserable jerks and actually enjoy watching basketball, Zion Williamson has been one of the best things to happen to the NBA in a long time.

He had 32 points, six rebounds, five assists and a block and the New Orleans Pelicans are now undefeated when he has five or more assists.

The Pels had a staggering 74 points in the paint and were +14 in the category, which was the difference in the game.

You can nitpick all you want, just keep it away from me, as I am going to sit back and enjoy watching Zion make history night after night.

Welcome back, Steven Adams! Adams filled up the stat sheet in his return to the lineup scoring 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, adding 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and was one of the main reasons the Pels dominated the paint.

Adams showed his value to this team, though some misguided Celtics’ fans think they can get him in a trade.

The Pelicans are one of the best offensive teams in the NBA with Adams, so this nonsense about “floor spacing” is a narrative that needs to go away. The Pels’ problems are not offense or spacing, they are defense and effort, two things Adams brings every night.

Willy Hernangomez continues to give the New Orleans Pelicans solid minutes at the backup center with three blocks and five rebounds in 16 minutes against the Pistons.

But he also turned it over three times which is something the Pels cannot have, as they already struggle in that department as a team.

The New Orleans Pelicans win over the Pistons wasn’t pretty, but it’s still a “W” and the Pels are now creeping towards that play-in spot with eyes not the playoffs.