Pelicans vs. Spurs: Who will stop Zion Williamson?
Zion Williamson had another big night against the Milwaukee Bucks. He went toe-to-toe with reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, finishing with 34 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
It is astounding just how quickly the first time all-star is figuring out the NBA. The proof is in the pudding, really. Williamson obtained his first all-star berth having played less than the equivalent of an entire NBA season. He is making progress in monstrous leaps.
Some credit must be given to Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy. His use of Williamson early in the season was uncreative. It was basically: feed him the ball in the post and he’ll figure out what to do. But while Williamson scored regardless because of his sheer amount of talent, that game plan was not putting him or the Pelicans in the most optimal position possible.
Williamson is a generational talent because he is also a generational athlete. Few players in NBA history rival his physical supremacy. Like JJ Redick said on his podcast, Williamson might be the only player that gets the shot he wants—near the rim, going to his left hand—even though opposing defenses know what is coming.
Williamson’s athleticism obviously opens up his game, but it’s his intelligence that completely unlocks it. For months, I clamored for Van Gundy to use Williamson more as a screener and a ballhandler because of the gravity he possesses in those roles. He has done just that throughout February and the Pels’ no. 1 has excelled with his expanded responsibilities.
Today, I want to highlight Williamson’s playmaking. Williamson is averaging 4.5 assists in February. He is well on his way to almost doubling his average prior to this month. I’ll delve into Williamson’s creation abilities soon—hopefully over the all-star break when we all get a bit of respite from the day in, day out nature of NBA basketball—but he had a great game on this front against the Bucks.
Williamson got his six assists in myriad ways: off handoffs, out of the post, out of dribble penetration, and along the baseline. The clip above was a particularly impressive read from him, as Williamson handles the double team in the post patiently and then squirms out a perfect pass for a Lonzo Ball corner three. It’s a tough read, under pressure, right into Ball’s shooting pocket.
Like every team, the Spurs will find it hard to deter Williamson. Jakob Poeltl and LaMarcus Aldridge might be too slow, while versatile wing defenders Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are out for the game. Johnson guarded Williamson a lot in their first match-up of the season, while Rudy Gay—also out for this upcoming game—also got a shot at trying to do so.