New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for blowout win vs. Magic

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Magic: Grades for the bigs

This was a good chance for Zion Williamson to get some much-deserved rest.

The Pels’ all-star played great in his 22 minutes, but more wasn’t needed of him on this given night. Williamson scored 23 points on 75 percent shooting, while also gathering three offensive rebounds.

The Magic just are not equipped to handle a player as good as Williamson. This game was essentially what would happen if you put Williamson up against the best G League team.

Steven Adams didn’t play after the break because of an ankle injury, but he was really good in the first half.

Adams was impactful on both ends of the floor. He corraled rebounds as always, but more importantly, he made his presence felt in terms of scoring.

The New Zealand center made five of his eight shots, including a huge dunk on Mo Bamba after gathering his own miss. He has picked up his play as of late.

I really enjoy Adams’ synergy with Brandon Ingram. The Kiwi big knows exactly when to slip to the basket so that the lanky wing can find him. The same applies for Adams facilitating for Ingram as well, although that usually comes in the form of great screens.

Another game in which Willy Hernangómez comes off the bench and fills up the stat sheet.

The Spanish big really adds value as a center that can provide a scoring spark off the bench. He excels in punishing second units, which more often than not are unable to punish his lack of defensive mobility.

Hernangómez went 7-of-9 from the field in 17 minutes, while also collecting a monstrous 12 rebounds. I don’t think he will play in the Smoothie King Center next season, but I think he has played himself into a good NBA contract.

My grades today aren’t the most varied, but can they really be in a huge blowout?

Jaxson Hayes saw minutes in both frontcourt spots against Orlando and did well in both of them. I’m not a huge fan of Hayes at the 4, but it can work on occasion and I think that, eventually, it will be a good thing for his overall development.

Hayes’ improvement in 2021 is really worth noting, even if it’s somewhat gone under the radar because he plays in New Orleans. The Texas big man only missed one shot and was a +27—the highest for any Pelican off the bench.