USA TODAY International Edition
Zion’s useful minutes pay off now, long term
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The minutes ticked closer to crunchtime. For the first time during the NBA restart, it did not mean Pelicans forward Zion Williamson would remain on the sideline.
In related news, the Pelicans finished with a 109- 99 victory over the Grizzlies on Monday at HP Fieldhouse.
New Orleans ( 29- 38) salvaged its playoff fortunes by reducing the gap behind Memphis ( 32- 36) to 2 1⁄ games for
2 the eighth and final playoff spot with five seeding games remaining. And Williamson, who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists, scored half the team’s four field goals in the final 4: 29.
“I felt alive. That’s my competitive spirit,” Williamson said. “I ain’t going to lie to you. It’s different in a bad way when you’re on the bench in the fourth quarter and there is nothing I can do to help my team win.”
While Pelicans fans might have felt frustrated for the same reason, they need to look at this situation through a different lens.
First, it is much more important for the Pelicans to maximize Williamson’s long- term future than his short- term production just to sneak into the playoffs as an eighth seed. Second, the Pelicans’ playoff fortunes should not depend on Williamson’s availability anyway.
“He’s a huge, huge factor as to what we’re doing,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “But what I like about our team is that we’ve got a lot of guys that can adapt to situations.”
As the Pelicans showed against the Grizzlies, they adapt to situations a lot easier with Williamson on the floor. Williamson can use his size and athleticism. His presence opens up a two- man game with Brandon Ingram.
While Williamson played only 15 minutes and sat for the final 7: 15 against Utah on July 30, the Pelicans wilted before Brandon Ingram missed a potential game winner. Two days later, the Clippers destroyed the Pelicans in a game in which they led by 36 points. So Gentry found no use in playing Williamson in the fourth quarter.
That sparked criticism on why the Pelicans are even part of this restarted season if they did not plan to exhaust their resources to sneak into the playoffs. The criticism is ill- advised.
No one foresaw that Williamson would miss 13 days after taking a preapproved trip to attend to a family medical emergency and quarantining upon his return. Should it be surprising the Pelicans’ medical staff advised Gentry to play Williamson in limited bursts?
He did not train at all during his nineday absence. He remained confined to strength workouts in his room for four days during quarantine. Even if he impressed the Pelicans by working on his conditioning, strength training and skill work during the four- month hiatus, none of that work mimics a full- contact, five- on- five setting.
If we learned anything during this pandemic, it is that people should listen to the medical experts. So why would the Pelicans ignore theirs?
At least Williamson seems to get it, despite his frustration.
“I wouldn’t really call it a fight. They’ve been doing this for a long time,” Williamson said of the medical staff. “This is my first year trying to learn the game and learn the ropes. That’s what my mom taught me, take all the knowledge that I can get.”
Some more knowledge to consider: Williamson still benefits from playing limited bursts. Considering the uncertainty of when or if the NBA plays next season, any minutes Williamson receives will be substantially better than nothing.
As Williamson experienced against Memphis, he can play more minutes if his body responds well to the increased workload.
“The medical guys thought he was able to go back in and play,” Gentry said. “That’s why he was able to do it.”
The Pelicans also should have enough to make the playoffs even if Williamson remains limited.
When New Orleans missed Williamson for the first 44 games of the season with a right knee injury, the Pelicans did not become a lottery- bound team. They discovered they could stay afloat with a promising young roster ( Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart) and veterans ( J. J. Redick, Jrue Holiday).
Once Williamson made his debut, the Pelicans still handled him with care and ensured the burden did not rest squarely on him.
“Our guys want to win. That’s the big key right there,” Gentry said. “Whatever it takes to win, that’s what our guys are willing to do.”
The Pelicans took a significant step in finding a way to win against Memphis. That partly stemmed from Williamson taking a significant step with an increased workload. That factor should not define the Pelicans’ fortunes. Instead, they should stick to their convictions that it is possible to protect Williamson’s long- term health without damaging their short- term hopes to sneak into the playoffs.