It was no secret that Zion Williamson was the x-factor for the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half of the season. It also comes with little surprise that the team has struggled in the bubble with his minutes severely limited.
Through the opening two games inside the NBA’s bubble at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, Williamson has played 29 total minutes as the Pelicans have fallen in both of them. While his presence would have done little to change Saturday’s blowout loss to the Clippers, it’s hard to argue he wouldn’t have had a notable impact in their opener against the Jazz, which they lost by just two points.
“We know we’re at our best with him on the floor,” Lonzo Ball said after Sunday’s practice. “Unfortunately, he had to go home for a little bit and come back and get into the rhythm of things. It’s tough. He only gets to play like 12 minutes so, obviously, it’s going to make it harder for us to win. We’re happy that he’s here at least and we have to do what we can to move forward.”
Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin spoke with ESPN’s Lisa Salters during Saturday’s game and noted that Williamson’s “burst limit” would continue through at least Monday’s game.
Williamson wouldn’t use the word frustrated specifically on Monday but did admit to it being a hard one to navigate.
“Nah, because if I get frustrated, it doesn’t help the situation,” Williamson said. “So, I try to look at it from a different perspective of like when I’m out there, what can I do to contribute.
“It’s very tough, to be honest, because as soon as I start to break that sweat, I look over and that horns for me and I have to come out of the game.”
Williamson also noted that his body feels fine and the Pelicans’ decision is strictly a precautionary one. And though he wouldn’t use the word frustrated, head coach Alvin Gentry would.
“I think he’s frustrated,” he said. “Of course he is. He wants to be playing and he thinks he can help us win and we feel he can help us win also. There’s a little frustration there if you talk to him.”
Monday will serve as the toughest test for the Pelicans in sticking to their plan with Williamson. The Pelicans face a must-win situation against the Grizzlies to keep their playoff hopes alive. Williamson’s minutes are expected to increase but how much is undetermined.
It’ll be even more of a test for the Pelicans to leave Williamson on the bench again in a possible close game down the stretch. Gentry said the team has discussed with Williamson the long-term reasoning for their decision but it hasn’t made the choice any simpler.
“We talked to him about that,” Gentry said. “You just have to smart in those situations. Obviously, everybody wants to play and they want to play right now. We try to spend time, as coaches and medical people, trying to let him understand this is going to be the best short-term and long-term really.”
It’ll be a fine balance the Pelicans will have to make as they balance the immediate future of a potential playoff appearance with long-term future of Williamson’s health.
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