Zion Williamson’s Dominance: Preparing for a Monster Playoff Run!
Hoops writer and Podcaster Nick Andre gives his take on the masterful run of Zion Williamson and his efforts to give his team a playoff run.
It’s that special time of the year! March Madness has continued to be electric with one upset after another. That also means that the NBA Playoffs are around the corner as well. There are less than 10 games left for each team as the top contenders look to close the regular season on a high note before the postseason begins.
A team that everyone is looking forward to watching is the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans have awaited this team’s arrival and they’ve shown it through the course of this season. The reason why the Pelicans’ playoff contention was pushed back due to injuries to Zion Williamson. As the postseason is underway, Williamson has been available on his team and looks to have the same status in April.
This is the same Zion Williamson who drew an early comparison to LeBron James coming out of college. No, I’m not one of those people who made those statements. However, Williamson was a powerhouse on the court who possessed tremendous athleticism and was a freight train when running downhill. When the Pelicans received the first overall pick in 2019, they drafted Williamson without hesitation, believing he was their franchise player for the future.
Williamson had his shining moments in his early career. He made his NBA Debut in January 2020 and shined as one of the best players in the NBA. A year later, Williamson became an NBA All-Star with averages of 27 points and 7.2 rebounds on 61 percent shooting. Williamson’s early career was getting off to a great start. However, trials would come his way as he dealt with injuries that kept him sidelined for a significant time.
Fast forward to the 2023–24 season and Zion Williamson has been at his BEST. People who watch basketball and know basketball understand how impactful his season has been. Fans and analysts can continue to joke about Williamson’s weight. However, they can’t deny that he’s been the X-Factor behind the Pelicans’ success this season.
The beauty of Williamson’s season is that he’s been doing what he does best. When he’s on the break, he’s an unstoppable force when finishing with high-percentage shots. Williamson continued to ignite the crowd with the way he lives in the paint. Not only has he continued to dominate offensively but his defensive impact has made a huge difference as well. The Pelicans have a 112.4 defensive rating, the top five in the NBA.
Williamson is averaging 22.8 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds and five assists. He has continued to assert himself as one of the best power forwards in the NBA and his leadership has rubbed off on the rest of the team. The Western Conference has continued to fluctuate throughout the season. It’s so competitive that even the Play-In Teams are a few games behind for the fourth seed. Luckily, the Pelicans have been one of the more consistent teams in the West and it’s played a big role in why they’ve maintained a top six seed.
What is incredible is that Zion Williamson is still playing in late March. What’s also incredible is he’s playing the best basketball of his life. Through March, Williamson is averaging 24 points per game along with seven rebounds, and 4.8 assists, on 62 percent shooting. He’s had three 30+ point games and continues to elevate his game against playoff contenders. The Pelicans are 10–3 in March. They’ve defeated teams like the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and others. The Pelicans currently have a record of 45–28 and are one of the top five teams in the West. Their March Madness has played a role in why they have elevated as contenders in their conference.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs are around the corner and Zion Williamson has yet to play in the postseason in his career. While he has missed out on playoff action, he was forced to watch his peers like Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, and others shine on the brightest stage. The playoffs are an environment that’s meant for Zion Williamson. His style of play can be a game-changer in a series and could potentially lead the Pelicans to much success.
