Zion Williamson rescues uniquely sized pelicans Ive never seen anything

Zion Williamson rescues uniquely sized pelicans. “I’ve never seen anything like him”

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NEW ORLEANS — Most NBA greats of all time develop the qualities early in their careers that make them better than everyone else. They all bring with them an ability or physical characteristic that sets them apart from the crowd. Michael Jordan and LeBron James had unique athletic talents. Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry were unstoppable shooters. Luka Doncic and Larry Bird are basketball experts who could tear apart any defense.

Zion Williamson is not like her or anyone else. But his path to greatness seems just as undeniable as it was to her.

Williamson’s spectacular performance in the Pelicans’ 119-118 win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night summed up what sets him apart from anything NBA fans have seen before. He finished with a career-high 43 points (33 in the second half) on 14-of-21 shooting. He scored the last 14 points of the night for the Pels as they took the lead from Minnesota late on. He also walked 14 of 19 from the free throw line.

As good as these numbers are, they don’t quite capture his special night. He often looked like he played a different sport than everyone else on the floor.

“He plays soccer, we play basketball,” Minnesota guard D’Angelo Russell said after the game. “We can’t touch or guard him. So, good for him.”

Russell said that was minor to Wednesday night’s officiating crew – and possibly Zion itself. In reality, Russell provided an accurate description of what sets Zion apart from other historically great offensive players.

He has a combination of physical attributes rarely seen in someone his size: strength, speed, explosion, touch, and body control. But what makes him different is his relentless approach as a goalscorer. He plays basketball the way former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch once described his playing style on the football field: he hits you over and over (and over and over) until you’re worn out. If the defenses try to build a wall, Zion will run right through it. If they try to build a bigger wall, he just digs a bigger hole in it.

When Zion touches the ball, the other nine people on the pitch know what he’s trying to do. Everyone in the arena knows it. And yet it’s still hard to stop him.

Same on Wednesday evening. Of He tried 21 shots against Minnesota, 20 went into the color and only two got out of the restricted area. This is while taking on Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best rim protectors of his generation. Williamson treated him like he was just another obstacle in his way.

“I’ve never seen anything like him before. I’ve played with different types of players – goalscorers and guys who score goals in different ways. But never someone so masterful of paint,” said teammate CJ McCollum. “Everything is based on trips to the paint. … the ability to make the right moves and be able to act and move like he does. The fluidity in his movements, but also the body control in the jumps. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this. I don’t think we will.”

Most big scorers add counterattacks to their games to keep the defense honest. Paint-dominant players Giannis Antetokounmpo or Ja Morant throw in a jump shot or two to give the defense a different look — or at least give yourself a breather.

Williamson, on the other hand, doesn’t take his foot off the pedal. He wants to go straight at his defender and go to the edge at every opportunity. Of his 422 field goal attempts this season, 396 have been in the paint. This happens while he’s double or triple collaborating virtually every time he touches the ball.

But he doesn’t dominate smaller players in the post like Shaquille O’Neal. He handles the ball on the outside line like a point guard. Defenses can place multiple bodies in its path and prepare for its approach. You still can’t stay in front of him.

The consistent downhill pressure Williamson puts on defense is rarely seen in players, even those with much smaller roles than him. He averages 30.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists in December. He’s carried the Pelicans’ offense while fighting his way through a crowd of bodies that few others have had to watch as consistently as he has, and he’s pulled it off easily.

Wednesday was a special night for Williamson, in part because he hit the 40-point mark for the first time in his career. Additionally, it was a prominent example of its growth as a degree in high-pressure moments.

In his third season, Williamson’s understanding of when to take over games and what his team needs from him in big moments has improved significantly. As he’s aged, his teammates have gained more confidence in his ability to take control of offense when things get tight. Any late-game possession ran through Williamson on Wednesday as he reeled off 14 consecutive points in the last three minutes as the lead went back and forth.

“Bring the ball to Z and get the f— out of the way,” McCollum said when asked to describe the team’s plan late in the game.

The absence of Brandon Ingram, who is still out with a toe injury, has given Williamson more chances to take control of offense in high-pressure moments. Williamson has maximized those opportunities, scoring 37 points so far in December in games that were within five points in the last five minutes, second this month to DeMar DeRozan (48). Finding a balance between Williamson and Ingram in late-game situations will be crucial once the squad is fully healthy.

The hope is Williamson will be even harder to stop later in games as his decision making and view of the pitch improves. Teams will have no choice but to send him multiple bodies, which should offer an easier look for Ingram, McCollum, and shooters like Trey Murphy.

“I want to win. I can’t just sit here and keep saying I want to win. I have to show it,” Williamson said. “It was just one of those things where my coach and my teammates were like, ‘Hey, go to work.’ They trusted what I would do with the basketball.”

Zion has also been more confident in the other parts of his game lately. His 14-point run in the fourth quarter started with two free throws and a three-pointer, long thought to be two of his weaker offensive skills. The three came into play 2:17 and the Pelicans were five behind. Without that bucket, there’s a good chance Minnesota will pull away in the end.

Then there was the game as he stole a pass with 41 seconds left to steal a pass before putting down a huge dunk to give New Orleans the lead. The same player who went through some big defensive struggles earlier this year made the biggest play of the game at this end of the floor.

Williamson’s incredible offensive performance of late is what catches the public’s eyes the most. But his gradual improvement in all areas tested in higher-leverage games – his ability to take games late, his shooting, his defense – are more tangible signs of progress on his road to greatness.

“I think that’s Z’s maturing process along with other guys. They will continue to build their games as they gain experience in the league,” said Pels coach Willie Green. “Tonight he just played a balanced game. He dominated where he needed it, on both ends of the floor.”

(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)