How can the absence of one player change a team, especially if it is its undisputed star? The Pelicans, who until recently lived peacefully on the playoff spots, are about to be knocked out after accumulating seven consecutive losses. It is the devastating effect that Zion Williamson is unable to count on.
The Louisiana franchise player hasn’t played since Jan. 2, a time in which he’s played 13 games to win only three … Not even the return of Brandon Ingram has stopped the decline. They need Zion, and it’s possible he won’t be back until the All-Star…
This season Williamson is averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4.6 assists on 60.8% shooting from the field. These are great numbers, but they are not enough to measure the value of having him, because beyond these statistics, his teammates take advantage of the attention they receive by playing more comfortably than their rivals.
With a 26–24 record, the Pelicans have gone from being dominant in the top six in the Western Conference to leading three teams, Dallas, Phoenix and Golden State, by only half a game, and finding themselves trailing by just another half a game. have been far from out of square play-in — that’s what sets them apart from Oklahoma City. Obviously they are in time to reverse the situation, but we repeat it: they need Zion.
The team’s place with and without its star is far from over. To be precise, with him on the track they accumulated a positive balance of 17-12, while without him they fell to 9-12. They managed to win a number of games without him at the start of the campaign, but at present – ​​with all teams pushing to achieve their goals – this is becoming impossible for them.
a tough schedule
that’s how it is. The moment they are experiencing is worrying, but the situation could get worse if they don’t make a crucial move against tougher rivals. They now face three games on the road against Milwaukee, Denver and Dallas—a direct rival. Already at home, they will fight against the Kings, Lakers, Hawks and Cavaliers. In fact, they are all playoff teams or fighting for it. If they don’t react now, coming back later will be a challenge they won’t be able to overcome.
(Photo by Chris Grethen / Getty Images)
