Even before entering the league, Zion Williamson caught the eyes of NBA fans due to his fancy playing style. The #1 pick of the 2019 draft is heralded as the next big thing in the NBA and on Christmas Day, he showed why. Zion put on a show, even though the New Orleans Pelicans ended up losing against the Miami Heat.
Williamson notched up 32 points and grabbed 14 boards in just his second game of the season. Regardless of Zion’s heroics in a career-high 38-minutes, the Pelicans lost the game in double digits.
The biggest issue for the team was the number of turnovers in the game. They gave the ball away 19 times, which ultimately led to their defeat. Zion explained what’s next for the team and how they can improve their defense in the post-match press conference.
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“Coach explained it very well. This is our job, we just got to talk. There is no way around it, there no special formula for it, this is our job. We got to talk to each other. If we wanna win, we just gotta have to communicate,” mentioned Zion.
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The Pelicans made numerous defensive errors in the first half of the game, and as a result, they struggled to build up momentum and create a comeback. Moving forward, they will have to rectify this flaw in their game if they hope to enjoy a good 2021 season.
What are the expectations from Zion Williamson and the Pelicans?
After a shortened rookie year, NBA fans have high hopes for Zion this season. They expect him to become the face of the league one day, and for that, he needs to prove his mettle on the big stage.
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This season, the Pelicans are at their full strength and should ease into the playoffs. Once their core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball gain playoff experience, they can truly compete for the championship in the coming years.