Zion Williamson and the Pelicans are finally having fun: ‘We play for each other’

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DETROIT — The last time the NBA world was truly checked in with the New Orleans Pelicans, the team essentially embarrassed itself at the inaugural In-Season Tournament in Las Vegas in December, the jokes flew about Zion Williamson’s weight and everyone went about their merry way to apply attention elsewhere.

The Williamson stuff is cheap folly, but enough of it was earned given the high expectations. It overshadows, though, his improved play — which seems to have coincided with the Pelicans and their chase of home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

If the playoffs started today, they’d be in a dogfight with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers aren’t a mirror image, but in terms of expectations, the same words are uttered: Show me.

The Pelicans have quietly asserted themselves, found an identity and worked in the obscurity of the arduous NBA schedule — hiding in plain sight, one would say. They’re 18-7 since Jan. 31, tied for second-best in that span with Oklahoma City and Denver behind the behemoth Boston Celtics (20-4).

The Pelicans are staring down the Clippers for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

That’s a strong sample size, one that if the record was applied to a bigger brand name would garner morning talk-show segments about championship readiness. But since the Pelicans are who they are, more work has to be done before the masses truly give them attention.

They have the ingredients of a playoff party crasher, and maybe more. Not many teams can sic Herb Jones and Trey Murphy on wings, giving super-scorer Brandon Ingram a chance to go elsewhere until he has to take a matchup.

Jones is a strong candidate for All-Defense, and assistant coaches around the league mention his name very early on the list, with the likes of Victor Wembanyama, Jrue Holiday and Rudy Gobert.

He’s in the top 20 in steals, but he’s one of those defenders that you know greatness when you see it. Long, rangy, athletic wings who aren’t running from their matchup aren’t exactly in abundance — and Jones should be elevated to the top tier of…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/zion-williamson-and-the-pelicans-are-finally-having-fun-we-play-for-each-other-163649430.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-03-28 16:36:49

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