The "F You" Heard Around the NBA
The Pelicans are streaking, I mean RED HOT. Going 6 and EAUX down this recent stretch, and 8-2 in their last 10, they are certainly putting the league on notice.
Friday nights matchup against the #2 seed Phoenix Suns, a recent foe from last years playoffs set the stage for a major battle for the #1 seed. Sure, it's early in the season, but this was a MASSIVE game for the culture. Over the last 10 we have finally started to see SUPERSTAR Zion Williamson stamp his mark on the league, and perhaps even throw his name into the MVP discussion.
However, even with the recent run, the major matchup against the Suns, and guys like BI/Herb waiting in the wings, it felt as though the Pelicans still weren't quite looked at as that number one seed.
Enter Friday night. The Pelicans took it to the Suns, with a healthy Chris Paul back in the lineup. This was a heavyweight fight to the last bell. The Pelicans held the lead most of the game, and finally put the Suns away late in the fourth after a few massive plays down the stretch. Somewhere along the lines, the Pelicans felt that this just wasn't enough.
There are many unwritten rules when it comes to sports, basketball specifically. You don't undercut a guy when he dunks, you dont step under a shooters feet on purpose, NEVER LEAVE A WHITE GUY OPEN FROM THREE, and last but not least, probably the most universal agreed upon rule in any basketball league anywhere, you dribble it out when the game has been put away.
Perhaps it was 2 and a half years of frustration pouring out. Maybe it was silencing the haters. MAYBE, just MAYBE, this quiet, ho hum, nice guy, had about enough of the doubt surrounding him and this Pelicans teams future.
To close out the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns, Zion broke probably the biggest unwritten rule you can break in a basketball game. He dunked the ball when the game was clearly over. Not only did he dunk it, he went full on showman. Zion Williamson put the league on notice and gave a big "FUCK YOU" to the rest of the NBA with that windmill 360 dunk.
With that dunk Zion embodied multiple things, but most of all, he embodied the city of New Orleans. Resilient, petty, angry, and ready to throw it in your motherfucking face when we have the opportunity.
Ladies and gentlemen, Zion Williamson, and your NUMBER ONE SEED NEW ORLEANS PELICANS.
NBA, you've been warned.
CAAAAAAAAAAAA-CAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!
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