Monday: Pelicans Film Room
What Went Wrong for the Pelicans in Late-Game Situations?
NEW ORLEANS -- When you watch Zion Williamson attack the basket, it's easy to focus on what happens next:
The dunk.
The and-1.
The defender who simply can't stay in front of him.
But one of Zion's biggest impacts on the New Orleans Pelicans happens before the shot ever goes up. He creates open threes.
Zion's greatest offensive weapon isn't just his strength. It's the amount of attention he demands from a defense. When Zion gets downhill, defenders have a choice: stay with their assignments or step toward the paint to stop him. That second option is where the open three comes from.
Zion has talked about how much he enjoys NBA spacing because defenders can't simply pack the paint without giving up an open perimeter shot.
That's the trade-off.
Give Zion a driving lane and you're giving him a chance to score at the rim. Collapse on him, and you're potentially giving one of his teammates an uncontested three.
The next step is Zion recognizing where that help is coming from. He's become a much more willing passer as defenses have adjusted to him. Opposing coaches have recognized that sending multiple defenders at Zion can create opportunities for the Pelicans elsewhere.
That's why the Pelicans' shooters have to be ready.
When Zion drives, the play isn't necessarily designed for him to finish.
Sometimes his job is to force the defense to collapse, make the correct read and get the ball to the open shooter.
This is where New Orleans' roster construction becomes so important.
Trey Murphy III, Jordan Poole and other capable perimeter shooters can punish defenses for helping too aggressively.
The better those players shoot, the more difficult it becomes to send extra defenders toward Zion.
And the more space Zion has, the more dangerous he becomes.
It's a cycle that can make the entire offense better.
Zion doesn't have to make a three-pointer to create a three-pointer.
His ability to get into the paint forces defenses to make difficult decisions. When they choose to help, Zion's passing can turn that defensive decision into an open shot for someone else.
That's the hidden value of Zion's offensive game.
Sometimes the best three-point shooter on the floor is the player creating the shot—not taking it.
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