Zion Williamson’s Defensive Turnaround: Analyzing X’s and Mo’s for the Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as a team to watch in the Western Conference as they head into the NBA playoffs. With a sixth-place ranking in defensive rating and fourth-place ranking in net rating, the Pelicans have proven themselves to be a formidable force on both ends of the court. Their defensive strategy is versatile, allowing them to adapt to different situations by playing small or big and loading the court with either defenders or offensive threats.
However, amidst the team’s success, one story has gone relatively unnoticed this season – Zion Williamson’s defensive turnaround. Since being drafted in 2019, Williamson has been considered a defensive liability for the Pelicans. While he has shown glimpses of good defensive instincts, his commitment and effectiveness on that end of the court have never matched his potential. It seemed as though he was content with volleyball-spiking shots like a casual player on a NERF rim.
But everything changed for Williamson this season. After the All-Star break, he displayed a newfound effort and commitment to defense. He went from making one defensive play to multiple plays on the same possession. The numbers don’t lie – the Pelicans’ defensive rating improved to 106.9 with Williamson on the floor after the break.
What makes Williamson’s defensive transformation even more impressive is the level of competition he faces. He often matches up against the opponent’s top options and holds his own. In a game against the Miami Heat, Williamson was assigned to guard Jimmy Butler. He did an excellent job shutting down Butler’s baseline drive and meeting him in the paint. Williamson didn’t fall for Butler’s pump fake and forced him to pass the ball out. In another game against the LA Clippers, Williamson was tasked with guarding Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter. He successfully prevented Leonard from driving to the middle and forced him into a tough, off-balance fadeaway shot that missed.
Williamson’s ability to defend top players like Butler and Leonard gives the Pelicans added defensive versatility. It allows coach Willie Green to experiment with different matchups and utilize players like Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Nanji Marshall to strengthen the team defensively.
But it’s not just Williamson’s defense that has caught the attention of fans and analysts. Coach Green has introduced a small wrinkle in the Pelicans’ pick-and-roll game involving Williamson as the ballhandler. This creates problems for opposing defenses who struggle to keep him from driving downhill. Since Williamson is not known for his pull-up jumper, his primary defender often sags off him. To counter this, the Pelicans strategically set ball screens near the 3-point line. This forces defenders to go under the screen and meet Williamson before he can reach the paint. However, the Pelicans set screens for Williamson where defenders are sagging off him in the paint, giving him a clear path to the rim.
This clever tactic by Green has proven effective in creating advantages for the Pelicans. Opponents who sag off Williamson are essentially conceding real estate to him, and by the time they try to stop him, he’s already at the rim. Furthermore, crowding Williamson on these pick-and-rolls opens up passing lanes for Pelicans shooters like CJ McCollum, Jones, and Murphy III. Defenses are faced with the difficult decision of how to defend against the Williamson pick-and-roll.
As we enter the NBA playoffs, it’s hard to believe that Williamson has never played in a postseason game. This could be the season that changes everything for him and the Pelicans. The question remains – will he be able to maintain his defensive intensity under the pressure of playoff basketball? And will he still be able to exploit sagging defenders with deep pick-and-rolls? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – Zion Williamson’s defensive turnaround has been a game-changer for the New Orleans Pelicans.
(Photo of Zion Williamson and Jimmy Butler: Sean Gardner / Getty Images)