The Los Angeles Lakers steamrolled past the New Orleans Pelicans, and it was never close.
Darvin Ham’s team put up a masterclass in the second half, letting the up-and-coming Pelicans know that they’re still a ways away from being among the elite.
Former No. 1 pick Zion Williamson had one of the worst games of his career, amassing just 13 points and two rebounds in 25 minutes of play.
And while he did his damage on 6-of-8 shooting, his lack of aggressiveness on offense and lack of commitment on defense wound up hurting his team, logging a box-plus minus of -33.
That’s why he took the blame after the loss (Via Will Guillory).
Williamson stated that he needs to be more aggressive in finding his shot and be better overall.
He also added that he has to get his team going and criticized himself for being ‘too laid back,’ not to mention his defensive struggles.
Zion Williamson: “I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to be more aggressive finding my shot. I’ve got to do more things to get my team going. I think I was too laid back tonight. I can’t do that. And defensively, I’ve got to be better.”
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) December 8, 2023
Truth be told, nothing of this is new.
Zion is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of talent, but he hasn’t improved since he set foot on the court, and that doesn’t have anything to do with his countless injuries.
We’ve seen players missing time with injuries and still working to improve their shooting form, handles, mechanics, or whatnot.
Zion has always trusted his strong frame and physicality to get the job done, and that’s not getting the job done.
Also, with his injury history, his body could give up on him sooner rather than later, and he could be out of the league if he fails to expand his repertoire and develop his game like other players, such as Blake Griffin did before him.
NEXT:
Jay Williams Predicts NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Game
