NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break
69. . 23-32. Previous: 18th. New Orleans Pelicans. 19. team
New Orleans Pelicans:
Offense: (110.5) 15th
Defense: (112.2) 23rd
Net: (minus -1.7) 18th
Results Week 17: (1-1) Won vs. Blazers: 138-117, Lost vs Thunder: 118-123
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri at Blazers | Sun at Warriors
The Zion show continues as the teenager continues to put up career best performances and then break them in his next game.
We’re left to wonder what could’ve been with a fully healthy season of Williamson to mesh with the quality assortment of youth and vets on the Pelicans.
Defensively, this team has never hit the mark and if there are gaps in the rookies game it is on that end of the court. That said, let’s remind he’s 19 and based purely on his insane physical ability and eagerness to improve it feels like a safe bet to presume he’ll get better. More exposure to his competition and more minutes on the hardwood should equate to an uptick defensively.
Notably, he’s given a wide berth by the officials which can be frustrating when you’re a solid defensive team like the OKC Thunder watching Lu Dort playing great defense but getting called for iffy fouls. But — that’s the way of the NBA (just ask Trae Young who even with those benefit calls still ranks dead last in real defensive plus/minus).
With New Orleans 5.5 games back of Memphis and two teams to leap over (Spurs/Blazers) it’s unlikely the Pelicans can catch the Grizzlies. In the interim — this squad is still a great guilty pleasure NBA League Pass watch.