Zion Williamson's Impact On The Pelicans Offense Without Him In The Lineup

Zion Williamson's impact on the New Orleans Pelicans offense when he missed the four games in 2023-24.

Playing a game without Zion Williamson is like gambling with the house's money in Vegas — the odds are definitely against you.  Saturday night was another night off for Zion to rest, but unfortunately, the Pelicans lost again.   The team is 1-3 without Williamson in the starting lineup this season.  In those four out of 17 games Zion has played in for New Orleans, the team's scoring, rebounding, and free-throw shooting all have noticeable changes.

"Most teams are going to deal with some type of injury or guys being out or what have you," Willie Green told the media in his pregame interview.  "You try to build a foundation and a program that is sustainable, and guys can come in and compete."  He continued, "Rotations are different; guys just have to be ready, and that's what we work on.  Just preparation meets opportunity moments."

Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts on the bench during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

THE PELICANS OFFENSE WITHOUT ZION IN 4 GAMES

1. New Orleans averages 111.5 points on 44.9% shooting in the losses with Zion, compared to 113.3 points on 47.8% shooting with the All-Star forward in the starting lineup.  Williamson's field goal percentage is 54.7% in 2023-24.
2. One of the most intriguing differences is in the rebounding average, which is up to 46.3 per game when he is not on the court, and 39.5 per contest when Zion is on the floor. 
3. New Orleans is struggling at the free throw line shooting 69.4% with Zion compared to the team's 86.7% without him.  His presence in the paint and forcing fouls has been a bright spot, but he needs to improve his percentage of 60.2% at the charity stripe.

Coach Willie Green may have touched upon missing critical players like Zion Williamson on the team's offense.  Adjusting rotations and staying prepared are key aspects the team focuses on to give themselves the best chance to win.  Young players like Jordan Hawkins and Dyson Daniels have been clocking solid minutes, but better yet, they are contributing to the Pelicans offense.  Hawkins scored 25 points with five treys during the Utah game, and Daniels notched six steals.  

Remember that New Orleans will have CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy returning to the lineup after rehabilitating from injuries within the next few weeks. Thus, Green's gameplan to include Daniels, Hawkins, and Ryan was strategic in laying a foundation for the young Pelicans to gain NBA gametime experience. If injuries persist for the New Orleans team in the 2023-24 season, it was a good move by the Pelicans coaching staff.