Things have not gone according to plan for the New Orleans Pelicans yet this NBA season. They are currently 6-17 as they await Zion Williamson’s return to the court.
Williamson has missed the entire season thus far as he underwent surgery on his foot in the offseason. There was some optimism that he could return to the court by the season opener, but that was not the case. We are at 23 games and counting without him, and he is set to miss at least a few more.
Williamson had a little snag in his rehab process this week. He was experiencing some soreness in his surgically repaired foot and the team decided to scale things back for a few days to see if the soreness subsides.
He was set to participate in his first full practice Thursday and had been doing 4-on-4 work, but will now return to some low-impact workouts.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Suffers Setback — Full Details
Remaining competitive without their best player has been a challenge. The schedule makers did them no favors either, as they have faced one of the toughest schedules to date. New Orleans has already played 13 road games this season.
Despite the challenges they have faced, as Brandon Ingram has also missed time with a hip injury and not been the same since returning to the court, this team is battling. They have gone 5-6 in their last 11 games and three of their last five. They are holding on for dear life when it comes to their playoff hopes and will need some breaks.
The Dallas Mavericks, who are the fourth seed in the Western Conference, are only seven games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans, who are 14th. It won’t be easy, but it is certainly doable. Two players that have kept them afloat enough recently to even have a chance are Josh Hart and Willy Hernangomez.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Suffers Setback — Full Details
Hernangomez was recently inserted into the rotation, taking the place of Jaxson Hayes. Hayes struggled mightily as the team hoped he would be their defensive anchor. Hernangomez isn’t going to fare much better defensively, but he can make a serious impact offensively.
He has played double-digit minutes in six consecutive games and produced solid numbers, scoring in double-figures in four of them. The offense hums when Hernangomez is on the court, scoring nearly 114 points per 100 possessions, as passed along by Zach Lowe of ESPN. New Orleans has also won the minutes that he has been on the court in the six most recent games.
His ability to take advantage of mismatches is key to his success and he is an excellent offensive rebounder. He is a deft passer, helping keep the ball and team moving for some easy looks.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Suffers Setback — Full Details
As for Hart, he is proving to be much more than just a rebounder and defender. Yes, Hart is one of the elite rebounding guards in the NBA, as his rebound rates are similar to those of a center. He is a versatile defender, able to pick up anyone at any time regardless of position. But, that is only part of the story.
Hart’s rebounds lead to some transition baskets as he will relentlessly go coast-to-coast after snagging a board. His playmaking skills are underrated and he has a much more diverse offensive game than people give him credit for.
During his collegiate days at Villanova, he showed how versatile he could be. At the next level, he hasn’t always been able to show that, but the Pelicans have been allowing him to spread his wings a little more this season and the results have been very positive. If Hart can become a more consistent 3-point shooter, he will start garnering more attention around the league.
For now, the New Orleans Pelicans are hoping that he and Hernangomez can continue having the positive impact that they have the last few games. New Orleans needs all the help they can get until Williamson returns and hopefully helps them turn things around.
