This is the designated thread for Zion hot takes/memes

J___Av · Post #21 » by **J___Av** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:47 am

Lockdown504090 wrote:
J___Av wrote:
Lockdown504090 wrote:one of the biggest defensive liabilities in the league right now, and his fitness isnt even the reason for it.

Except it clearly is. He doesn't have the conditioning to go hard all the time like he did at Duke. He saves his energy for short bursts on offense

No he has. A complete lack of awareness of where to be, how to rotate and help defense on larger players. College defense is way easier. The players are smaller the court is shrunk and the offensive players are better than tacko.

Well there is zero statistical evidence backing him being one of the biggest liabilities. They actually show the team is much better on D when he is on. Not saying he is good in the NBA on D, but to say he is one of the biggest liabilities in the NBA is wrong.

And being that out of shape is huge for Zion. Did you see him at Duke? Yes he was playing easier competition, but the guy was a ball of energy like we have never seen from someone his size. His non stop energy and insane athleticism allowed him to make up for his mistakes. In the NBA he has been so out of shape he plays in bursts and hardly moves on defense. Hopefully he can get back into shape, but it is tough with his body type. His steals/blocks and rebounds are way lower in the NBA than they should be for what they are in college and it comes down to low effort due to poor conditioning

Post #22 » by **Duke4life831** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:51 am

Lockdown504090 wrote:
J___Av wrote:
Lockdown504090 wrote:one of the biggest defensive liabilities in the league right now, and his fitness isnt even the reason for it.

Except it clearly is. He doesn't have the conditioning to go hard all the time like he did at Duke. He saves his energy for short bursts on offense

No he has. A complete lack of awareness of where to be, how to rotate and help defense on larger players. College defense is way easier. The players are smaller the court is shrunk and the offensive players are better than tacko.

Zion's defensive awareness isn't really an issue for him (for a rookie). His defensive awareness and energy was fantastic at Duke. There is zero energy on the defensive end so far in the NBA. He usually guards someone that is sitting in the corner, then once there is some movement, he kind of just stands in place and ends up guarding no one. He is clearly resting on the defensive end, plus he is rookie so ya he isn't a stud defender.

Zion was jumping passing lanes, protecting the rim like crazy, making fantastic rotations and so on. He literally just stands around now defensively.

Crizzle · Post #23 » by **Crizzle** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:52 am

J___Av wrote:
Crizzle wrote:Ja morant also came back from the 4 month absence heavier. Only thing is its 12lbs of pure muscle and is still ripped. Having generational genetics and talents dont mean nearly as much if you dont put in the work to maximize those.If he doesnt make significant changes to his physique/work ethic, At what point do pelicans fans start panicking? Start of next season. Start of the 2022 season?

LOL at you compairing skinny ass Ja to Zion physically. Ja could sit on his ass for a year and not get fat. Much different body types and you shoehorning in Ja reeks of insecurity because Zion gets all the attention. Does it bother you that your GM would trade Ja tomorrow for a chance at Zion? Or that every Grizz fan in the world was pissed they didn't get the #1 pick to get Zion

Did you miss the part about him putting on 12 lbs of muscle, actually showing that he worked hard not only with his diet but his workout regiment? And if this is any indication of Zions mentality, that he is going to be in worst shape then when he left duke 1.5 years ago, Not being able to stay on the court in must win games. Im thinking the grizz might have been double blessed with the 2nd pick and missing zion. We arent even talking about the injury possibilities yet either. Just appears like he doesnt work hard or care. Ja showed me this summer that he cared. Sorry Ja is about to lead his team to the playoffs and zion will be riding the bike on the sideline when his team needs him

Crizzle · Post #24 » by **Crizzle** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:54 am

OH , and when the rest of the nba couldnt use their teams facilities because of COVID, chonker ZION was able to work out their with trainers
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2892609-zion-williamson-cleared-for-treatment-at-pelicans-facility-amid-covid-19

Crizzle · Post #25 » by **Crizzle** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:11 am

"The New Orleans Pelicans received clearance from the NBA to give certain players medical treatment while team facilities were shut down leaguewide amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Per Christian Clark of NOLA.com, the Pelicans medical staff submitted a formal proposal to the league explaining that it was "urgent enough" for Zion Williamson and Kenrich Williams to be able to rehab at their practice facilities during the NBA's hiatus.

As Williamson was rehabbing his knee following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October, the Pelicans went through an extensive process that involved teaching him how to walk and run differently to improve the "kinetic chain of his body."

According to Clark, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said the "flexibility aspect" is a critical part of Williamson's ongoing rehab that the team has been able to continue.

"They weren't able to do any court work during that period of time, but they were able to get the work in needed on the table, and so that was important," Griffin said. "We're grateful that the league allowed for that."

Williamson made his NBA debut Jan. 22. The former Duke star averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 19 starts before play was stopped because of the pandemic."

VanWest82 · Post #26 » by **VanWest82** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:12 am

This is an admittedly dumb comparison but when MJ went out with a foot fracture in 85 he went so far as to lie to the team doing extra work to come back early. Then he dropped 49 and 63 on the 86 playoff Celtics one of the greatest teams in league history.

Zion has had multiple shots at the NBA now and each time he's come in heavy.

Lockdown504090 · Post #27 » by **Lockdown504090** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:14 am

J___Av wrote:
Lockdown504090 wrote:
J___Av wrote: Except it clearly is. He doesn't have the conditioning to go hard all the time like he did at Duke. He saves his energy for short bursts on offense

No he has. A complete lack of awareness of where to be, how to rotate and help defense on larger players. College defense is way easier. The players are smaller the court is shrunk and the offensive players are better than tacko.

Well there is zero statistical evidence backing him being one of the biggest liabilities. They actually show the team is much better on D when he is on. Not saying he is good in the NBA on D, but to say he is one of the biggest liabilities in the NBA is wrong.

And being that out of shape is huge for Zion. Did you see him at Duke? Yes he was playing easier competition, but the guy was a ball of energy like we have never seen from someone his size. His non stop energy and insane athleticism allowed him to make up for his mistakes. In the NBA he has been so out of shape he plays in bursts and hardly moves on defense. Hopefully he can get back into shape, but it is tough with his body type. His steals/blocks and rebounds are way lower in the NBA than they should be for what they are in college and it comes down to low effort due to poor conditioning

He’s played 19 games what stats are you looking at? The jazz ran every play to either make him the low man with help responsibly or they directly put him in the pnr

Dacost · Post #28 » by **Dacost** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:37 am

Dude has to play a full game eventually the Pels are protecting him way to much and even though his number are good on both ends the eye test doesn't back it up.

He could easily score 30 in the next game and people might come back to this and call us all haters but scoring is not his issue all the other little things are just not there .....yet.

Crizzle · Post #29 » by **Crizzle** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:06 am

Dacost wrote:Dude has to play a full game eventually the Pels are protecting him way to much and even though his number are good on both ends the eye test doesn't back it up.

He could easily score 30 in the next game and people might come back to this and call us all haters but scoring is not his issue all the other little things are just not there .....yet.

His defense was embarrassingly bad

Pelly24 · Post #30 » by **Pelly24** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:37 am

Do we know that Zion is overweight and out of shape? He looked as trim as ever in pics I saw from a few weeks ago and he looked effortlessly explosive when I watched him too. I think there’s a chance there’s some confirmation bias at work when it comes to Zion. He’s always looked husky, but we need to accept that he’s barely done being a kid and he’s an athlete unlike any other in all of NBA history. Being as quick as Kobe but being 280 pounds isn’t normal. He’s a different kind of being

Crizzle · Post #31 » by **Crizzle** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:44 am

Pelly24 wrote:Do we know that Zion is overweight and out of shape? He looked as trim as ever in pics I saw from a few weeks ago and he looked effortlessly explosive when I watched him too. I think there’s a chance there’s some confirmation bias at work when it comes to Zion. He’s always looked husky, but we need to accept that he’s barely done being a kid and he’s an athlete unlike any other in all of NBA history. Being as quick as Kobe but being 280 pounds isn’t normal. He’s a different kind of being

those pics and "zion is shredded" stories were obviously bull **** unless zions family emergency took place at willy wonkas chocolate factory. He looked as big as he ever has and couldnt stay on the floor over 4 minutes at a time

BladeDaywalker · Post #32 » by **BladeDaywalker** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:44 am

As the great Philosopher Scott Steiner would say:

Watch on YouTube

naabzor · Post #33 » by **naabzor** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:39 am

I don't like the fact that he is consistently out of shape. There is something wrong with this he should have dealed with this problem for some time now.

Buckets22 · Post #34 » by **Buckets22** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:56 am

Crizzle wrote:OH , and when the rest of the nba couldnt use their teams facilities because of COVID, chonker ZION was able to work out their with trainers
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2892609-zion-williamson-cleared-for-treatment-at-pelicans-facility-amid-covid-19

I'm pretty sure that there is a kitchen in the Pelicans training facility :lol:

Metallikid · Post #35 » by **Metallikid** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:29 am

HOW DOES THIS 20 YEAR OLD STILL HAVE A MINUTES RESTRICTION AFTER A FOUR MONTH BREAK WHEN HIS TEAM NEEDS EVERY WIN.

DID HE JUST MAKE IT INTO THE NBA WITH A BROKEN BODY? GRED ODEN PART TWO?? FOR REAL THO.

Fencer reregistered · Post #36 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:56 am

+1 for not using the word "official" in the title!!

Lalouie · Post #37 » by **Lalouie** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:00 am

why was he on minutes restriction

The Box Office · Post #38 » by **The Box Office** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:02 am

Zion needs to have an ELITE CHERRY PICKER badge to have a long NBA career.

kazyv · Post #39 » by **kazyv** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:10 am

lukewarm take: zion is going to be a bust. a lot of people riding zion right now are going to be very unhappy

Eric Millegan · Post #40 » by **Eric Millegan** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:15 am

Why is no one mentioning he had ZERO rebounds in the game? That's god awful for a guy who takes up space like he does. When he was on the court, he was the worst player on the floor. A game worst -16 in limited minutes. Don't know why the announcers talked about him so much. Bust. No playoffs for Pelicans. Now THAT's how you do a Hot Take!