Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Mike Sykes
Happy Friday, folks! Welcome back to Layup Lines. Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you’ve had a great week and have an amazing weekend ahead of you.
It seems like the Pelicans might have a real Zion Williamson problem.
Williamson’s disappointing showing against the Lakers in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament put a spotlight on how up-and-down his play has been this season. He just doesn’t seem to be playing as hard as he possibly could. He even admitted himself that he just didn’t play up to his standard after the game.
That seems to be more of a trend than a blip on the radar so far this season, at least. This isn’t the first time this issue has come up with Williamson — earlier this year, it led to this rant about him buying into the Pelicans’ system.
Now, it seems, this might not actually be an effort problem. It might be a conditioning problem. At least, according to a new report about Williamson from Chris Clark of the Times-Picayune.
Clark writes that Williamson’s “poor work ethic has been a source of frustration” for the Pelicans. The team has also reportedly given Williamson advice about his conditioning and diet, but it’s gone in one ear and out the other.
“The Pelicans have repeatedly stressed to Williamson that his diet and conditioning need to improve. Williamson, multiple team sources have told The Times-Picayune, ‘doesn’t listen.’,”
This isn’t the first time Williamson’s conditioning has been brought up as an issue. Last year when he signed his extension in New Orleans there was talk about a “weight clause” in his deal.
I don’t want to get into the territory of talking about a player’s conditioning and how it might impact their overall standing in the league. Of course, that matters. But there’s a thin line between these discussions and folks making crude jokes about Williamson’s weight and body type. That’s not what this is.
But if the Pelicans are trying to help Williamson manage his body and he’s just not listening? That’s not a good look on his part. At all. It makes the prospect of the team potentially trying to move on from Williamson one that doesn’t seem quite as farfetched as it did over the summer.
New Orleans has to figure this out and it needs to happen quickly. The team is still in the thick of things in the West and we’ve seen what this team can be when Williamson is at his best.
If he’s not willing to be that, though, it might just be time to move on.
Trouble in Paradise
To whom much is given, much is expected. That’s the best way to describe Adrian Griffin’s tenure as the Bucks’ head coach so far.
The team is 14-6. It has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference through the first part of the NBA season. Yet, we’re seeing so much tension in that locker room. It all came to a head with Bobby Portis calling his new head coach out after the Bucks’ loss to the Pacers. Bryan Kalbrosky has more.
It wasn’t just Portis — Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo were on it, too, Kalbrosky writes.
“During their postgame press conferences, both Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo said that Milwaukee required a more organized offense in late-game moments.
Antetokounmpo finished no scoring possessions as the roll man in pick-and-roll sets during the loss against the Pacers, per Synergy. Others, meanwhile, shared concerns about Milwaukee’s 2-3 zone defense.”
I don’t think this is a big deal. Here’s why: Listen to what the players are complaining about. The problem is the team’s late-game offense and organization. As disorganized as the Lillard, Antetokounmpo and company say things are, the Bucks still have the second-best crunch-time offense in the NBA, according to the league’s stats tool. Things are not perfect. But they’re very good.
Of course, there will be bumps along the road for Griffin. He’s a first-year head coach coaching a team with championship expectations. Potholes along the path are to be expected.
This team still has a long way to go, but it’s still ultimately a contender. Make no mistake about it.
“That’s [butt]”
This has got to be the greatest quote of the week. Let me fill y’all in, man.
The Lakers aren’t allowed to wear their In-Season Tournament City Jerseys anymore. Charles Curtis has you covered on why, which we’ll get into in a second. But what you really need to see is the Lakers player’s hilarious response.
“Why? Per ESPN: “While the Lakers players would prefer to continue to wear their black ensemble against the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals, sources told ESPN, the NBA has other plans. … The NBA is preventing the Lakers from wearing their black uniforms because of concerns over the visual contrast between the jerseys and the design of the specialized in-season court the semifinals will be played on at T-Mobile Arena, a source with knowledge of the subject told ESPN.”
The best part of this is Dave McMenamin quoting an anonymous player, who had two words to say: ‘That’s ass.’,”
I’m sorry, y’all. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m immature. But “that’s ass” as a response is just 10 out of 10 great. No notes, man. Shoutout to whichever Laker it was that said this.
Shootaround
— Stephen A. Smith playing a round of “Who he play for?” is must-see TV, man.
— Charles Barkley roasted the Warriors and Bob Meyers with this hilarious joke. Meghan Hall has more.
— Tyrese Haliburton doing the “Dame Time” celebration will be remembered for a long, long time. Here’s Cory Woodruff with more.
—Luka Doncic being so mad he cursed that he cursed again is just peak NBA. Blake Schuster has more.
That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading Layup Lines. We appreciate you. We’ll chat again next week. Until then! Peace.
-Sykes ✌️
