NBA Countdown debates if Zion Williamson & Pelicans can be trusted in the playoffs
The Pelicans they currently are the sixth seed in the west and Zion Williamson has been a success this year entering tonight he’s played in 30 of the Pelicans 37 games that’s the second highest rate in a season in his career so Kendrick Perkins are you convinced that this version of Zion and the
Pelicans can make a real playoff push what is a real playoff push let’s say they get to out of the second round hell no hell no because I don’t trust Zion Williamson we have to the second round huh to the second round I mean they might get they might take a team seven
Games in the first round but I don’t trust Zion right and let’s be real he’s been playing inconsistent as well like we we had got on Anthony Davis when we was you know when he would go and play you know two games and then all of a
Sudden fall off the face of the Earth on the third game that’s the same energy we need to keep with Zion he has to be more consistent he has not been putting up box off his numbers on a consistent basis and right now in my opinion I feel
Like this stretch for him is important to see if he’s actually if he actually is going to be in New Orleans because he should be auditioning discipline is the key with Zion and I’m like perk I got to see that evidence of it for a long stretch most if not all the regular
Season discipline what I talked to players and coaches this coaches this week who still wonder about Zion’s physical condition and can he sustain the level of Play We saw when he was healthy previous seasons can he do that at this weight in this condition now and they’re all sitting there saying let’s
See now New Orleans can be representative and competitive without Zion they’re not doing anything in the playoffs without Zion at about a 65% clip at about 25 plus points per game they’re going to have to have that from him and the question is you’re not getting extra credit like in grade
School show me well thing that’s interesting and I find it very interesting about it is that again he’s averaging a career low in minutes and he’s played 30 of to 37 games I’m imagining that they’re really spelling for him they want to make sure that they
Protect him so he can be ready for the postseason the point is while you’re resting that still requires discipline you know whether you’re home or you’re on the road it still requires discipline you can’t escape having an exercise discipline no matter where you go and
Let’s call it what it is his presence is going to determine what we can expect from the Pelicans he’s holding it in their hands he’s got family members and confidants that are very very sensitive to the criticism that he has taken they don’t want jokes about him fine we won’t
Joke we’ll be dead serious what’s up my brother what are you going to do we know you got this Talent the skill set to help lead this team but are you going to be disciplined enough to be there for CJ McCulla to be there for obviously Brandon Engle New Orleans has done about
As good of a job as anybody in the league maybe along with Oklahoma City of drafting developing a young Corp but they’ve got to know that they can build around Zion Williamson can they build this organization around him and until he stays on the floor and gets in the
Postseason and produces then that’s when people will believe it he’s not going to get the benefit my answer is no it’s no but for me it’s no perk because he does in my belief W he doesn’t want to be there he doesn’t want to be in New Orleans that’s his biggest problem I
Think if he was someplace he really really wanted to be we’d see something different it’s unprofessional I don’t like it and that’s I think that plays a role in his lack of conditioning but I think that’s it 23 years old and they got to watch and monitor his minutes
Think about that why about watching and monitoring his meals well that’s the dis look talk about I’m not joking they they were trying to do that and you know what they’ve been as as as watchful as they’ve been that’s going to have to go back to him this is discipline these are
Not he’s still an adult what I love [Applause] [Applause] is
NBA Countdown’s Malika Andrews, Kendrick Perkins, Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon and Adrian Wojnarowski discuss if their expectations for Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans this season.
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
46 Comments
Perk needs to watch Pels game. He has not been inconsistent.
Zion Zion Zion… this team more then Zion! They have a legit big 3. And a deep team. This why we don’t watch the national media on a daily basis.
Apparently, they haven't been watching the Pelicans play . Zion is not what make the Pelicans good
Pels should trade Zion NOW. His stock won't rise if he gets injured again. And everyone knows he doesn't want to be in Louisiana long term.
Perk has been so bitter ever since Zion signed the extension lmfaooooo cry
Beignets.
Winning cure all aches and pain. It also shuts up the haters. Let's geaux Pels
Only thing Perkins “trusts” is his ability to finish an entire buffet spread himself
Zion is playing well. ESPN just loves to hate on guys.
The most talked about second best player on the team….casuals. couple years back zion had his best year..made the all star team…that year, pels were one of the worst team in the league…the year he missed the whole season, they made the playoffs… build around Zion?😅 they should build around BI..
Zion will be known as a bust in 10 years
Keep up the great work Zion and the pelicans. Zion is ten times better than Perkins ever was and Steve need to just stop being a hater and give credit where it's due
Hey guys, just say, "actually Malika, we haven't watched much of the Pelicans, so we can't tell you, back to you"
ESPN…do you ever watch anything but Laker games? 🤔🇬🇧
He is not going to put up box office numbers. He is on a very talented team that is very deep. They have at least 5 players that can average 20 a night. Steve A is garbage
We have a very good deep team.. We don’t need one player dominating all the stats.. Him saying Zion been inconsistent cuz of his stats let’s me kno they not watching at all.. I can’t wait to shut the haters up.. Let’s go pelssss
Keep up the good work pelicans. Zion is on right path.
Mfs act like bi ain’t on this team I swear he’s so slept on lol
KEEPING RECEIPTS 🧾
These people dont watch the Pelicans.
ESPN is toxic, they can’t wait to see Zion get hurt and make videos on how bad is Zion. The Pels got 3 guys average 20 and climbing up the ladder and these clowns sucks
Why speak on a team you obviously do not watch at all?
bla bla bla bla
pellies hang 140 on the warriors. but let's not talk about the game
I love the pelicans OKC doesn’t stand a chance against them
I hate Kendrick Perkins he just a hater I never heard him say anything positive about Zion Williamson
Why did NBA teams stop wearing their logos on the jersey? These jerseys look so boring
Pelicans are ballin everyone on team is ballin and yes absolutely they can make a deep run
Con Zion, jugando saludable, claro, que si
Zion gonna make them pay
🤦
I watch enough basketball especially the pelicans they ready. I said it earlier in the year they ready
this team is a total sleeper, they are unselfish, they can shoot play d, I like this team to go to the finals..only 3.5 games out of top spot in the west…
Why they only talk about zion this team is great without zion as well
So much talent and all they talk about is zion . SAS makimg sh.. up saying zion doesn't want to be there yet you see him smiling every game they keep winning toxic espn
Bruh… the Pelicans dont need Zion to put up box office numbers.
Keep the same energy in the playoffs parade in my city
100% SAS he doesnt want to be there, is overweight, out of shape on purpose he wants to be moved. If he got moved watch him get fit and be a monster on another team
My pelicans going to the finals
Reaves averaging 15 points for half a season
HES AN INCREDIBLE PLAYER A REAL 3RD OPTIONS
Zion averaging 22 on better efficiency with more production all around.
I don't trust him
Steven A still pushing that same ole tired phony errony "Zion doesn't wanna be there" narrative.
sounds like some folks that haven’t refreshed their notes from the IST. Zion is better defensively and they talk abt his fg %. He went from 65% to 58%. What are we talking abt.😵💫
Perk is nauseating. SA just salivates at wanting Zion in a Knicks jersey and Wilbon goes with the narrative.
Cant wait till Zion and the Pels end up in the West Finals. Watch the bandwagon and d-riding they'll have in the Playoffs.
Zion for 30+ tomorrow it always happens after main stream media talk nonsense bs about him
You can tell neither of them watch the pels 😂
They still aren’t wrong about Zion, other than Stephen A saying he don’t want to be there. What the heck does he know? He’s just still upset he isn’t in New York and is trying to manipulate Zion into demanding a trade so he will be. Then he will turn on him.