New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons for the Pels’ rise to the top of the West

Zion leading the charge

Zion Williamson came into the league with expectations that can easily overburden any player. He is expected to be a superstar, become the savior of his franchise and one day become the face of the NBA. So far so good for Williamson as he is everything he was expected to be and then some.

Williamson sets the tone with his physicality which helps get the team going. In certain sets, he acts as a facilitator with his aggressive style of play and playmaking ability. Williamson is quickly establishing himself as one of the more dominant forces in the league and as long as he remains healthy opponents will have problems trying to stop him. Williamson can get to the paint with ease even with 2 or 3 bodies draped over him.

Opposing teams know exactly what he is going to do and still can’t slow him down. Williamson is truly a force to be reckoned with as his ball handling, quickness, agility, and his overall game continues to improve. He is the engine that makes the Pelicans go and the energy that he brings is contagious.

Before the season began there were rumors swirling about Williamson being overweight and out of shape, how he wasn’t going to live up to the hype, and how the franchise should consider trading him before he imploded.

Williamson so far has left the critics dumbfounded as he is the only player within the top 20 scorers to have a field goal percentage of 60 percent or better. Not only is he displaying efficiency but he is showing that he can score at will. Fat and out of shape? Doesn’t appear that way.