The New Orleans Pelicans are rounding back into form, as they're currently getting back the services of the players that helped spur their strong start to the 2022-23 season. Don't be fooled; despite their 12-10 record, the Pelicans may be as dangerous a team as any in the Western Conference, especially in the aftermath of their 127-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings in the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament.
With CJ McCollum back and playing at his peak two-way self, Trey Murphy hitting the ground running in his return from injury, Herb Jones continuing to be an elite defensive disruptor, and Brandon Ingram being an unstoppable scoring force in the perimeter, the Pelicans have some top-shelf pieces that are necessary to contend for a championship. However, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley contended that the Pelicans will only go as far as Zion Williamson takes them.
“Zion is the wildcard. They got depth, they got 2 All-Stars named Ingram and McCollum. I've said before. This team is scary on paper but it's all gonna come down to Zion. He's got to get himself in better shape because McCollum and Ingram, man they're a handful,” Barkley said on TNT's Inside the NBA, via Pelicans Film Room and ClutchPoints Twitter.
When Zion Williamson is healthy, he isn't exactly the textbook definition of a wildcard player. After all, the pressure he puts on the rim is almost unparalleled in today's NBA, and his dominance in the paint opens up a lot of shots for the Pelicans' shooters.
But the wildcard about Williamson is his ability to stay healthy. He has not played in more than 30 games in a season apart from the 2020-21 campaign (where he suited up in 61 games), and it's his inability to avoid the injury bug, particularly for his lower body, that has capped the Pelicans' ceiling over the past few seasons.
Health is important for every other team in the NBA, make no mistake about it, but given Zion Williamson's less-than-stellar track record, the Pelicans will have to be more vigilant when it comes to ensuring that Williamson is present on the court in April and beyond.