Houston Rockets All-Star John Wall is indeed one of the best shot-blocking guards in today's game. Zion Williamson learned that the hard way on Saturday. The New Orleans Pelicans high-flyer, who usually puts all his defenders on posters, got blindsided by Wall's defense in the second quarter of their respective teams' match at Smoothie King Center.
Pels guard Eric Bledsoe mistimed the lob pass to a cutting Williamson, allowing Rockets defenders to get set. Victor Oladipo also contested Zion's two-handed hammer, but it was Wall's left hand that prevented what could have been another highlight deuce. Here's the Rockets' magnificent defensive stop, courtesy of John Wall.
John Wall rejects Zion ❌pic.twitter.com/lyBEUuMq94
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 31, 2021
John Wall and the Rockets have found their groove as of late, winning their last four games before Saturday's road game. Their much-improved team defense since the blockbuster James Harden trade has a lot to do with that recent resurgence. Wall, for his part, has been great for H-Town since missing five straight games from injury. He is averaging 18.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1,0 steal prior to the Pels' match.
Judging from that play alone, it's clear that Wall's elite athleticism is still there after missing almost two years due to career-threatening injuries. Zion Williamson is used to throwing down hammers over the top of people, but Wall definitely got the better of him in that sequence.
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