After sitting out a week with a right foot contusion, Pelicans forward Zion Williamson said he’ll “definitely” be ready for Monday’s game, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. Williamson suffered the injury last Saturday in a game against the Rockets when he stepped on Usman Garuba‘s foot on a drive to the basket. Williamson landed awkwardly and awoke with pain the next day.
“I felt it a little bit, but it wasn’t nothing for me to be like, ‘This is really something crazy,’” Williamson said. “I didn’t feel it til I woke up the next morning. I was like, ‘Man.’ Felt like I could barely walk on it. Went and got all the scans. It was a simple bone bruise.”
The incident brought back bad memories for Williamson, who missed all of last season with a fracture in his right foot. He has managed to avoid serious injury so far this year and is averaging 23.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 11 games.
“There was a moment when I was like, ‘I ain’t trying to go through this again. I just went through it,’” Williamson said. “Scans were positive outside of the bruise. I’m straight.”
There’s more from the Soutwest Division:
- Trey Murphy, who took Williamson’s place in the Pelicans‘ starting lineup, is also dealing with a foot issue, Clark adds. Murphy left Friday’s game after 12 minutes with a contusion in his right foot. “Kind of rolled his ankle a little bit,” coach Willie Green explained. “All his imaging checked out fine. He’ll be day-to-day. We’ll evaluate him and see where he is.”
- The Grizzlies are counting on their depth to sustain them until Desmond Bane and Ja Morant are able to return, per Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. Bane is sidelined with a sprained toe, and Morant suffered a sprained left ankle Friday night. “It is frustrating, but it’s part of the game,” Dillon Brooks said. “We still got guys ready to play, ready to be active and have their shot. It was a tough one, but at the same time, though, next man up.”
- Rockets coach Stephen Silas remains optimistic despite a disappointing start to the season, according to Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle. Houston is 3-13 and in danger of posting the league’s worst record for the third straight year, but Silas is confident that patience will eventually pay off for a roster filled with young players. “I was with LeBron (James) in his first year and I was with (Stephen Curry) in his first year and I was with Luka (Doncic) in his first year,” he said, “and things were uneven and hard, but you have to go through it. I am more than prepared to go through it and will be happy to see the results of it.”
Usman injures two star players in the same week
Zion sits more than he plays! This guy is injury prone!
“ I am more than prepared to go through it and will be happy to see the results of it.”
Yup for sure it means = Victor Wembanyama
Apart from the moment they finish bottom of the league and the lotto leaves them with the 6th pick!
Tanking is risky for a lot this year, but can yield 2-3 extremely good prospects, sadly Houston are actually trying to win and failing to improve, it’s painful to watch sometimes.
Top ten is a very good player this yr. But worst record is guaranteed top 4, I believe.
You’re right it is top 4, but again it’s still a risk, Green was a “guaranteed bucket”, and Smith was “built for the league”. Only locks for possible franchise guys are Scoot and Wemby. If they fall to 4 or even 3 it’ll be risky.
I still love the progress of Green and see him developing into a Brown/Booker level player. But his efficiency has be poor, more about the plays being written up and him having to drop last second bombs or having to take on 3 players in the paint!!
If Houston want to improve at all(without lucking out with a top 2 pick). I think they may need to move on from Silas ISO obsessed clock eating gameplay, and grab a more pass first PG.
Being able to navigate the lane, with bodies moving in every different direction, while in the air, and while running, is a skill. Zion doesn’t have it. Going to keep getting hurt until he gets better at it. They should have him watch footage of guys like Curry and Iverson. He needs to improve his peripheral vision and spacial awareness.
Needs to be under 250 lbs. He’s a more athletic and stronger Barkley. Charles didn’t excel until he dropped to 245 lbs. The joints can’t handle that weight doing those things. At 82 gms a yr plus. It’s why all undersized PF have issues with time. Just look at Dre now. Been saying since he got drafted. Get him a personal chef. He can have a Billion dollar career plus.
Pelicans are good if that team can stay healthy. Haven’t seen it, but it sure seems that way
I question whether Silas is around long enough to see the team turn around. This team isn’t going to turn around unless a new coach takes over Silas job. The circus has gone on long enough. Time to make desperate decisions to right this ship.