The organization announced on Friday that Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a fractured left forefinger.
It appears Williamson – who lost 109–107 to the 76ers on Friday – injured his finger while retaliating on the Warriors for a 108–103 victory on Tuesday. When you approach the two Golden State players going up for the ball, you can see them in pain:
The play in which the injury took place seems to be innocuous. But that did not stop the functioning of the NBA, including David Griffin, New Orleans’ vice president of basketball operations, whom he says helped the players defend the second-year superstar.
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During a 13-minute Friday news conference, Griffin called Williamson’s injury “avoidable”, saying he had allowed an “open season” for Williamson.
“I was really disappointed because it was avoidable. We talked about sending everyone to the NBA, through talking to everyone in the film department, in the officials department, and everyone in the running of basketball, that way They were insulting Zion, he was going to injure him, ”said Griffin (Via ESPN) Belongs to. “And, quite frankly, he is injured due to the open weather that is on Zion Williamson in the paint.
He added, “They have painted regularly on the basis that other players have told them, ‘I’m going to do this to you because they don’t say it.” More violence has been encouraged in the paint than any player since I (Shakeel O’Neill). This was more terrible then, and the same is true now.
Entering Friday, Williamson was second in the league at Milwaukee’s Giannis Entetoconumpo, with a total of throw attempts (520). He only implicated Entetoconpo, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Atlanta’s Trey Young in free throw attempts per game this season (8.7).
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Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy echoed Griffin’s opinion on Williams’ defense of players:
“He definitely takes a lot of hits. We’ve been on the referee hard. I know I’m playing everytime.” I got the answer that, ‘Well, how many free throws has he shot? “And my reaction is always’ Not enough.’
“The man gets hit all the time. … In my opinion, he should easily lead the league in attempts for free throws. Swipe-down, boys of both hands are getting killed every night. The referee often let it go. Granted. This is what you are going to do. “
With Williamsout on Friday, New Orleans was absent five of its top eight scorers in a 108–103 loss. They were also without center Steven Adams (toe injury), Nikil Alexander-Walker (left ankle sprain), Josh Hart (right thumb surgery) and Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain).
The Pelicans entered the match-to-a-half game from behind the 10th-placed Spurs, who are currently ranked last in the Western Conference for the play-in tournament. New Orleans has five games remaining in the regular season: each on each of the teams in the Hornets on Sunday, the Grizzlies on Monday, the Mavericks on Wednesday, the Warriors on Friday, and the Home vs. the Lakers on May 16. It is expected to participate in at least the play-in tournament by Saturday.
Williamson is averaging 27 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
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