As the margin for error for the New Orleans Pelicans grows smaller and smaller inside the NBA’s bubble, the team is not wavering on their plan for Zion Williamson. After much scrutiny following an opening night loss to the Jazz in which Williamson played just 15 minutes, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin first addressed the media on Friday before talking on ESPN on Saturday.
In his interview with Lisa Salters during the Pelicans’ game on ESPN against the Clippers, Griffin said Williamson will be on his “burst limit” for at least one more game.
“I think we’ll probably see this for another game, maybe two, as he’s trying to ramp into form. I think you’re seeing him in the midst of what he said was ‘not feeling his flow’ right now. You’re seeing him not quite be himself. Once he feels like he’s ready to be 100%, we’ll cut him loose.”
The team has made a point to differentiate between “burst limits” and a normal minutes restriction. Williamson had no official minutes restriction but was limited in the amount of “bursts” he could play. The number of bursts will continually increase with each passing game in the bubble.
However, as Griffin spoke on Saturday, the Pelicans were in the midst of being blown out by the Clippers, who held a 77-45 lead at halftime behind an incredible three-point shooting performance in which they finished one three-pointer shy of an NBA record for three-pointers in a half.
The presumed loss to the Clippers would drop the Pelicans to 0-2 in the bubble and four games behind the Grizzlies in the eighth seed with just six games left.
