Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson continued to steal the show on Sunday with not one but two long-distance alley-oops. While it’s not the first or even second time the two have connected on a full-court lob, it’s still amazing each time the two are able to pull it off.
After Sunday’s game, Williamson talked about catching lobs from Ball and how perfect the passes are.
“Honestly, sometimes I don’t even think he’s going to throw it. Then he just throws it. I’m like ‘Alright, I’m going to try to go get it.’ And he does a great job, even though they’re from so far away, he just puts it in a spot where he’s throwing the lob from the close elbow. He puts it in the perfect spot and I’m able to get it.”
Williamson has flourished as a big man leaking out either after contesting a shot or immediately after a make. Since his debut, Williamson is eighth in the league in fastbreak points per game at 4.2 points per game. As a team, the Pelicans are third in the league in fastbreak points since adding Williamson, averaging 18.9 per game, an increase of nearly three more points per game from their pre-Williamson games.
Like Ball, Williamson is a perfect fit for Alvin Gentry’s offense. Both are players who excel playing fast and in transition and both have supernatural basketball IQ that allows them to succeed despite notable flaws in their games.
