There’s no tougher balancing act in sports than preparing for the future while also prioritizing what it takes to win in the present. Naturally, there’s going to be points when those two goals don’t align.
Very few teams have struggled to deal with that reality more than the Pelicans this season.
Many fans came into the year prepared to keep the long view in mind, but once Zion Williamson took the league by storm and the team found itself in playoff contention, that patience went out the window.
They didn’t want to hear talk of taking it slow with Zion’s minutes or the importance of giving other youngsters minutes even if they struggle. If you’re good enough to win now, why wait until later to start going for it?
The Pels heard the complaints from the fan base, and they may have been louder than ever after Williamson was held to less than 16 minutes in each of the team’s first two disappointing outings in the…
