NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Lakers woes and other first impressions

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans Pelicans. Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images /

69. . 0-3. Previous: 25th. New Orleans Pelicans. 25. team

Last Week: (L) to Philadelphia, (L) to Chicago, (L) to Minnesota

The biggest storyline to start the season for the Pelicans is the fact that Zion Williamson is not playing and is not particularly close to playing, despite the initial expectation set by the team when his offseason foot surgery was first announced. It’s become clear that without Williamson this team is in trouble.

They don’t have one glaring and obvious weakness; they’re bad on offense (26th in net rating) and not much better on defense (21st), with a penchant for fouling and a somewhat low number of 3-point attempts despite a solid percentage. Brandon Ingram is averaging 27 points and 37 minutes per game trying to keep the boat afloat, but it has been a poor start all around.

First Impression: Jonas Valanciunas is still mauling people. The former Memphis Grizzlies center was brought over as part of the Steven Adams / Eric Bledsoe salary dump trade this offseason. Perhaps simply because of Zion Williamson’s absence Valanciunas has been living in the paint. He is averaging 15.7 points per game on a career-high 13.3 shot attempts per game, and averaging 12.3 rebounds per game. Whether or not feeding him is the most efficient thing to do the Pelicans are doing it and he is producing.