If things had gone according to plan, the New Orleans Pelicans would be jockeying for playoff position as they go down the final stretch of the season.
But the injury bug had other ideas, which is why the Pelicans are just playing out the string with just 17 games remaining in the season.
Despite all the losses that have piled up and the next-to-last-place position the Pels currently hold in the Western Conference standings, the fans that are still showing up to games are showing passion as if a playoff berth is still on the line.
You wouldn’t have known by the crowd Sunday’s close loss to the Memphis Grizzlies that the Pelicans are a team on pace for one of the worst records in franchise history.
And because of that passion in a lost season, the Pelicans owe it to their fans to let them see Zion Williamson as often as possible.
Instead, Williamson sat on the bench in street clothes as the Pelicans fell 107-104 in a gritty effort against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.
Williamson sitting out on the second night of back-to-back games isn’t anything new. That’s been the case in every game since he returned in January from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for most of November and all of December.
If was Williamson’s choice, he’d be playing in back-to-back games.
But it’s a decision made by the team’s medical staff.
That part is understandable.
The big picture is way more important and Williamson’s long-term health is and should be the priority.
Here's the issue.
Since Williamson’s return, the Pelicans have played two back-to-back games where they played one night on the road and the following night in the Smoothie King Center.
Both times, the Pelicans played Williamson in the road game and then sat him for the home game.
That was the case again on Sunday as he sat after playing on the road the night before in Houston.
Pelicans’ coach Willie Green, when asked Sunday if the team considered sitting Williamson for the road game and letting him play the following day at home, had this to say.
“We have (considered it,” Green said. “It just didn’t happen this time.”
Well, it should.
Pelicans’ fans deserve that.
In a season where there hasn’t been a whole lot to cheer about, the fans who spend their hard earned money on season tickets should at least get to see the team’s biggest draw as often.
Williamson has played in just 26 games this season. He’s only played nine times in the Smoothie King Center, while playing 17 road games. This past weekend was a perfect opportunity to sit him in Houston Saturday and let him play in New Orleans Sunday in front of the fans who buy the Williamson jerseys.
The good news is Williamson should be available for Tuesday night’s home game against the Los Angeles Clipper as well as Thursday’s home game against the Orlando Magic.
Even better news is the Pelicans play on back-to-back nights just one more time this season. They play on the road against the Detroit Pistons on March 23, then turn around and play at home against the Philadelphia 76ers the following night.
Assuming Williamson is still not playing consecutive nights by then, the Pelicans should sit Williamson in Detroit and let him play in New Orleans.
For the fans' sake, it's the right thing to do.