A look at player prop bets for the debut of Zion Williamson

Will Zion Williamson be a sensation or a disappointment as an NBA player?

Well, it would be a stretch to say we could come to a conclusion one way or the other after one NBA game, but that game is only now about to take place. Williamson's long-awaited NBA debut, after a lengthy injury absence, takes place on Wednesday night as his New Orleans Pelicans, who drafted him #1 overall, take on the San Antonio Spurs, in a game scheduled for 9:30 PM ET at the Smoothie King Arena in the Big Easy.

If you like props, you can get them at BetAnySports, as well as Sports Betting Ultra, which allows for real-time wagering while the game is in progress.

The Spurs (19-23) are trailing the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies by a half-game in the Western Conference standings, as Gregg Popovich struggles with less personnel than he's had in the past, as well as a style of play where his team has taken fewer three-points shots than all but one team. That they are fifth in the league in three-point accuracy only partially makes up for that.

Conversely, New Orleans not only takes more shots than anybody else in the NBA on a per-game basis, they are also fourth in three-point attempts and are just as sharp from long distance as San Antonio (37%). They are right up there in the "Pace" category too (5th in the league).

If the Pelicans are able to get the expected boost from Zion's arrival, it's going to really help them in the playoff race. They are currently sitting with a 17-27 record, which is 3.5 games behind Memphis. It looks like it will again be a dogfight for the final playoff slot in the West. And the Pels are now ready to seriously enter the fray.

Aren't they?

In the NBA betting odds that are posted on this game by the folks at BetAnySports, the Pelicans are the favorites:

New Orleans Pelicans -3.5
San Antonio Spurs     +3.5

Over 237 points -110
Under 237 points -110

And don't forget that at any time before the game, you can take advantage of reduced juice, which allows you to avoid having to lay the standard -110 on your hoops action!

Zion, as you probably know, had surgery on his right knee before the season, and has taken a lot longer to come around than was expected. Perhaps more than twice as long. All told, he has been out for thirteen weeks, missing 44 games. And it is a reasonable question as to how much he'll be taxed at the start.

And I consider the props on this first game, posted at BetAnySports, where the over/unders for him are 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, both carrying prices of -110 either way.

It is hard to tell whether the Pelicans will settle into a little slower pace with Williamson or not. Right now they are fifth in the league in that "Pace" category. There is always the option, if he is going to function as more of a post player on offense, to set things up in the half-court with him, and then take advantage of double-teams to toss up three-pointers. Zion, it should be noted, is not a proficient shooter from downtown.

And he comes in as one of the heaviest players in the NBA, so getting himself into game shape may be more of a challenge than it might be otherwise.

Alvin Gentry, the head coach, has said that Zion will be restricted to no more than 30 minutes a game. It is hard to imagine he'll pushing up against that the first time out of the box. He did average 23.3 points in four pre-season games, and we are certain that if the Pelicans set up enough plays for him, he could reach those levels, but not right now. There's going to be a real concern about injury early on.

I'm not sure things are going to be pre-programmed for him, but I can't necessarily see him playing even half the available minutes. That would direct me toward an UNDER 14.5 on the points proposition, while perhaps the rebounds prop is worth leaving alone.

BetAnySports has great hoops action every day of the week, whether it's college or the NBA. And you'll get reduced juice, which helps you avoid having to lay the standard -110 price........ Sports Betting Ultra enables real-time wagering for even more action. And deposits are easy with a debit or credit card, person-to-person transfers or the virtual currency of Bitcoin, which is fast and easy with their automated system, and NEVER incurs a transaction fee!