Duke Basketball: Zion Williamson’s storybook play masks Blue Devils’ flaws

Every story about a current Duke basketball player not named Zion Williamson must still make mention of Zion Williamson; otherwise, the story is incomplete.

The storybook dunks of Duke basketball freshman Zion Williamson initiate instant increases in crowd noise — in the form of cheers at home and gasps on the road — thereby boosting the energy of his teammates.

His storybook blocks create a freeze-frame KAPOW! — like in episodes of Batman from the ’60s — thereby adding to the swagger of his teammates.

His storybook effort on both ends of the floor impresses all onlookers — he dives for loose balls as if he is a benchwarmer trying to earn more playing time — thereby inspiring his teammates.

His storybook combination of height, weight, and athleticism (6-foot-7, 280 pounds with a 45-inch vertical leap) require the utmost attention from opponents — not to mention the feelings of panic and hopelessness his presence triggers — thereby freeing up opportunities for his teammates.

Best of all, his storybook smiles continue to be contagious — it’s as if he served as the model for the happy-face emoji — thereby eliminating the possibility of animosity showing its ugly face amongst his teammates.

Without his presence, there is no way to know for sure what flaws would hinder his teammates; because due to his presence, it’s easy to forgive and forget any of Duke’s blemishes — particularly its outside shooting woes.

Without his presence, there is no way to know for sure how many fewer wins the No. 2 Blue Devils (19-2; 7-1 ACC) would have this season; however, calculations that attempt to estimate the answer suggest that the Spartanburg, S.C., native is a historically strong catalyst to winning.

Entering Duke’s home game against Boston College (11-9; 2-6 ACC) tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN, Williamson ranks among the top three in the NCAA — nearly 5,000 players spanning 353 teams — in the following 10 advanced metrics:

• 1st in win shares per 40 minutes (.375), which is on pace to be the highest mark since the stat’s debut during the 2009-10 season
• 3rd in win shares (5.6)
• 1st in box plus/minus (21.3)
• 1st in offensive box plus/minus (13.3)
• 3rd in offensive rating (136.4)
• 3rd in defensive rating (82.3)
• 1st in player efficiency rating (42.6), which is on pace to be the highest mark since the stat’s debut during the 2009-10 season
• 3rd in field goal percentage (68.7)
• 1st in effective field goal percentage (70.9)
• 3rd in 2-point field goal percentage (75.8)

Meanwhile, he ranks among the top five in the ACC in the following five simple metrics:

• 2nd in points per game (22.3), trailing only his fellow freshman teammate, R.J. Barrett (23.3)
• 3rd in rebounds per game (9.0)
• 1st in offensive rebounds per game (3.6)
• 3rd in steals per game (2.1)
• 5th in blocks per game (2.0)

So the above words and numbers explain Williamson’s overall greatness and his impact on the play of his teammates. But for those who prefer explanations via highlights, his 29-point, six-rebound, five-steal, two-block performance from his latest game — a 91-61 win over St. John’s on Saturday — sums up his storybook season so far:

The scary thing is that Williamson — the reigning national player of the week, the leading candidate for player of the year, and the likely No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — seems to be improving in all aspects of the game, which demands the rest of the Blue Devils continue to enhance their own games in order to be worthy of sharing the floor with him.

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Heck, even his 3-point shooting is becoming a threat that defenders must respect, in part due to his wise shot selection that the entire Duke squad could learn from — the Blue Devils are shooting 30.9 percent from downtown while pulling the trigger an excessive 24.4 times per game. Williamson is 11-for-30 (36.7 percent) from 3-point land ever since his 1-for-11 start to the season; he’s 8-for-20 (40.0 percent) in ACC play.

With Williamson on the floor, long scoring droughts for Duke are difficult to fathom.

With Williamson on the floor, the on-ball defense of freshman Tre Jones seems to be easier — as a result of opposing point guards having to dribble in fear from knowing that Williamson may suddenly appear out of seemingly nowhere at any moment.

With Williamson on the floor, junior big man Marques Bolden seems to draw confidence from knowing that he is playing alongside a legend.

ALSO READ: Marques Bolden’s improving play this season being overshadowed

With Williamson on the floor, Barrett and freshman Cam Reddish are able to find more open shots and know that even if they miss or make a mistake, chances are the legend will be there to clean up the mess.

Simply put, Zion’s touch turns his teammates into gold and opposing players into dust.

The stories seem like fiction. Luckily for the Blue Devils, they’re not. And they just keep becoming more difficult to believe.