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2019 NBA Mock Draft: There’s movement in the top 5

By Brendon Kleen

CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers brings the ball up court during the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers brings the ball up court during the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 19: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a dunk against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 19, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 19: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a dunk against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 19, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Zion Williamson. 1. player. 156. . F. Duke

One thing Virginia did Saturday despite ultimately losing to Williamson and the Blue Devils was force Williamson to force shots in isolation. Now, Williamson is a mack truck on ice skates that will devour any defense you throw at him, so he still scored 27 points on 16 shots — but he was tentative. Slowing the game down, as Virginia does so well, changed how Williamson had to play. He adjusted, but it’s the first time all year you could really see the presumptive No. 1 overall pick have to adjust.

The one 3 Williamson tried was a direct byproduct of that cautiousness and it was the clearest example of how NBA teams will defend him right away. We see it with all big playmakers in the league today — from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Ben Simmons — whose jumper is their weakest scoring mechanism. Defenses back off and dare them to charge into the paint. Those two are strong and agile enough to generally still create layups at will, but they get in their own heads from time to time or turn the ball over when they get stifled.

Next. Meet the 2018 NBA 25-under-25. dark

Williamson is going to make mistakes. We all know this. He had three turnovers to just one assist against Virginia, the strongest evidence that he had to change his game to accommodate the Cavaliers’ pack-line defense.

But watching Williamson survey that aggressive front, charge into the teeth of the defense and still make efficient plays showed yet again the Williamson is one of the most talented and versatile NBA Draft prospects we’ve seen in years.