Anthony Davis is playing out of his mind at the moment, as he tries to will the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs after the DeMarcus Cousins injury
When it was announced that DeMarcus Cousins would miss of the remainder of the season due to injury, many questioned whether the New Orleans Pelicans would make the playoffs.
After all, the team was a bottom 3 playoff team (when healthy) and had just lost its second-best player.
Since the injury, though, Anthony Davis has taken it upon himself to make sure the Pelicans don’t miss the playoffs.
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In the 12 games that Cousins has been out, Davis is averaging an insane 34 points and 13 rebounds per game on 50 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range. He currently has the Pelicans on a six-game winning streak, which began just before the NBA All-Star break, and has carried New Orleans all the way to the 5th seed in the conference.
They are now just two games back of the 3rd-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who are battling their own injury problems.
But the biggest thing about Davis is that his recent tear isn’t just a hot streak. While he isn’t averaging 30-plus points per game this season, he has quietly been on pace for the best season of his career.
On the year, Davis is averaging a career-high 28.2 points and 11 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 54 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range – both career highs.
If it weren’t for the insane season that James Harden and the Houston Rockets are having, there’s a good chance that Davis would be getting the MVP love at the moment. But because the Pelicans aren’t on pace to win 60 games this season, Davis has largely been overlooked.
Make no mistake, though. If the New Orleans Pelicans end up in the playoffs – and potentially one of the top 4 seeds in the Western Conference – a big part of the reason why will be Anthony Davis.
On Feb 10, roughly two weeks after the Pelicans lost DeMarcus Cousins, the team had lost five of their last six games. They were 9th in the Western Conference standings and the team’s playoff hopes were beginning to fade.
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Since then, though, the Pelicans haven’t lost a game. They’re on a six-game winning streak and don’t appear on slowing down anytime soon.
Anthony Davis is on a tear, and a mission. Don’t doubt the Pelicans now.