New Orleans Pelicans: Jrue Holiday is quietly having a career year

With DeMarcus Cousins sidelined, New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career

When it comes to the success of the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Davis is the obvious name that comes to mind first and, now with DeMarcus Cousins out, probably last.

Davis does deserve all of the praise coming his way, especially since his name has entered the MVP conversation. Cousins is another name that comes to mind, but when he went down for the season (get well soon, Boogie), someone needed to step to the plate alongside Davis.

Former Sixers’ All-Star Jrue Holiday has really started to score the basketball and his name should absolutely be talked about when it comes to this year’s success in New Orleans.

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Holiday is averaging a career-high in points (19.4), rebounds (4.4), and field goal percentage (49.7). More importantly, he has helped the Pelicans win eight straight games, scoring 20+ points in each of those outings. New Orleans is sitting in the four spot right now in the West.

It isn’t fair to say that New Orleans is better without Boogie, but it is fair to say that his injury has opened the door for Holiday to be that second scoring option. With Rajon Rondo running the point, Holiday has been able to embrace the role of a scoring guard.

He can play off-ball and he doesn’t have to worry as much when it comes to setting up his teammates like he did in the past. He can simply focus on putting points on the board.

Holiday is on pace to play more games this season than any other season as a Pelican. He is also on pace to play a full 82 games, something that has only happened once before in his career. His field goal attempts per game and his minutes per game are up (similar to his 2012-13 All-Star season in Philadelphia).

This is a combination of health and the fact that he has had to step up with Boogie out for the year.

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Honestly, it is hard to believe that New Orleans is in fourth place right now. Their wing play is still suspect and when Cousins went down, many believed that their season was over. However, Holiday’s career-year has been a huge reason why they are going up instead of down in the standings.