At issue is the Pelicans defense. Scribes can opine as much as they want about the talent surrounding Davis, but let’s not discount the underrated Jrue Holiday. New Orleans boasts some of the better supporting players in Nikola Mirotic, E’Twaun Moore, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton (when healthy) and Cheick Diallo. Could New Orleans use another All-Star — sure, every team could. But, it was just last season DeMarcus Cousins was on this squad and in truth the Pels best stretch came in the postseason when Boogie was lost to the Achilles injury.
Bottom line, there are games where Davis is suspect on defense, but he’s doing everything for this team (much like Westbrook did pre- PG13). Only Holiday is consistently bringing it on defense and until the supporting cast recognize their job has to deliver defensive intensity for 48 minutes the Pelicans will be mired in the group trying to earn a playoff berth.
Lakers fans watching Anthony Davis tonight pic.twitter.com/aTZOlcoxoz
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) December 22, 2018
New Orleans Pelicans:
Offensive Rating: 4th
Defensive Rating: 23rd
Net Differential: 12th
Points per game: 116.7 (2nd)
Offensive field goal efficiency: 47.8 percent (4th)
Opponents points per game: 115.1 (27th)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 46.5 percent (tied 20th)
3-Point percent: 34.9% (14th)
Opponent 3-point percent: 35.6% (18th)
Record: tenth in WC
Home: 11-5
Road: 4-11
Back to back sets: 6
Versus the East: 7-7
Versus the West: 8-9, 12th in WC
Week nine 1-2: Wins Thunder, lost to @Celtics, Heat
On tap for week 10: @Bucks, @Lakers, @Kings