New Orleans Pelicans: Taking the pulse at the quarter season roundtable

Dec 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Which player has been the biggest surprise to you through the first quarter season?

Andrew: Dante Cunningham. When he was brought it, there were some questions about his fit, but after seeing him slide into the rotations, and conceivably replace John Salmons, he fits the bill.

Chris: Austin Rivers easily. Rivers has had to overcome a lot of first impressions with his awful rookie year and, while he hasn’t been incredible, he’s been contributing in positive ways. For most of his career Rivers has been either a negative, or a non factor. Him improving to a player that can positively contribute to the Pelicans has been quite the surprise.

Rick: I’ve got to go with the absurd numbers put up by Anthony Davis. Look, we all expected some great things from him…but I’m not sure we expected these kind of numbers right out of the gate. He’s on a whole other level right now. It wouldn’t be surprising if he regresses back a little bit as the season goes on, but he has the Pelicans fan base and management super excited, even more excited than they were before the season started.

Matt: I’m going to go with Rick here and say Anthony Davis. I put myself out there in the preseason and said repeatedly that this was the year Davis becomes a top five NBA player. Through the first 21 games he has been the best player in the NBA. Guys that young aren’t supposed to be this good this quick, so to me it has to be Davis.