New Orleans Pelicans Quarter Season Roundtable
Dec 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 114-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Who has been the Pelicans early season MVP?
Nathan: Despite the skid early in the season, the MVP is still obviously Anthony Davis. At times, Davis has looked downright dominant and torn through the opposition. He currently leads the Pelicans in quite a few standard stats, like points per game and rebounds per game, but also leads the Pelicans in player efficiency rating, defensive box plus/minus and value over replacement player. Multiple times throughout this early going, Davis has played more than well enough for the team to win a game, and the team just hasn’t played around him. His added three-point shot, which he shoots at a 35.3% rate (good enough for third on the team), has turned him into an unstoppable offensive monster. On the defensive end, Davis has looked disinterested and misses rotations and help opportunities with regularity. He still may be the Pelicans’ best defender, though, as the defensive rating plummets from 108.7 to 114.7 when he leaves the court. If anyone can right this ship, it’s Davis.
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Rick: As long as water is still wet, Anthony Davis is the MVP of the Pelicans. He’s been putting up really good numbers once again this year, even if they are not as strong as last year’s unheard of numbers. He’s stayed as healthy as you can possibly ask of him with his past injury history, He’s been able to be effective from behind the arc and has seemed to fit into Gentry’s offensive system well. The defense has become a worry but that maybe due to the increase in his workload from the injuries in Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca. There’s not much more he can do. He’s the MVP.
Austin: It’s obviously Anthony Davis. There really isn’t a need to discuss this, is there?
Matt: Yeah this one is easy. Anthony Davis has struggled at times this season but without him the Pelicans probably have only one or two wins. He carries this team with regularity and one those few nights he gets help the Pelicans have a chance to win. There just haven’t been enough of those games.
Next: The disappointments