Pelican Debrief’s “Pictures of Pelicans History” is a series looking at the best and worst moments in the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Hornets history.
In today’s second installment of “Pictures”, we’ll revisit a recent favorite: the Pelicans victory over the Spurs in the final game of the season to seal their trip to the first NBA Playoffs of Anthony Davis’ career.
The history of the New Orleans Pelicans is neither extensive nor particularly joyous. When you get to Baron Davis on the first hand you count off the franchise’s best players on, there’s not a lot of excitement to go around. However, most of the team’s best recent moments begin and end with Anthony Davis. So it’s not a surprise to say that in one of the highest stakes games in franchise history, the Brow posted a game-deciding stat line.
A whopping 38.8 usage rate (percentage of the plays “used” by a player while he’s on the court), 31 points, 13 rebounds, nine trips to the line, and three blocks. We say this often, but Davis really was everywhere:
There was a coast-to-coast throwdown, some nice ball movement, and aggressive, purposeful play throughout. Considering the stakes that day, it was probably his truest SuperDuperStar coming out party. See, the Pelicans were playing for their playoff lives that day; in control of their own fate, the team needed only a victory of its nearby division rival to seal a trip to the Bay in the first round. Answering the call was the team’s bellcow and leader, Mr. Anthony Davis.
That’s where the snapshot is focused in this edition of Pictures of Pelicans History: the shock of the New Orleans Pelicans rising to the necessary heights and overcoming their slim odds to create an opportunity for themselves. And it’s not like there was nothing on the line for San Antonio; this was the year that the Spurs slipped to sixth in the Western Conference standings after surprise seasons by Houston and Portland aggravated an already stupefying West.
Amid all of it, the Pelicans found strength. With Russ nipping at their heels, AD and the Pels played an efficient brand of team ball and forced their way into the playoffs.
Today, with the benefit of hindsight, we can more fully appreciate the momentousness of this feat. We are now a season removed from this surprising playoff berth, though to call the 2015-16 campaign a “season” would be an insult to Merriam-Webster. Last year was no basketball season; it was a five-plus month mockery of modern health science and basketball chemistry. Sometimes, it seemed, the only thing getting us through it was the promise of more and the memory of that perfect storm. Now, with the band dissolved and the memories fading, it seems far-fetched to appreciate what we know now to be a flawed roster and a flash of dumb luck. I urge you to not let it become true in your recollection.
Look closer at the win over the Spurs, and you can see a group of athletes enjoying themselves and work into perfect rhythm every night. Norris Cole’s herky-jerky stylefest, Jrue’s ho-hum steadfastness, Davis’ explosive bravado, Tyreke hurling set-up after set-up on target and a step ahead of a great defense. There were so many things to love.
Next: Pictures Part One: AD's OKC Buzzer Beater
Don’t let this one fade, friends. Let not your current impressions of old favorites tarnish the ecstasy you get from remembering the W’s of seasons past. There is something to be said for good, old-fashioned victory, even in an imperfect circumstance amid harsh realities. And as wins go, beating the freaking SPURS to make the damn PLAYOFFS is a call-it-from-the-rooftop bit of magic that comes but once a generation.