DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis have frequently drawn fouls this season. A lot of fouls. In fact, Cousins and Davis currently rank first and third respectively in total fouls drawn.
Now, most of these fouls result in the ball either being inbounded by the Pelicans or free throw opportunities. However, on occasion, Davis and Cousins manage to snag three points the “old fashion way” with an and-one basket.
The and-one play is often one that can swing momentum in a game. Scoring two points (hopefully three) whilst getting the foul fires up players as well as their teammates, often leading to their team going on a run.
But which one of the Pelicans star duo has a greater effect on his team’s performance after making an and-one basket?
Well, from looking at the Pelicans performance in a three-minute window following an and-one play a surprising picture emerges. In the 54 minutes that have followed an and-one basket made by Davis this season, the Pelicans have actually been outscored by 14 points.
Whereas, when Cousins makes an and-one basket the results that follow are much better. The Pelicans are outscoring their opponents by 13 points in 101 minutes following Cousins’ and-one baskets. Not a huge difference but significant nonetheless.
So why could this be the case?
Well, perhaps it’s all linked to Cousins’ well-documented relationship with NBA officials.
Cousins is often late getting back on defense while proclaiming to the officials that he has just been fouled. Sometimes he’s right, sometimes he’s not. But regardless, the more this happens, the more Cousins’ frustration accumulates which is never a good thing.
That is until Cousins gets the foul called. At which point Cousins’ internal pressure valve is released as he settles into just the right mindset in order to help the Pelicans make a run. In this way, the and-one plays Cousins makes provide a way of firing him and the team up, whilst calming his frustrations with the officiating. At least temporarily.
But why are Davis’ and-one baskets not having the same effect?
It appears that Davis might just be too level-headed (minus his ejection against Minnesota) to receive any benefit of getting the foul called on an and-one play. For the most part, Davis has remained very calm and composed on the hardwood this season and this has extended to his reactions after completing and-one plays.
But what happens when he doesn’t?
The Roar:
On most of Davis’ and-ones, he remains calm-and-collected, expressing little emotion. In the 42 minutes following such plays, the Pels are an ice-cold minus-25.
But on occasion, Davis displays spurts of volcanic emotion, betraying his icy persona as he goes full human-torch. Davis lets out a mighty roar as he flexes, his head ferociously rocking back and forth like a possessed life-sized bobblehead doll.
So how are the Pelicans performing post this Mount Davis eruption?
In the 12 minutes following these plays, the Pelicans are noticeably improved, outscoring their opposition by 11 points. Although a small sample size, it is still a massive difference compared to the times that Davis has remained dormant.
But what about Cousins?
The Scowl:
Like Davis, Cousins also displays little emotion on the majority of his and-one baskets. But on occasion, he lets his distaste be known, allowing a signature scowl to creep across his face. And when this happens…it makes little difference.
The Pelicans are a plus-seven in the 18 minutes following an and-one basket in which Cousins scowls and a plus-six when he doesn’t. Either way, it appears that merely getting the foul called leads to a more engaged Cousins and, more often than not, a run for the Pels.
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In summary, it seems that an and-one basket by Cousins improves the team’s overall performance no matter what. Whereas and-one plays made by Davis only improves the team’s performance when he gets visibly fired up. Perhaps at times, AD’s ice could use a little more of Cousins’ fire.