4. Jrue and AD could use the help/rest
The Pelicans haven’t been shy about expressing how tired they’ve been as of late. January was a taxing month for NOLA, full of extended and tight finishes. In the month, four players in the NBA averaged at least 38 minutes a game. Three of those players belong to the Pelicans being Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, and DeMarcus Cousins.
In fact, Holiday has had a few possessions where he looked as gassed as you’ve ever seen him in a NOLA uniform.
As tired as you’ll ever Jrue Holiday here. From the forced three with Koufos on him. To him literally trying to grab Fox gassed, which leads to Gentry taking him out late for a breather. pic.twitter.com/Co9d0RcLcP
— Chris Conner (@Impatientbull) February 1, 2018
Without Cousins, it’s hard to imagine the minutes going down much. But at worst, Monroe provides a capable post presence that can take some of the offensive load off of Holiday and Davis. They still won’t be spring chickens, but they at least won’t be tired hogs.