Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 15 greatest scorers of all-time

By Daniel Lubofsky

NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 16: Chris Paul #3 and David West #30 of the New Orleans Hornets celebrate during the game against the Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Arena on December 16, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Pistons 95-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 16: Chris Paul #3 and David West #30 of the New Orleans Hornets celebrate during the game against the Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Arena on December 16, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Pistons 95-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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69. . Center. 2017-18. DeMarcus Cousins. 11. player

DeMarcus Cousins’ arrival in New Orleans was met with much excitement for a team looking to match franchise talent Anthony Davis with another superstar player, and while the fit between the two big men would be an interesting study in the modern NBA, the pairing looked to be the dawn of the league’s newest superteam.

As a scorer, Boogie combined the traditional inside domination of a near seven-footer with grace and skills better than a number of perimeter players.

At nearly 270 pounds, there may have been only a handful of guys capable of keeping Cousins away from the basket. He could back his way down from either side of the paint or simply put his head down from outside and batter all the way to the basket. It’s his attack mentality that helped DeMarcus rack up free-throw attempts with ease, with the only hope for the opposition being to get the ball out of his hands.

What separated him, though, from functioning as simply a back to the basket threat was his ability to operate around the 3-point line. He had an underrated ability to handle the ball both in transition and as the initiator in pick-and-rolls. Cousins also developed a respectable outside jumper over time, and it forced defenders to close hard, opening up a lane right to the rim.

Due to an Achilles tear in the middle of the 2017-18 season, Boogie wasn’t even able to last a full season with the Pelicans, who would choose to let him walk elsewhere in the summer for fear of giving him a long-term deal.

But during his 65 games in the lineup, there was no denying Cousins whatever he wanted to do at any point in the game, wreaking havoc from anywhere on the court and providing fans with excitement at what had the possibility of becoming the next great duo of big men.