The New Orleans Pelicans hit the jackpot in 2012 when they drafted power forward Anthony Davis after winning the NBA’s Draft Lottery to obtain the first overall pick. In four years with the Pelicans, Davis’ numbers have continued to improve and he hasn’t gone unnoticed as he is a three-time NBA All-Star while also being a member of the United States Men’s Basketball Team that took home gold medals during the 2012 Summer Olympics. Last year Davis helped the Pelicans make their first playoff appearance since 2011. And even though that the Pelicans were swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, the future still appeared to be bright for them heading into the 2015-2016 NBA season.
But that hasn’t been the case for the Pelicans as they stumbled out of the gates with a record of 1-11 which has been tough to overcome. The Pelicans entered play today with a record of 22-33 and they added to that futility tonight with a 20-point loss to the Washington Wizards. The Pelicans record has them in the basement of the Southwest Division and in 11th place overall in the Western Conference. Whereas the Pelicans appeared to be making strides last year under head coach Monty Williams who was surprisingly fired, they have taken steps backwards under current head coach Alvin Gentry as there doesn’t appear to be a semblance of order. And the person who is suffering the most is Davis who is having an MVP-caliber season which is being wasted due to a lack of consistent support around him.
On the year, Davis is averaging 24.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks which was highlighted by him going off for 59 points and 20 rebounds this past Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons. What makes matters more interesting what that it was an easy 59 points that Davis poured in. On the season Davis has scored 30 points or more in a game ten times while also having 28 double-doubles. For the month of February, Davis is averaging 30.7 points and 9.2 rebounds as he is the running the Western Conference’s Player of the Month. And whereas Davis is one the NBA’s elite big men, he doesn’t have a good support system around him in New Orleans which is reflected in the Pelicans current record.
The first mistake that the Pelicans made was to fire Williams last spring. Williams appeared to be a guy that was respected by the Pelicans team while also having a rapport with Davis who publicly expressed support for last year, but for some bizarre reasoning he still lost his job. Williams was replaced with Gentry who has only had three winning campaigns over his 12-year career as an NBA head coach which has included stints with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Phoenix Suns while the Pelicans are now finding out the hard way about his struggles from the bench.
Aside from Davis, the Pelicans have had five different players average in double figures this season, but guards Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans have seen their NBA careers sidetracked by injuries while New Orleans has simply lacked “the guy” who can consistently take some of the load off of their All-Star big man.
Last summer the Pelicans locked Davis up when both parties agreed on a five-year extension that is worth $145 million. Davis is signed through 2021, but it is time that the Pelicans to put a solid team around him that will be able to help New Orleans take the next step in the Western Conference. And if the Pelicans are unable to do that through both free agency and the NBA Draft, team general manager Dell Demps and Gentry will soon have a disgruntled superstar on their hands that will be looking to get out of town on the first riverboat heading up the Mississippi River.
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