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NBA Player Power Rankings: Mid-March MVP Rankings

By Maxwell Ogden

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 14, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) celebrates after a dunk by forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 100-77. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) celebrates after a dunk by forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 100-77. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

14. DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans Pelicans

Position: Center
Age: 26 (8/13/1990)
Experience: 7th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .448/.348/.765
2016-17 Season Averages: 34.1 MPG, 26.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.1 ORPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.7 3PM

It’s becoming more difficult to justify including two players from a 27-41 New Orleans Pelicans team in the Player Power Rankings. Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins are phenomenal talents, but New Orleans is just 4-7 since acquiring Boogie.

For as long as Cousins is producing in a legitimately elite manner, however, it would be irrational to dismiss him as a Top 20 player.

Cousins struggled to do much of anything during New Orleans’ 125-122 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He stepped up the next time out, however, posting 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks during a 100-77 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

It was a rare example of both Cousins and Davis stepping up without stripping the perimeter players of the necessary touches to develop a rhythm.

With 14 games remaining and no first-round draft pick in 2017, New Orleans is 5.5 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. There isn’t much time to turn the season around, and if the Pelicans finish below .500, the All-NBA teams could include a snub.

Though Cousins spent most of the 2016-17 season with the Sacramento Kings, would voters name two teammates from a below .500 team All-NBA?