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2016-17 Season In Review: New Orleans Pelicans Frontcourt

By Terrence Verwayne

Mar 31, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates from the bench with forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) during the fourth quarter of a game against the Sacramento Kings at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 117-89. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates from the bench with forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) during the fourth quarter of a game against the Sacramento Kings at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 117-89. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 31, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) steals the ball from Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) steals the ball from Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

DeMarcus Cousins

33.8 MPG | 24.4 PPG | 12.5 RPG | 3.9 APG | 1.5 SPG | 1.1 BPG

DeMarcus Cousins, after wearing out his welcome in Sacramento, was dealt to the Pelicans during the All-Star break. Rumors of the Kings’ willingness to move Boogie had been flying around for a couple of years, but the Pelicans’ acquisition of Cousin was shocking nonetheless.

Boogie’s career in New Orleans got off to a rocky start. The team lost three straight games after the trade before finally winning against the Detroit Pistons on Mar. 1 — a game Cousins sat out due a suspension for his 18th technical foul.

DeMarcus often found himself in foul trouble while the early returns of his ability to jell cohesively with Anthony Davis weren’t looking too good.

For example, while Davis was enjoying a 46-point 21-rebound performance in an overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets on Mar. 11, Cousins was watching from the bench during most of the fourth and overtime periods.

Then, something clicked. The more and more we saw Cousins effectively being worked into coach Alvin Gentry’s offense, the more Cousins and Davis’ chemistry continue to build and we got a glimpse of how scary their potential could be. The wins came late in the season, so unfortunately the Pelicans ran out of time and missed the playoffs. All is not failed, however, as they can use the positives from Cousins late in the season as something to build off of for next year.

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