New Orleans Pelicans: The Southwest is a divisional nightmare

4. Dallas Mavericks

2016-17 season series: Dallas Mavericks (2 wins) – New Orleans Pelicans (2 wins)

Last season, the Pelicans and the Mavericks tied their season series at two games apiece. The first two games took place earlier in the season before the Cousins trade. The third game happened the week Cousins arrived to New Orleans from the blockbuster trade.

But the fourth game could be a precursor of what might be the norm for this season.

Both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins had their best performance of the 17 games they played. Cousins dropped 29 points, 16 rebounds and six assists to match with the Brow’s big game of 30 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

These two All-Stars had to play more than 35 minutes in a very close game to secure the win. But that game went to show everyone that the Mavs don’t have anybody that can match up with both Cousins and Davis.

So who can match up against Davis or Cousins?

Nerlens Noel is the only capable big who can play any solid defence for the Mavericks, but it won’t be enough to contain either Davis or Cousins. In the four games against the Mavs, Anthony Davis averaged 33.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.

There is a reason why Anthony Davis has the best numbers against this team than any other in the Southwest Division. The Mavs had no interior bigs to defend him, as neither Andrew Bogut earlier in the season nor Noel in the final two season series games could stop him.

Harrison Barnes is the only offensive threat that the Mavs possess at the moment. If the Pelicans can isolate him in their defensive schemes consistently, look for a season sweep by the end of April.

Prediction: The Pelicans sweep the season series against the Dallas Mavericks.