New Orleans Pelicans: Evaluating Anthony Davis’ season so far

As the NBA All-Star break approaches, New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis has had another fine season. But just how good has he been and what do the Pelicans have to show for it?

Anthony Davis is on his way to having another spectacular season.

So far, he has done well pairing up with All-Star teammate DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo. The only knock on the New Orleans Pelicans (18-17) this season is their inability to string together consistent wins and avoid blown fourth quarter leads.

While dealing with his underperforming team, Davis has also had some injury concerns this season. A groin injury, a wrist injury, and at times a bum knee have kept him sidelined.

Despite all of that, Anthony Davis is on his way to another appearance at the All-Star game, is an outside MVP candidate, and could possibly lead this team to a playoff berth.

So far, Davis is averaging 25.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Let’s not forget, the man is still only 24 years old and not even in his prime yet. At 6’10”, Anthony Davis is a sweet-shooting, long defending, physical presence for the Pelicans. Compared to his previous seasons in NOLA, he is right on par with his normal numbers.

Meanwhile, his team has been unable to really show much for any of his big-time contributions. Since the Pelicans last made the playoffs in 2015, Anthony Davis has been putting up big numbers on teams that just didn’t cut it. So, how should Anthony Davis’s season be evaluated so far?

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Well for starters, he has some decent teammates for once. The likes of Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and of course, DeMarcus Cousins. However, Davis has been great in other areas as well. His field goal percentage stands at 56.8 percent. Add to that his 3-point percentage, which stands at 39.3 percent. Round out his percentages with his 81 percent from the free throw line and you have a very reliable offensive option.

Anthony Davis also ranks high in other areas as well. “The Brow” is fourth in blocks with 61 on the season so far, 10th in rebounding, sixth in points per game, and fourth in Player Efficiency Rating at 28.6. Also, Davis ranks fifth in offensive rating at 124.7 and fifth in win shares at 5.5. In other words, this guy is an elite player — nothing new there.

However, the question still remains: How do we evaluate Davis’s season? Well there are a few ways to examine this. One could say that statistically Anthony Davis is having another superb season and his team is just not getting it done.

On the other hand, Anthony Davis’ impact hasn’t helped the team get past .500 territory. Unfortunately, the defensive end is one of the biggest reasons the Pelicans are underachieving. Davis cannot be blamed there, however.

The Pelicans’ team defensive rating demonstrates just how much the squad struggles on that end. Out of the 30 teams, New Orleans ranks 26th in defensive rating. However, according to NBA.com, that defense posts a defensive rating of 103.4 with him on the court — compared to a disastrous 115.2 whenever he sits.

The biggest problem is Anthony Davis finds himself injured quite a bit. In his career, Davis has yet to play in 82 games. His career high came last season when he played in 75 games. He’s already missed five of 35 games this year.

No doubt, Anthony Davis is a superstar and vital part to the New Orleans Pelicans’ success. After his injury scares this season, Davis has been nothing short of great once again — spectacular on both ends of the floor.

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While the defense needs to pick up as a team team, from Davis and the entire squad, the Brow’s season can be summed up as great so far. He is putting up the numbers to carry NOLA, and if he is able to stay healthy, perhaps the Pelicans can put together a decent playoff run.