New Orleans Pelicans: 5 keys to series vs. Blazers

With the best player on either side of their first round matchup in the 2018 NBA Playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans have the chance to advance to the second round for the first time since 2008.

After DeMarcus Cousins‘ season was cut short from a torn Achilles suffered in January, many believed the New Orleans Pelicans‘ 2017-18 season was over.

Before the injury, it was beginning to look like Cousins and fellow big man Anthony Davis had figured out how to play together, utilizing high/low action with some ball-handling duties mixed in as well.

Davis’ teams had struggled as the lone scorer in past seasons, and with Cousins out, he’d be forced to carry the load once again. Instead of trying to spread out Cousin’s offensive responsibilities among the rest of the roster, both Davis and point guard Jrue Holiday took it upon themselves to pick up the offensive slack.

In the month following Cousins injury, Davis averaged a whopping 35.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.1 blocks over 11 games, while Holiday increased his averages to 21.3 points and 6.9 assists per game.

The 3-6 matchup usually isn’t full of shockers, but with the right teams, an upset wouldn’t be so surprising. With Davis’ two-way dominance and Holiday’s emergence as a bona fide second option, the Pelicans can do some real damage against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Here are the five keys for the Pelicans if they hope to pull off an upset.