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New Orleans Pelicans: 3 goals for Anthony Davis in 2018-19

By James Grieco

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23: NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23 Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during overtime at Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23: NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23 Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during overtime at Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

3. Stay healthy (while playing more center)

In his first few years in the NBA, Davis was a skinny kid growing into his body, and as a result, he had plenty of nagging injuries that forced him out of the lineup. In 2016-17, he topped 70 games for the first time in his career, playing in 75. He also played 75 games last season, despite a few injury scares.

However, from February 2017 onward, he had Boogie around to share the floor with. Once Boogie went down with his Achilles tear, Davis was forced to play center much more often than he had with Cousins in the picture.

Davis may be reluctant to play heavy minutes at the 5, most notably on defense because of the physical toll it takes on the body, but the Pelicans were simply a better team when they went small after Cousins’ injury.

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The Rajon Rondo–Jrue Holiday–E’Twaun Moore–Nikola Mirotic-Davis lineup posted a +4.8 rating in 9 minutes per game over 17 games, by far the team’s best output. Davis-Rondo-Moore-Mirotic-Ian Clark also posted a +4.8 rating, albeit in fewer games and minutes.

The most frequently used lineup where Davis shared the floor with Emeka Okafor, a traditional center, posted just a +0.8 rating in 10.8 minutes per over 13 games.

Now that Julius Randle is in New Orleans, Davis’s rim protection will be even more pivotal to keep the Pelicans’ defense above the fray. Combined with the minutes the Brow will likely spend playing alongside Randle and in small-ball lineups alongside Mirotic, there is no reason whatsoever to put him on the floor for more than a few minutes per game with Alexis Ajinca, Emeka Okafor or Jahlil Okafor this season.

The regular season is clearly a grind and rest is important, but the Western Conference is ridiculous this season (yet again) and the Pelicans will likely need AD to play center routinely to pile up as many wins as possible.

If Davis can top 75 games again with the burden of playing mostly center, he’ll dispel any injury concerns around him once and for all.

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