10. New Orleans Pelicans
When DeMarcus Cousins went down with a torn Achilles tendon in late January, the New Orleans Pelicans’ playoff hopes likewise appeared finished. Instead, Anthony Davis carried the team on his massive shoulders, stringing together a too-little, too-late MVP campaign to help secure New Orleans’ second playoff berth of his career.
In the 33 games since Boogie departed, the Brow averaged an eye-popping 30.2 points on 51.4 percent shooting, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 triples in 36.4 minutes per game. Those numbers are shockingly close to what he put up during his lone playoff appearance in 2014-15 during a first-round sweep at the hands of the Warriors, albeit in six-and-a-half fewer minutes per game.
So long as Davis remains upright—which is no sure thing, given his injury history—New Orleans will have a puncher’s chance in its first-round series against the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. If the Brow doesn’t receive help from his supporting cast, though, the Pelicans could be headed toward the same fate that befell them three years ago in the playoffs.
That complementary output starts with point guard Jrue Holiday, who strung together his most efficient and productive campaign yet in the first season of his five-year, $130-plus million megadeal. Trade-deadline acquisition Nikola Mirotic has proved to be a godsend in the wake of Cousins’ injury, as he’s third behind Davis and Holiday among active New Orleans players in scoring (14.6 points per game), and he’s pumping in a team-high 2.2 triples on a 33.5 percent clip. The return of Playoff Rajon Rondo is just around the corner, and E’Twaun Moore is among the best three-and-D wings who casual NBA fans know nothing about.
A first-round matchup against Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum doesn’t bode well for the Pelicans’ chances of advancing far into the playoffs, but Anthony Davis is Anthony Davis. Doubt him at your own peril.
Next: 9. Oklahoma City Thunder