Ranking Each New Orleans Pelicans Player Heading into 2015 NBA All-Star Break

Essentially, Anthony Davis is the New Orleans Pelicans.

One of the league’s best and brightest young players, the 21-year-old All-Star has been dominant since the opening tip of 2014-15.

Davis is averaging 24.5 points (third in the NBA), 10.3 rebounds (11th) and 2.7 blocks (first). He also boasts the top player efficiency rating in basketball at 31.80—which is two-hundredths under Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time best mark of 31.82.

Without AD, the Pels couldn't dream of meaningful basketball come springtime. But Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday (when healthy) are doing what they can to help the third-year superstar carry the load.

With their assistance, Davis has positioned New Orleans for a shot at its first playoff berth since Chris Paul departed.

The 27-24 Pelicans are jostling with the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder for the final postseason spot. In the face of adversity, New Orleans has won seven of its last 10.

This break couldn't come at a better time. After throwing down a vicious alley-oop against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 7, Davis slipped off the rim and landed awkwardly. He  came out of the game, which his team lost by 35, and was diagnosed with a day-to-day right shoulder sprain.

Every player is ranked on the upcoming slides according to two things: what he's done up to this point and how significantly he’ll impact New Orleans’ playoff chances.

Flightless Birds

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John Salmons

After getting some action toward the end of November/early December, Salmons has since totally fallen off the radar, playing in just three of the team's past 20 games.

With Quincy Pondexter and Dante Cunningham dominating the small forward minutes, don’t expect to see Salmons reclaim a prominent role the rest of the year.

Jeff Withey

Withey is the only active player seeing less than 11 minutes per game. It’s understandable, though. With Davis, Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca ahead of him on the depth chart, coach Monty Williams doesn’t have much use for the former Kansas shot-swatter. The team must see something in the 24-year-old 7-footer to keep him around this long.

Toney Douglas

The five-year veteran just finished up a stellar season in the Chinese Basketball Association, but he won’t be the star of the Pelicans.

He’s pretty much just around for insurance until Holiday returns from his ankle injury after the All-Star break. It'll come as a bit of a surprise if Douglas is in New Orleans longer than a pair of 10-day deals.

Injury Update: Jrue Holiday

Holiday tweaked his ankle against the Boston Celtics on Jan. 12, and was ruled out for 2-4 weeks. Surprisingly, the Pelicans have hit their stride without their second-best player. In recent weeks, the team has gone 9-5 and played its best basketball all year.

When he returns after the break, Holiday will only help on both ends of the floor.

10. Luke Babbitt

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Stats: 3.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 42.4% FG, 49.4% 3PT

Luke Babbitt was put on this team for two reasons: to have salon-quality hair and read the news hit three-pointers.

Prior to Pondexter’s arrival in early January, Babbitt was averaging 15.6 minutes per game. His three-point stroke—and the roster's gaping hole at small forward—kept him in the rotation.

Babbitt started 19 straight games from Dec. 2 to Jan. 5, averaging 5.1 points and 2.1 boards on 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from downtown.

But the 25-year-old can’t really create his own shot and sometimes struggles to guard opposing wings. The Pelicans couldn't survive with Babbitt as the primary 3.

Cunningham began to chip into Babbitt’s minutes when he was signed on Dec. 4, and then Pondexter solidified the transition after the Pels traded Austin Rivers and Russ Smith for the former Memphis Grizzly and a second-round pick on Jan. 12.

In the team’s last 13 games, Babbitt has averaged just 4.4 minutes and tallied five DNPs. He’ll be used the same way throughout the rest of the year as long as Pondexter and Cunningham continue to play well.

9. Jimmer Fredette

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Stats: 4.0 PPG, 1.2 APG, 38.5% FG

The NBA is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of business. And lately, Fredette has been contributing to a surging team.

When Holiday was ruled out for 2-4 weeks on Jan. 14, the Pelicans were in a jam at point guard. Evans moved seamlessly into the starting spot, but that left Nate Wolters and Jimmer to battle it out for the second-string role.

Wolters was decent, but the team gave Fredette a vote of confidence in letting the former walk after the expiration of his second 10-day contract.

“Like I always say, you've got to be ready when your name is called,'' Fredette said after a 10-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks, via John Reid of NOLA.com. “The last couple of games I've been able to get in there a little bit and be able to contribute and just be aggressive. I just want to go out there and help the team as much as I can.”

In his past four contests, Fredette has seen a tick under 15 minutes a night. He’s managed to hold his own running the point, averaging 6.3 points on 41.7 percent shooting.

Fredette’s playing time has been sporadic all year. But in the five games he’s seen 20-plus minutes, the diminutive guard has averaged 11.2 points and 2.8 assists.

With Holiday due back after the All-Star break, Fredette will continue to see hit-or-miss minutes off the pine.

If he can start nailing his long-range shots with greater consistency—he's making a horrendous 19.5 percent of his three-pointers—Williams will be much more inclined to give Jimmer bona fide minutes every night.

8. Dante Cunningham

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Stats: 5.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 48% FG

The defensive-minded Cunningham does not get minutes for his ability to fill up a scorebook.

More often than not, the veteran will fail to impress statistically. But since his arrival, he’s given the Pels a notable boost on D.

“Most players don't want to be touched or grabbed,” Cunningham said in late January, per John Reid of NOLA.com. “Obviously you are not going to shut down an NBA player, you can take away what they like to do by just making it more difficult.”

Opponents are shooting just 49.4 percent at the rim with Cunningham guarding them, according to Stats.NBA.com.

“I've never been a dirty player,'' Cunningham continued. “But I've always been an active, energetic player. We have great scorers on the floor that can get up points in a hurry. I'm here to slow down one of their better players and make it easier for everyone else.”

A lanky 6’8” forward, the 27-year-old is quick enough to stay with guards and has the height and strength to go toe-to-toe with bigger opponents.

Despite accumulating just five double-digit scoring nights in 35 chances, the in-your-face journeyman appears to have earned Williams' trust.

Cunningham’s aggressive defense should come in handy against players like Kevin Durant down the stretch.

7. Quincy Pondexter

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Stats: 7.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 38.8% FG 

Pondexter and Cunningham share a similar role.

If it weren’t for his consistently strong effort on defense, Pondexter’s abysmal shooting percentage would hurt his playing time.

But Williams has given the 26-year-old at least 20 minutes in all but one game since the team acquired his services in mid-January.

“They make plays on the floor that you don’t go over in the scouting report, and they’ve been in a number of systems, so their IQ for the game is pretty high,” Williams said of his veteran wings, per Reid.

Pondexter will take open shots, but he just doesn’t connect at an efficient rate. In New Orleans' 116-113 win over the Thunder on Feb. 6, the 6’6” forward put up a season-high 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting in 33 minutes.

However, that was a bit of an anomaly. In 14 games, Pondexter has been held under 10 points nine times.

Still, his role under Williams will remain an important one thanks to his defense.

6. Alexis Ajinca

Stats: 5.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 58.4% FG

The 7-foot Frenchman needs more playing time.

Davis and Asik form a formidable one-two punch inside with Anderson coming off the bench, but Ajinca has been sensational when given a chance.

On Jan. 18, with Davis sidelined due to a toe injury, the 26-year-old racked up a career-high 22 points. Afterward, he pointed to a peculiar source as his reason for staying confident despite irregular minutes.

Here’s Darrell Williams of The Advocate (Baton Rouge):

"

Ajinca said he has become more confident with increased playing time. However, the key, he said, has been staying even-keeled when he isn’t playing a lot.

That has come with help. Ajinca said he has a mental coach, Cedric Quignontn-Fleuret, a coach at the French Academy.

“Sometimes, I’m talking to him and trying to stay positive as much as I can,” Ajinca said. “It helps me a lot to get things out of my mind and move forward."

"

In the second game following his big night, Ajinca saw just six minutes in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. On Jan. 30, he poured in 17 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes, but he didn’t check into the following game.

“He understands that most nights we’re going to go with three bigs, but there are times where the matchups allow for him to get in as a fourth big,” Williams said on Feb. 4, per Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com. "We put a lot of confidence and trust in Alexis. It starts with his skill set, one, but his mindset really helps him succeed when he gets in the game.”

There’s really nothing more that Ajinca can do. He’s shooting a remarkable 58.4 percent from the field and 73.3 percent as a starter. Per 36 minutes, the long-legged center is averaging 16.3 points and snagging 13 boards.

Williams must find a way to get more minutes for Ajinca after the All-Star break.

5. Omer Asik

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Stats: 7.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 50% FG

Asik rarely appears to genuinely enjoy playing basketball.

He can be a bit pouty, often exchanging sentiments of displeasure with various teammates and looking at referees with begging eyes after even the slightest contact.

The 28-year-old can be invisible for stretches, too, especially on offense. But one glance at a typical postgame box score will tell you why Asik plays as much as he does (25.8 minutes, 47 starts).

He gets boards.

The 7-footer from Turkey has actually accumulated 138 more rebounds (468) than points (330) on the season. Crazy, right?

That’s an astonishing number. But keep in mind he’s not asked to score—Asik is out there for defensive and rebounding purposes only.

In 47 starts, Asik has also had more double-digit rebounding games (24) than single-digit outings (23). He’s cleaned the glass for an average of 10 nightly boards thus far, including five 15-plus games.

The Pelicans are actually better offensively with Asik on the bench, but his impact on D and the boards is significant enough that the team will gladly deal with his scoring shortcomings.

4. Ryan Anderson

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Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 40.8% FG

In a down year from beyond the arc, the traditionally deadeye Anderson has managed to remain one of New Orleans’ most integral offensive pieces.

He ranks second behind Davis for the team lead in win shares, which is impressive for a guy who comes off the bench every night.

The 6’10” stretch 4 is shooting a career-worst 34.7 percent from distance—and a mind-blowing 27.5 percent on the road—but his efficiency from two-point range (46.9 percent) has allowed him to maintain a respectable scoring average.

One of the reasons for this is Anderson’s much-improved post game. Here’s what I wrote back on Dec. 21:

"

Davis has been the shining star in New Orleans, destroying opponents and filling up stat sheets like few others in the Association. And Anderson, to his credit, has been more of a co-star than a sidekick.

When Davis sits, Anderson becomes the guy on offense. The ‘Cans frequently run their sets through him on the high or low post with the Brow on the bench.

[…]

Anderson is far from Hakeem Olajuwon. His post game is not the sort that kids will emulate growing up, but it works. It’s herky-jerky and quirky, but it works.

"

Armed with an array of pump fakes and oddly angled turnarounds, Anderson has carried a bench that’s ranked 18th in scoring, according to HoopsStats.com.

Going forward, he’ll be an invaluable weapon on the offensive end.

3. Eric Gordon

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Stats: 12.2 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.8 RPG, 42% FG

Gordon has been the highest-paid player in New Orleans for the past two years. Only recently has he earned that money,

The 26-year-old shooting guard was in the midst of another disappointing season through his first 12 games of 2014-15. Gordon was contributing just 9.5 points on 39.8 percent shooting to go along with two assists and 2.3 rebounds.

But then he tore his left shoulder labrum on Nov. 22. And after missing 21 games, Gordon returned and consequently tore something else—this time, it was opposing defenses.

Since he rejoined the starting lineup on Jan. 5, Gordon has scored 14 points a night while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor. He’s hit 46.4 percent of his long-range tries while also adding 5.1 assists and 3.1 boards.

“He's getting more comfortable on the floor,” Davis said on Feb. 4, per Reid. “We're definitely looking to him to score the ball and play defense. And that's what he's been doing.”

Holiday’s injury appeared to kill any and all playoff hopes that New Orleans had left. But Gordon’s surge has allowed the Pelicans to stay afloat.

It’s no coincidence that the team rattled off six wins in seven games (from Jan. 21 to Jan. 30) as Gordon dropped 16.9 points and 6.4 assists while converting 50 percent of his twos and 54.3 percent of his threes.

If the Pelicans get this kind of production out of Gordon after their starting point guard returns, the playoff race with Phoenix and OKC will get a whole lot more interesting.

2. Tyreke Evans

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Stats: 17 PPG, 6.0 APG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 43.8% FG

With the team at full strength, Holiday is the second-best player with Evans a hair behind.

Any team in the Association would slip a bit if its No. 2 guy was taken away. But New Orleans hasn’t missed a beat.

As mentioned on the previous slide, Gordon has been integral to that success. He’s shot the lights out, but he can’t run the point.

That’s where Evans, who's started at each guard spot this season, comes in.

With Jrue nursing a tweaked ankle, Evans, a 6’6” truck of a ball-handler, has been exceptional as the pulse of the offense. The 25-year-old has averaged 17.1 points, 7.9 dimes, 5.4 boards and 1.2 steals in Holiday’s stead, leading the Pels to a 9-5 record.

“When they collapse in the paint and I get by my man, there’s a guy open,” Evans said after beating the Hawks, via NBA.com. “I’m doing a good job of figuring that out and finding [my teammates] and just helping my team out.”

Evans’ versatility is nearly unmatched in today’s NBA. He’s one in a very select group of players who has the ability to comfortably slide into different positions at a moment’s notice.

Should New Orleans experience any more injury trouble—which is certainly a possibility—having a jack-of-all-trades will provide Williams with a number of different options.

1. Anthony Davis

Stats: 24.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 55.1% FG

Surprise, surprise.

In an absolute battle with the Thunder on Feb. 6, the Brow was a beast. He scored 41 points on 15-of-23 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and a pair of swats.

Oh, and he also hit the biggest shot of his young career.

With 1.2 seconds left in a tied game, AD sprang loose on a discombobulated inbounds play. Evans delivered a pass to Davis well beyond the three-point arc, and with a leap and a double-pump, the 6’10” star launched a 30-foot bomb.

The shot found the bottom of the net, and Davis found himself another step closer to being viewed as one of the game’s truly elite players.

"If you don't want to be great, step aside and let someone else be great," Williams told the Pels, per Arash Markazi of ESPN.com. “[Davis] was not willing to step aside and let someone else be great.”

Williams continued to gush about the stud who’s quickly transformed from a skinny kid out of Kentucky to one of the best ballers on earth:

"

Tonight you saw greatness from a guy who doesn't run from it. You don't get a lot of time to celebrate in the NBA, but I'm sure he feels that he's not just one of the better players in the league, he might be the best when it comes to being a young guy who's not afraid of the moment. He's carrying his team at 21, and not many guys have been able to do that at his age. It just adds to his experience. He knows that he can come through. We've put him in situations before and maybe gave him too much responsibility, but that may be helping him now.

"

"I want to be great, so you have to accept those challenges," Davis would say after the buzzer-beater. "I saw KD make those two threes [in the fourth quarter], and it bothered me, but I couldn't let it affect me to the point where I couldn't make play."

With AD spearheading the charge, the Pelicans are looking—and playing—like a postseason team.

If he continues to get support from the rest of the guys on this slideshow, as well as Holiday, New Orleans could be playing its first playoff game in five years come April.

All stats are accurate courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.