Power Ranking New Orleans Pelicans Players Heading into Final Month of Season
Playoffs!? Are you kiddin’ me?
No, actually, this isn't a laughing matter. The New Orleans Pelicans trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by just a single game for the Western Conference's No. 8 postseason spot.
Despite injuries to some of their most crucial pieces, including MVP candidate Anthony Davis, coach Monty Williams’ Pelicans are hitting their stride at the right time.
Since the All-Star break, New Orleans has had the No. 6 offense in basketball, trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Thunder.
NOLA’s 9-4 post-ASG record is also tied for the league’s fourth best.
This race is far from over, as OKC will get back reigning MVP Kevin Durant in the next week or so, while New Orleans will embark on a painfully difficult road trip.
All season long, it felt like OKC would eventually run away with the eighth spot. And yet, here we are. The Pelicans control their own destiny, too, having won their season series against the Thunder, 3-1.
Rankings on the following slides are based on how much a given player will help New Orleans outlast Oklahoma City in the chase for eighth.
Health Update
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Ryan Anderson
Nearly three weeks ago, Ryan Anderson sprained his right MCL on the same night that AD re-aggravated his shoulder against the Miami Heat.
He was initially ruled out for two to four weeks, but as he told NBA.com’s Jim Eichenhofer, no return date is set in stone.
“It’s really when my body feels good,” the three-point shooter said. “The strength work is going to be a part of it the next few weeks, building back up. Obviously I want to get back as soon as I can.”
The oft-injured Anderson will surely help the Pelicans, who, despite their recent surge, rank 19th in converted three-pointers per game.
Jrue Holiday
It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if the Pels shut down Jrue Holiday for the second year in a row.
The starting point guard suffered a stress reaction in his lower right leg on Jan. 12 and has yet to suit up since then. As relayed by John Reid of NOLA.com, the 24-year-old reinjured the ankle while rehabbing during the All-Star break.
He shed his protective walking boot on March 4, but team officials said that “there is no timetable” on Holiday’s return, adding that “he would be evaluated in three weeks by the team's medical staff.”
With Tyreke Evans running the point at an exceptionally high level, it might be best for Holiday to gear up for next season instead of rushing back and jeopardizing more of his future.
Pine Riders
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Jeff Withey
In a season where several potentially valuable players (Gal Mekel, Nate Wolters) have come and gone, Withey’s place on the roster speaks volumes. New Orleans must see some long-term value in the former Kansas big man to have kept him around this long.
His contract expires after this season, so maybe NOLA is slimming his playing time in a crowded frontcourt in order to lessen his asking price.
Elliot Williams
Gasping for air after clawing his way out of the NBA D-League, Williams hasn’t really made much of an impact during his three games with the Pelicans. His numbers are yawn-worthy, but his time has increased steadily each game he’s played, and there’s something to be said for that.
New Orleans initially signed him to a 10-day deal, but after Coach Williams showed confidence in calling Elliot Williams' number, he was given a second 10-day deal.
10. Jimmer Fredette
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Key Stats: 3.7 PPG (38.7% FG), 1.2 APG
Say it ain’t so, Jimmer!
The fan-favorite shooting guard was looking like a legitimate part of the rotation in January, but he’s since fallen off Williams’ radar.
Fredette has yet to see 15 minutes of action since Feb. 20 and has also ridden the bench for five of New Orleans’ 11 games during that span.
The 6’2” dynamo guard can still knock down long-range shots based on the fact that he's had explosive shooting nights. On the season, though, he's shooting—shield your eyes!—17.4 percent from downtown.
Eric Gordon, who returned to the starting 2 spot on Jan. 5, has been lights out from downtown since he rejoined the starting five. Luke Babbitt’s stroke has been lethal all year, too.
To be frank, the Pelicans just don’t have much of a use for Fredette. The arrival of Norris Cole in the backcourt eliminates the need for ball-handling, while Gordon and Babbitt have provided accurate long-distance shooting.
Fredette seemed to surprise everyone when he cracked the rotation early in the year, but with the way this team is playing without him, it’s difficult to see him doing so again.
9. Luke Babbitt
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Key Stats: 4.2 PPG (48.8% FG), 50.9% 3PT, 1.9 RPG
In relatively limited action this season (13.8 minutes), Luke Babbitt has become a consistent threat from three-point territory on a team that needs to surround Davis with snipers.
From Feb. 21 to March 1, Babbitt averaged 18.5 minutes and 8.8 points (on 58.6 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from distance) over New Orleans' season-best five-game winning streak.
Babbitt has praised ball-handling teammates such as Evans, Cole and Gordon, who have been as accurate with their passes as he's been with his shots, per Jimmy Smith of NOLA.com.
“Watching the film, I noticed all the passes I was getting were perfect passes,” Babbitt said after scoring 18 points against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 23. “Eric had a couple to me, Tyreke, Norris, all of them. Not one of them was off at all. That always helps a shooter.”
Williams has spoken highly of Babbitt’s impact on and off the court all year. Here’s more from the coach, via Smith:
"Luke is just the same guy every day. No matter what. He's shooting the ball better and making better decisions off the dribble. But he's just consistent with his work, whether he's starting, not playing, or playing off the bench, he's the same guy. You can't quantify that. To talk about it, I think, would be disrespectful. It's hard to even talk about it.
He's that solid of a guy and worker and everybody loves him. You might not hear Luke say a word for a week or so. Then you'll hear him in the huddle say something, or in a time out. But he's really consistent. And I think that's a bright spot for us. He's gotten better. His percentages shooting the ball speak for themselves.
"
Babbitt will continue to serve as a sweet-shooting spot scorer down the stretch but won’t single-handedly decided too many games.
8. Dante Cunningham
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Key Stats: 5.4 PPG (45.8% FG), 3.7 RPG
Dante Cunningham came aboard this ship in early December and has since accounted for the team’s sixth-most defensive win shares.
The wiry 27-year-old’s numbers really aren’t flashy, but neither is his game—Cunningham’s niche is playing tough perimeter defense, often against the opponent’s best wingman.
Here’s an excerpt that could serve as the embodiment of what the 6’8” forward brings to New Orleans, per Eichenhofer in January:
"New Orleans racked up 44 baskets during a blowout win over Houston last week, including several highlight-reel dunks, but perhaps the biggest cheer inside the Smoothie King Center came on a first-half defensive play. Manned up against Rockets All-Star guard James Harden in the right corner, Pelicans reserve forward Dante Cunningham poked the ball away, dove on the floor, grabbed the ball and called a heads-up timeout. The sellout crowd of 17,705 roared its approval.
“Hitting the floor, it’s something that’s not too common in the NBA, but when you do it, it does make a stand and a good staple on the game,” Cunningham later described of his all-out hustle.
"
Williams called Cunningham’s steal “the signature play of the game” and added that the veteran “doesn’t back down. He gives us so many intangibles that you don’t teach.”
Cunningham has held opponents to less than their usual shooting percentage on two-point shots this season, per NBA.com, which has been valuable to a team currently ranked 26th in defense.
“Dante has been hustling,” Davis added. “That’s what we need. … Especially with Dante, his energy and effort, and he’s able to guard multiple positions.”
Don't expect Cunningham to put a bunch of points on the board, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the veteran will keep on hustling.
7. Quincy Pondexter
6 of 12Key Stats: 8.3 PPG (44.4% FG), 2.8 RPG, 1.5 APG
After three years of relative irrelevance on the Memphis Grizzlies bench, Quincy Pondexter has found a home with the franchise that drafted him four years ago.
Pondexter returned to New Orleans as part of the Austin Rivers trade in early January. And as I wrote on March 5, Q-Pon has done what Rivers struggled to do with any semblance of consistency: hit threes, play stout defense and serve as an energizer.
Since the 26-year-old joined the starting lineup on Feb. 21, the Pelicans have gone 9-3 with Pondexter contributing 9.1 points (48.7 percent, 43.6 percent from distance), 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists—all while playing impassioned D on the perimeter.
Some nights, Pondexter doesn’t provide a whole lot of offense—he’s not an explosive scorer, but he can hit open shots and get to the basket. When Davis was sidelined, though, the swingman scored a career-high 25 points and then dropped 18 two nights later.
Here’s an excerpt from what I wrote on March 5:
"With a young core already in place, Pondexter, who’s signed through 2017-18 for close to $4 million a year, is the perfect type of blue-collar role player to place around Davis long term.
He’ll knock down open shots but won’t cry about touches. He’ll play 20 minutes off the bench or 40 as a starter. When the ball hits the floor, his body will too.
"
Pondexter has been one of the team’s most pleasant surprises this season. Going forward, the Pels will count on him to continue providing a spark.
6. Alexis Ajinca
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Key Stats: 6.8 PPG (58% FG), 4.7 RPG
Alexis Ajinca has gone from an off-the-bench afterthought to a key rotation piece capable of holding his own in the paint.
Remember how the intro slide cited New Orleans as a pretty elite offense after the break? Ajinca has been a crucial part of that.
A beanpole-thin 7-footer, the 26-year-old has averaged 10.5 points (59.3 percent), 5.9 boards and a block per game in the 12 games following Feb. 20. When the Frenchman checks in alongside Davis, the Pels block more shots (2.1), grab more rebounds (4.9) and score a ton more points (13.2) per 100 possessions.
“He’s a great player,” Davis said of Ajinca, via Eichenhofer. “He can shoot it, he’s great in the post, defends, hustles. He’s been huge for us, especially in the games that I missed. That’s what we need, with him coming off the bench.”
Ajinca struggled to handle his lack of playing time early on, so much so that he actually needed a mental coach to help him through the trials and tribulations of life on the bench.
After spending the summer working on his post moves, Ajinca, who used to be a stand-around-the-arc type of guy, has found a home in New Orleans.
He’s an unrestricted free agent after this season and has played himself into a nice payday with the Pelicans or another team. New Orleans would be better off re-signing Ajinca for a cheaper price than fellow big fella Omer Asik, who is also set to hit the market.
5. Norris Cole
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Key Stats: 10.6 PPG (42.5% FG), 3.6 APG, 2.1 RPG
Trading John Salmons for Norris Cole was like exchanging a $5 bill for a $100 spot. General manager Dell Demps deserves to be carried around and fanned with large leaves for pulling that one off.
Cole, who struggled with the LeBron-less Miami Heat this season, has been huge since he arrived in New Orleans. The Pelicans lacked a true backup point guard all year before the Cole Train rolled into town.
The two-time NBA champion plays with a fire on both ends of the floor, and that’s spread to the rest of the ‘Cans following the trade.
Since Cole joined the team, New Orleans has gone 9-3. Now, that’s obviously not all because of him, but he certainly has contributed to the team’s recent surge.
Here’s what the 6’2” pit bull told Eichenhofer after erupting for 13 points in the final quarter in a Feb. 24 win over the Raptors:
"I was just being aggressive. Winning time, that’s when you want to be at your best. …
I play hard. I go after every ball that I can get. Gaining possession is the most important thing in this game. Whether it be on offense or defense. That’s what I try to do, give my team as many opportunities to score. It’s part of my makeup, being a defender and a competitor, taking on the challenge. It’s part of my DNA. I want to bring that to this team. I feel like if our defensive numbers improve, we have a good chance to try to sneak into that eighth seed.
"
Evans has been superb as the starting 1, but Cole gives the Pels the point guard depth that they’ve lacked all year. His playoff pedigree and big-time experience will be invaluable the rest of the way.
4. Omer Asik
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Key Stats: 7.3 PPG (51.7% FG), 9.9 RPG
Perhaps the least flashy player in the world, Asik is a consistent worker in the paint and on the glass.
Rarely dipping his toes into the waters of double-digit scoring, the 28-year-old center is a monster rebounder, having grabbed between 10 and 19 boards 31 times this season.
He’s limited to putback dunks and layups, primarily. In fact, New Orleans has a better offensive rating with Asik off the floor (111.4)—with him, the number is 106.1.
In addition to rebounding, though, the 7-footer from Turkey butters his bread on the defensive end. The Pels are a much better defensive team with Asik anchoring the paint alongside Davis.
The two lanky big men also box out with great consistency, leading to a sharp increase in team rebounds (5.3 percent) per 100 possessions.
Surprisingly, close to 45 percent of Asik’s rebounds come in traffic, per NBA.com, which is a testament to how hard he works to corral missed shots.
Don’t expect the Turkish big man to wow you with stats down the stretch. You might not even notice his presence on the floor, being that he does his dirty work relatively quietly.
But what you will notice is his absence. The Pelicans need Asik to continue working—without much glory—on both sides of the ball.
3. Eric Gordon
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Key Stats: 13.3 PPG (41.8% FG), 46.1% 3PT, 3.9 APG, 2.5 RPG
For the first 12 games of the year, Gordon and his heavy contract made fans cringe.
The shooting guard who was earning the team’s biggest paycheck was contributing a slight 9.5 points and two assists on 39.8 percent shooting from the field and 34.1 percent from downtown.
But then, after missing 21 games with a torn labrum in his shoulder, Gordon returned as a new man. Since reclaiming his starting role, the 26-year-old has been a completely different player, averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.1 boards while hitting threes at a clip of 48.9.
Now, despite his errant start, Gordon ranks behind only Kyle Korver as the league’s most accurate three-point sniper.
Pelicans assistant Fred Vinson, according to Eichenhofer, has pointed to Gordon’s health as the primary reason behind his deadeye consistency.
"It’s his health. Just being healthy, it means that his body is in balance. His shooting mechanics are on balance. He’s able to move fluidly, get to a spot, get his feet set and get his balance. Then, having the strength and the power from his legs. That’s a huge part of shooting, particularly from long range. With how deep the three-point line is in the NBA, there is less room for error. You’ve really got to be on-balance, and have the leg strength to get the ball there, so that you’re not shooting the ball just with your upper body. …
What helps is he’s getting the reps up, because he’s healthy now. He’s more apt to be in the gym getting up extra shots, as opposed to being in the training room, trying to protect his body and prepare himself to be able to play. Now that he’s healthy, he can get out on the court early before shootaround, or get extra shots in after practice. He’s able to say, ‘OK, I feel good, I can get those extra shots up.’ His health has been huge.
"
Gordon’s shooting prohibits opponents from focusing too much on Davis or collapsing on Evans’ drives to the tin. If EG keeps scorching, the Pelicans' clicking offense will remain at an elite level.
2. Tyreke Evans
11 of 12Key Stats: 16.8 PPG (43.8% FG), 6.5 APG, 5.3 RPG
When news broke about how serious Holiday’s injury really was, many people—including myself—viewed it as the Pelicans' death sentence. Without a true point guard to run the show, how on earth could this team earn a playoff berth?
Evans, who struggled at the 1 with the Sacramento Kings, has looked like a purebred PG in Holiday’s stead...and has made all of us doubters look like fools.
Quick enough to blow by opponents but strong enough to body them, Evans has put up 16.7 points (44.9 percent) while racking up 8.1 assists.
He’s dished out double-digit dimes 14 times in 28 games at point guard. By comparison, Rajon Rondo has done that 14 times in 54 games.
Reke Havoc tweaked his ankle in a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 9 and sat out New Orleans’ blowout over the Brooklyn Nets one night later.
Luckily, New Orleans didn’t see game action until five nights later, giving Evans time to heal.
Williams called Evans a "gamer" and said that "He wanted to come back the other day, but the trainers wouldn't allow it," per Reid.
Evans did, in fact, play against the Denver Nuggets, and almost hit them for a triple-double (25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds).
His standout performance and AD's near-legendary night weren't enough as Denver stole a crucial game (that should've been an easy W) away from the Pels.
In a conference saturated with elite guards, Evans has held his own. His big-time play has carried New Orleans through all its injury trouble and has been—and will continue to be—a driving force behind the playoff push.
1. Anthony Davis
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Key Stats: 24.5 PPG (54.5% FG), 10.3 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 1.3 SPG
One of the best players in the entire world, Anthony Davis is clearly the top dog on his own team.
Without him, the Pelicans wouldn’t really have a prayer at the eighth spot. However, AD’s teammates proved a lot by winning five straight games as he nursed a shoulder injury.
Durant, who has missed OKC’s last eight games, is on track for a return in the near future. The Thunder, despite Russell Westbrook’s individual heroics, have sorely missed the reigning MVP.
Davis, however, remains confident in his squad. Per Reid:
"It is fun because now every game matters. We're going to bring our energy and bring our best. They (Thunder) are going to bring their best.
Of course, you don't want to be fighting for a spot. You want to be locked in fourth, fifth or sixth. But somebody has to be the eighth seed and we think we can play with any team in the league. …
I know everything starts with me and I'm trying to be aggressive. I know that the team leans on me for plays and leans on me to be a leader. I just try to do my part. I'm playing with a lot of energy, so we can have a lot of energy as a team.
"
Since returning to the lineup on March 4, The Brow has played like an MVP—29.8 points (55 percent), 10.6 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 3.2 assists while leading his team to a 4-2 record.
On March 15, Davis flirted with the elusive quadruple-double, tallying 36 points, 14 rebounds, nine blocks and seven assists in the double-OT loss to Denver.
As B/R’s Alec Nathan pointed out, "Factor in a more forgiving schedule, Durant's impending return and more high-stakes experience, and last year's Western Conference finalists should have the slightest of edges as the squads round the bend and charge down the home stretch."
If Davis continues to produce at a historic level, though, the Thunder might be in some trouble.
Davis currently has a player efficiency rating of 31.4, which puts him in all-time great company, as highlighted by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post on March 13: "Davis has a Player Efficiency Rating of 31.52 — a number that, if it holds up, would make him just the fourth player in NBA history to finish with a PER of 31 or more. The other three? Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and LeBron James."
With AD leading the charge, it’s a real possibility that the Pelicans find themselves in the postseason for the first time in four years.
All stats are accurate courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com as of March 15.
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