If you have missed the New Orleans Pelicans playing the past two nights, you have missed seeing some of Anthony Davis at his best.
On Sunday night, he stole Rajon Rondo’s last inbounds pass (Note to Rajon: Don’t try to lob the ball over this guy) and was fouled, making both from the stripe to give New Orleans a three-point lead. After the game, he leapt into the embrace of a random fan. On Monday night, on the way to a 32-point, 10-rebound performance, he let out a roar at the top of the key after his pass to Omer Asik was converted into a three-point play opportunity in a 25-point victory over Philadelphia.
Davis will be a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star game, and he is currently in the top 15 in the NBA in scoring (24.5, 3rd), rebounding (10.4, ninth), blocks (2.88, first) and steals (1.66, 13th). Those are the kind of stats that can get you an MVP award … but only if you make it to the playoffs.
And as we sit here at the end of January, the Pelicans are on the outside looking in — ninth in the Western Conference at 24-21, a game and a half behind the Phoenix Suns. If the Pelicans can make up that ground, Davis will jump to the top of the leaderboard in my MVP rankings. But the Pels have lost games to the likes of the Kings, Pacers, Hornets, Celtics, Sixers and Knicks. Those six games could cost New Orleans a playoff berth … along with Davis the MVP award.
But we’re still a long way from casting those votes.
For now, in this interview with CineSports’s Brian Clark, we look at the races for MVP, Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player and Rookie of the Year.
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.