Pelicans' Cousins-Davis pairing looking to buck trend
Send a link to a friend
[March 09, 2017]
By Jahmal Corner
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The New Orleans
Pelicans are conducting a big man experiment that is as potentially
promising and combustible as their new center, DeMarcus Cousins.
By pairing the bruising Cousins alongside elastic forward Anthony
Davis, the Pelicans own the NBA's most dynamic post duo but it may
also be the riskiest.
New Orleans traded three players and two draft picks to Sacramento
last month to acquire Cousins, as well as since-waived forward Omri
Casspi.
It was a reasonable price for a standout like Cousins, but one that
came with accelerated expectations.
New Orleans are just 2-5 since the move, and one of the wins came
with Cousins serving a one-game suspension for receiving his 18th
technical foul of the season.
"You just need time to be able to place guys in situations where
they can be successful," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told Reuters
before Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/09/images/ads/current/ldn_sda_062409.png)
"If you look at the numbers, (Cousins and Davis) have played great.
It's incorporating a player of (Cousins') stature into the whole
mix. It's not something that happens overnight."
The Pelicans (25-39), though, are short on time. They have 18 games
remaining in the regular season and are 3-1/2 games back of a
playoff spot.
Next season will be the last one on Cousins' contract before he
becomes a free agent. More than wins, New Orleans needs to produce
positive signs that their tandem can lead them to a winning future.
The two have shown moments of synergy, like combining for 57 points
and 24 rebounds to beat the Lakers 105-97 on Sunday.
"We were talking more (on the court). He told me what
he was going to do and we're trying to play off each other," Davis
told reporters after the win.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/030917pics/sports53.jpg)
Pelicans forward Anthony
Davis (23) celebrates with forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) after a
basket during the second half of a game against the San Antonio
Spurs at the Smoothie King Center. The Spurs defeated the Pelicans
101-98 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY
Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Added Cousins: "We're definitely getting better each game. It's just
about learning each other's tendencies."
While Davis moves seamlessly from perimeter to paint, Cousins is a
lumbering force who is at odds with the NBA's faster and smaller
model.
On and off the court, Cousins is a looming presence that demands
notice – in contrast to the softer spoken Davis who has been the
face of the franchise since they drafted him first overall in 2012.
Davis and the Pelicans now have to make extra room for Cousins in
hope that time will render an ideal fit.
"It's hard when a team already had their set chemistry and you add a
piece like myself," Cousins said.
(Editing by Frank Pingue) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/09/images/ads/current/castlemanor_lda_051916.png) |