Though we’ve seen even more star tandems be formed this offseason, especially in the Western Conference, no one matches the frontcourt fire power the New Orleans Pelicans bring to the table. After acquiring star center DeMarcus Cousins in a mid-season trade last year, they formed what is easily the best big man combo in the NBA.
While Cousins and fellow Kentucky product Anthony Davis didn’t find their footing last season until the very end, there is no denying the talent these two bigs have. Now with a full offseason under their belt together, that should pay huge dividends towards improving their rapport on the court next season.
With a Western Conference that is as loaded as ever in recent memory, Cousins says the Pelicans are ‘being counted out’ but that they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Following from Chris Mannix of The Vertical:
“That sample size we got last season is the reason I’m so confident this season. I believe we can make it work, and I think we’re going to surprise a lot more people than people actually expect. For some reason we’re being counted out, but that’s actually OK. We’re going to surprise a lot of people this season.”
DeMarcus Cousins is confident in his team’s ability to bounce back from a disappointing campaign that saw them narrowly miss the postseason. The two-time all-star is expecting big things out of his squad this year and thinks the generational talent he and Davis have can take the Pelicans to new heights, even with the game evolving away from true big men:
“I think the game is actually playing into our hands,” Cousins said. “I think me and A.D. have a skill set that a lot of bigs don’t have in this league, or the league hasn’t seen in some bigs throughout the history of the game. I think it actually plays into our hands, and we’re just rolling with the punches. I don’t think [a smaller game] will effect me or A.D. at all.
New Orleans also made some worthwhile upgrades at the guard spots, adding Rajon Rondo and Ian Clark while inking Jrue Holiday to an extension. If they can find that cohesion and chemistry this upcoming campaign, expect the Pelicans to have a solid season in a crowded Western Conference behind their dominant frontcourt.
