Orlando Magic v New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis is already considered by many to be the league’s third best player behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant, even though he’s just beginning his third NBA season.
Davis was everywhere in the Pelicans opening night blowout win over the Magic, and put up a ridiculous statistical line of 26 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
But before we get ahead of ourselves where our praise of Davis is concerned, there’s one simple fact worth mentioning.
There’s practically zero chance he wins the MVP this season.
Now, if Davis continues to put up these kinds of numbers, he’ll have a case, at least statistically. It’s just that the award always goes to the best player on one of the league’s top teams, and no matter how dominant Davis is, it’s tough to envision the Pelicans reaching those lofty heights.
New Orleans added Omer Asik to help Davis on the defensive end, and despite some early miscues against the Magic in Tuesday night’s opener — when Davis was aggressive in playing the passing lanes and Asik was late rotating over, which resulted in strong numbers for Nikola Vucevic — the tandem should come together nicely as the season progresses.
But there’s little depth to this squad, and once you get past sixth man Ryan Anderson — who hit three straight threes to end the third quarter on Tuesday, which blew a game that was closer than expected wide open — there just isn’t much there. And, even among the starters, the three-guard lineup New Orleans is rolling with could be problematic when facing bigger and more talented teams.
The Western Conference is absolutely loaded, and it took 49 wins just to squeak into the playoffs there last season. If you think the Pelicans can win that many games, that’s a fairly big leap of faith to take, but let’s assume for a moment that it’s possible. Who, exactly, among the top eight or nine teams is regressing? There’s no easy answer, and barring catastrophic injuries, it would be extremely difficult to see New Orleans jumping up and grabbing any one of those bottom few postseason spots.
Looking back at the past 15 MVP winners, each one played for a team that finished no worse than fourth in the league-wide standings. And, more often than not, the award-winner played for one of the top two regular season teams.
There’s almost no scenario where the Pelicans break into that group this season, which makes the MVP candidacy for Davis more than a long shot — it’s virtually impossible to envision.
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- jimb031 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:03 PM
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ZERO chance? Curious, how much of a chance did you give Rose to win MVP at the beginning of the 2011 season?
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- hwatt - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:59 PM
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you didn’t read the article did you. they finished with a top 4 record so it was an easy pick
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- twinfan24 - Oct 29, 2014 at 8:33 PM
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I thought the same thing when I read the headline. But, in the article he does say “practically zero”, which I can agree with. In order to win MVP and not be one of the top teams, you would have to at least still be a playoff team and put up monster numbers, say averaging his opening night numbers except about 5 more points a game. That’s pretty unlikely, but 30+ pts, 17 rebs, and 5+ blocks a game would give you a chance even if outside of the top four teams.
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- bigmeechy74 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:05 PM
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He’s already the second best player in the league and it’s only a matter of time before he is the best overall. Damn the Pelicans would have such a bright future if they wouldn’t have made that awful trade or Jrue Holiday
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- kcar28 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:12 PM
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Pelicans are second youngest team in NBA and Gordon can be moved next year when he is an expiring contract…future is very bright.
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- bigmeechy74 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:27 PM
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And it could’ve been brighter if they hadn’t blown 2 1st round picks on jrue holiday
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- jimb031 - Oct 29, 2014 at 4:05 PM
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People seem to think that if we didnt trade away the pick we would have Nerlens on our team. We wouldnt. If we werent already talking to Philly about trading the pick, we would have selected a PG and most likely Burke at #6.
Now let me rattle off the past decade (prior to the trade, but if you want to include CJ McCollum he only adds to my point) of #10 picks: Austin Rivers, Jimmer Fredette, Paul George, Brandon Jennings, Brook Lopez, Spencer Hawes, Patrick O’Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Luke Jackson, Jarvis Hayes.
Only 2 have been hits, the rest have been misses. So now I ask you does trading for Holiday, a proven All-Star PG, seem so bad when only giving up Trey Burke and a player that will most likely be the caliber of Austin Rivers?
I would take Holiday over those 2 players any day.
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- thekiller678 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:05 PM
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Wow.. Stupid headline. Like you know what’s going to happen this season.
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- timberwolvesbrisin - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:30 PM
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More PBT nonsense.
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- andrewwiggins22 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:15 PM
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I bet Brett Pollakoff’s gonna eat his words once this season is over.
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- nolahxc - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:16 PM
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Thanks for the reassurance. Maybe they just shouldn’t even play the season.
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- avb300 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:19 PM
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Zero chance is going a little too far but I don’t see him winning it either. It always goes to the best player on a top 5 team.
THey really don’t have any depth and should have Salmons start and bring Gordon off the bench. Maybe play Withey more too.
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- jimb031 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:22 PM
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you just suggested salmons start. someone didn’t watch the game last night.
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- avb300 - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:20 PM
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I didn’t…but they can’t start all their best players.
The Spurs don’t start Manu who’s obviously better than Green or Belinelli.
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- jimb031 - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:56 PM
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wasnt taking that angle, it would definitely be better to save another of the big 6 for the reserve unit.
salmons has continued to look like our worst option at SF. he was getting some stiemsma comparisons last night. was fouling at a pretty fast rate and defense left a lot to be desired. might prefer babbitt or miller over salmons in the lineup if there must be one of the SFs on the floor to start the game.
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- ProBasketballPundit - Oct 29, 2014 at 3:59 PM
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Someone didn’t watch Salmons last season either. Per 36 minutes, he averaged 8 points, 3 boards, and 3 fouls on 36% shooting. He was one of the most inefficient players in the league and he’s 34 years old.
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- Mr. Wright 212 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:24 PM
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Click bait.
They will win 45-50 games.
No more necessary than when Nash robbed Kobe and Shack of MVPs in back to back years.
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- rjthakid - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:35 PM
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“Shack”? As in ‘Radio’?
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- thekiller678 - Oct 29, 2014 at 3:10 PM
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The Lakers didn’t eve make the playoffs one of the years Nash won MVP and the other year they were a 7 seed with a first round exit. But keep telling us how Kobe was “robbed”
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- adfranco - Oct 29, 2014 at 7:06 PM
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Kobe was completely robbed in 2006. He was a scoring rampage that year (81 points), best player in the league who single handedly got his team into the playoffs and in the tough West. Do you remember the rest of their roster that year? It was laughable. The Lakers may have only been a 7th seed (who almost went on to upset the Suns), but without Kobe they would have been one of the worst teams in the league. Nash deserved it in 2005, but Kobe in 2006.
Not sure how Shaq was robbed though during those years….Lol.
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- naterich21 - Oct 29, 2014 at 7:31 PM
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Nash transformed the Suns in his first year and led them to a great record in 2005. Then in 2006, Joe Johnson left, Amare was injured, and there was barely a dropoff from the 2005 team’s performance. THAT’s why he won back-to-back MVPs. Was runner up in 2007 as well. Dirk, the MVP that year, got beat by the Warriors in the first round
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- steelers4385 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:32 PM
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Shave that stupid unibrow. We get it man, youre cool and dont care what people think, but seriously..how can you look yourself in the mirror everyday and not think you look like “people of walmart”? I hate lookn at the guys face. I want to ruphy him and shave the whole darn thing off.
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- asimonetti88 - Oct 29, 2014 at 3:46 PM
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Why do you even care? It’s not your look, worry about yourself bro.
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- haaaaasoooooo - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:34 PM
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I see what you’re doin here. Reverse psychology.
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- femdimes - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:45 PM
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Lmao “zero chance” props nostradomus
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- skids003 - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:32 PM
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One game and an article like this? Geez….
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- teabone413 - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:48 PM
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glad to see a young beasty monster player like anthony davis.. cant forget andre drummond too.
btw, who’s going to be known as AD1 and AD2??
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- senorpapino - Oct 29, 2014 at 3:00 PM
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I don’t know if he will win or not, but I can guarantee that if he averages what he did last night, he will win MVP unanimously no matter what LeBron, Durant, or anyone else does.
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- illegalblues - Oct 29, 2014 at 3:13 PM
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i think whoever is the best player in the league will win MVP. the voters, and fans, are much much smarter about the game than years previous.
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- yesser12 - Oct 29, 2014 at 3:58 PM
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If he puts up historical numbers and they are in the playoffs. I would give it to him especially if they are a 4th seed. He is the Most Valuable player to that team no doubt.
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- opinevain - Oct 29, 2014 at 4:10 PM
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I was just saying this today. MVP talks for Davis? They have to be a top 3-4 team in the West. Is that doable? Not with Injury prone Eric Gordon, or a lacking bench. No hate at all. Think about it.
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- jimb031 - Oct 29, 2014 at 5:17 PM
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The pelicans had the highest offensive rating in the league last year when their 5 main players were on the floor together, but they also had the lowest defensive rating (sounds like Portland). I would like to think that if they stay healthy and add in the defense that Asik brings, and could have 1-2 players out of our main 6 come off the bench, it would make us a whole lot better.
Portland was a 5th seed and had a tie record with the 4th seed. They were all offense and NO defense at all. I would like to think a offense that can be close to Portland and a defense that is definitely better may have a shot. Yes its unlikely the pelicans seed that high, but it wouldnt be totally crazy either. Never say never.
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- remyje - Oct 29, 2014 at 5:15 PM
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I wish PFT had it’s own app….
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- hannsta - Oct 29, 2014 at 7:03 PM
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He looks way stronger physically than he did a couple years ago.
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- 2drunk2dunk - Oct 29, 2014 at 7:28 PM
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really likin that AD and Asik combo
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- tigershark0052 - Oct 29, 2014 at 8:46 PM
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This is a terrible article.
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- thewizkid89 - Oct 30, 2014 at 1:09 AM
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The NBA needs to decide whether or not, the MVP is to being given to the most valuable player, or simply the best player.
The two er not the same thing.
I never understood how they kept giving it to Lebron when he was in Miami. And still insists on given it to him now when he plays with to top 15 players.
If they actually gave it to the most valuable player to his team I would think Anthony Davis, would be a frontrunner. The pelicans would be a bottom 5 team without him.
