Boogie All Night
Historic performance by DeMarcus Cousins, Pelicans’ recent play have many thinking New Orleans is a playoff worthy team
In Greek and Roman mythology, during the tenth of his 12 labors, Hercules, the half god, half human, son of Zeus, created the Strait of Gibraltar as a short cut by using his unworldly strength to smash through a mountain range connecting the continents of Africa and Europe and opening the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. The peaks on either side of the opening have since been known as the “Pillars of Hercules.”
Much like the mythological pillars, it will take superhuman strength to attack the pillars of the New Orleans Pelicans. On one side is Anthony Davis. The 6’, 10”, 253-pound power forward is averaging a double-double every game, with 26.5 points and 10.4 rebounds. In addition to his 55.6 shooting percentage, including 34.7 percent from beyond the three-point arc, he has 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. On the other is 6’ 11”, 270-pound center DeMarcus Cousins, who is also averaging a double-double with 25.4 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, along with 5.2 assists, 1.6 blocks and steals.
The pair will be starters on LeBron James’ team in the NBA All-Star Game.
Enough can’t be said about Davis. The five-time All-Star doesn’t turn 25 until March and is still considered to be fulfilling his potential. But this week is all about the Boogie.
On Monday, Cousins posted a triple-double – 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists – lifting the Pelicans to a double overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor (all Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame) as the only players to surpass the 40/20/10 threshold and was the first since Abdul-Jabbar did it in 1972.
The pair of former Kentucky Wildcats currently has the Pelicans at 26-21, five games over .500, and in sixth place in the Western Conference (the top eight make the playoffs). Neither has won a playoff game in their careers, but things seem to be coming together in the Crescent City. Continued performances from NOLA’s bigs will help keep this team in the thick of the playoff race. The main difference this year is that the Pelicans have a vantage point from the inside rather than trying to land on the postseason bubble before it bursts.
40-20-10 Games in NBA History
DeMarcus Cousins’ 44 point, 24 rebound and 10 assist triple-double Monday night put him in elite company. Only four other players have crossed the 40/20/10 threshold. It was last accomplished in 1972.
Player Points Rebounds Assists Date
DeMarcus Cousins 44 24 10 Jan. 22, 2018
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 44 20 11 Feb. 26, 1972
Wilt Chamberlain 53 32 14 March 18, 1968
Wilt Chamberlain 42 30 10 Feb. 24, 1967
Wilt Chamberlain 41 23 13 Feb. 14, 1966
Oscar Robertson 42 21 10 Jan. 9, 1965
Wilt Chamberlain 40 23 12 Dec. 22, 1963
Wilt Chamberlain 45 33 10 March 3, 1963
Wilt Chamberlain 51 29 11 Feb. 13, 1963
Elgin Baylor 52 25 10 Dec. 13, 1961
Source: NBA
NBA Western Conference Standings
The top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs.
Rank Team W L PCT GB
1 Golden State Warriors 39 10 0.796 –
2 Houston Rockets 34 12 0.739 3.5
3 San Antonio Spurs 32 18 0.64 7.5
4 Minnesota Timberwolves 31 20 0.608 9
5 Oklahoma City Thunder 28 20 0.583 10.5
6 New Orleans Pelicans 26 21 0.553 12
7 Portland Trail Blazers 26 22 0.542 12.5
8 Denver Nuggets 25 23 0.521 13.5
9 Los Angeles Clippers 23 24 0.489 15
10 Utah Jazz 20 28 0.417 18.5
11 Los Angeles Lakers 18 29 0.383 20
12 Memphis Grizzlies 17 30 0.362 21
13 Phoenix Suns 17 31 0.354 21.5
14 Dallas Mavericks 16 32 0.333 22.5
15 Sacramento Kings 15 33 0.313 23.5
