In this week’s MVP rankings, DeMarcus Cousins pulls ahead.
It was just a week ago that Anthony Davis and Cousins combined for 52 points — 28 for Davis and 24 for Cousins. These are your two front runners for MVP. Their teams are not necessarily considered Playoff teams.
The Pelicans are off to a 7-6 and the Kings are 9-5. The Kings hold down the seven seed and the Pelicans are outside the Playoff picture. For the moment. It is still very early. The thought is both will slowly fade away.
The talk about their young stars may not. DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis continue to dominate the conversation.
Round Two of their early season battle went to Boogie.
Cousins scored 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out five assists. Ever since returning from the FIBA World Cup, Cousins has had a different feeling to his game. He has become a true leader and is developing into a true superstar in this league.
He entered the night leading the league in rebounds. No reason that will stop.
Cousins still has an edge about him though. That is not going to go away. And that could help him develop on the defensive end.
He may have drawn a fair amount of the duties against Davis on Tuesday night in the Kings’ 99-89 win at Smoothie King Center. Davis for the first time all year, seemingly, struggled.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
| Sacramento | 99 | 109.3 | 51.3 | 21.2 | 11.0 | 31.2 |
| New Orleans | 89 | 100.3 | 43.7 | 31.1 | 12.4 | 36.7 |
DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) — 22 pts., 12 rebs.; Omri Casspi (SAC) — 22 pts.
Tyreke Evans (NOP) — 22 pts., 7 rebs., 5 assts.; Ryan Anderson (NOP) — 20 pts.
Game to Watch (11/25): Wizards vs. Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
Davis had just 14 points and shot 4 for 12 from the floor. The Pelicans need Davis to be a super-duperstar in order to compete for a Playoff spot. Something New Orleans might have the talent for, but maybe not the experience.
So for tonight, the Kings pulled ahead in the too-young Playoff team race. The Pelicans fell behind. And we all bow down before Boogie Cousins.
At least until these two young big men meet again in late March.
