2018 all star

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Take a look back at some of the best content as Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins represented the Pelicans at the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, CA.

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All-Star Recap: Best Pelicans Content from All-Star Weekend

Jim Eichenhofer

It was common – and frankly, reasonable – for NBA observers to speculate that when the big-man duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins unexpectedly joined forces last February, they may get in each other’s way a bit on the court, or potentially experience a drop in numbers. Less than a year later, whether measured by their gaudy statistics or individual accolades, it appears those concerns were mostly unfounded. Davis and Cousins are the rare teammates to both rank among the NBA’s elite in scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking, with one or the other a top-four producer in every category. New Orleans’ incomparable frontcourt combination received further validation this week, when they were officially named 2018 NBA All-Star starters. It’s a first-time honor for Cousins, and a third time Davis was tabbed as a starter. Overall, Davis and Cousins are now five- and four-time All-Stars, respectively.

“The biggest question was, was it going to work? I think we just proved that it is and it can work,” said Davis, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer at 26.7 points per game. “But it’s a testament to our hard work. We like each other, we complement each other. Just having those two All-Star spots taken up by us is huge for us as players, for our team and the organization.”

“I think it shows that both of those guys are willing to leave a little bit of their game off the floor, so that the other guy can be good,” Pelicans third-year head coach Alvin Gentry said. “It shows that they’re willing to do whatever’s necessary to try to be successful.”

Davis and Cousins were Western Conference teammates at All-Star 2017, then become Pelicans teammates later that night when New Orleans and Sacramento completed a blockbuster trade. This season the NBA has altered the format for the All-Star Game, featuring a behind-closed-doors draft that will determine whether Davis and Cousins are teammates or opponents at Staples Center next month.

“Hopefully (we’ll be on the same team), but we don’t get that choice,” Davis said of the squads being selected by team captains LeBron James and Stephen Curry. “They’re probably not going to allow us to be on the same team.”

Davis noted that he was pleased to see fellow Kentucky product Cousins garner All-Star starting status for the first time, saying he hopes one of the two Pelicans can win MVP of the All-Star Game. Davis won that award last February in the Smoothie King Center, scoring an all-time record 52 points.

“I’m more so happy for DeMarcus,” Davis said. “Not just being an All-Star, but being an All-Star starter. That’s huge. He’s having a hell of a season. It’s well-deserved.”

“This is the first time I’ve been in an All-Star Game with a teammate,” said Cousins, the NBA’s third-leading rebounder. “AD is more than deserving of it, as we all know. It will be cool to be there with a familiar face.”

Both bigs stressed that having two starters in the midseason classic – a first in New Orleans’ 15-year franchise history – is a special achievement for the Pelicans. New Orleans (23-21) had its best record at the midway point of the regular season since 2011 and now will try to end a two-year postseason drought over the final 38 games.

“It means a lot,” Davis said of having two All-Star starters. “We’re moving in the right direction. It’s big for the organization. We’re going to try to go out there and represent the organization well.”

“I think this is big for the entire city, the organization and our team moving forward,” Cousins said. “It just kind of shows what this combo has the potential to have. I’m excited for it.”

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Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins All-Star starter status further evidence of New Orleans combination’s ‘exciting potential’

nopcgonzalez

In the second fan returns for NBA All-Star voting, Anthony Davis (664,687) remains in second place for the Western Conference front court. Golden State’s Draymond Green (616,730) has moved ahead of DeMarcus Cousins (587,835) to take third place. Golden State's Kevin Durant (1,326,059) leads the front-court voting.

For the Western Conference guards, Stephen Curry (1,369,658) sits in first place with the Rockets' James Harden (978,540), and Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (791,332) in second and third.

In the Eastern Conference and overall, LeBron James takes the lead for all votes with 1,622,838. Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo is in second behind James with 1,480,954.

Fans account for 50 percent of the vote to determine the 10 starters for the 67th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles (7 p.m. central, TNT).  All current NBA players and a panel of basketball media account for 25 percent each, with every participant completing one full ballot featuring two guards and three front-court players from each conference.  Voting for fans, players and media will conclude on Monday, Jan. 15 at 10:59 p.m. central.  

Under a new All-Star Game format that replaces the traditional matchup between conferences, two captains will choose the rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves.  The captains will be the All-Star starter from each conference who receives the most fan votes in his conference.

The All-Star Game starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 18 during TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by Autotrader at 6 p.m. ET.  The network will unveil the reserves, as selected by NBA head coaches, on Tuesday, Jan. 23 during TNT NBA Tip-Off at 7 p.m. ET.  The team rosters will be revealed on Thursday, Jan. 25 in a special one-hour edition of TNT NBA Tip-Off at 7 p.m. ET.

NBA ALL-STAR VOTING 2018 PRESENTED BY VERIZON: SECOND FAN RETURNS

8. Kyle Lowry (TOR) 176,590 9. Bradley Beal (WAS) 151,765

2. Anthony Davis (NOP) 664,687         

2. James Harden (HOU) 978,540 3. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 791,332

After all votes are tallied, players will be ranked in each conference by position (guard and frontcourt) within each of the three voting groups – fan votes, player votes and media votes.  Each player’s score will be calculated by averaging his weighted rank from the fan votes, the player votes and the media votes.  The five players (two guards and three frontcourt players) with the best score in each conference will be named NBA All-Star Game starters.  Fan voting will serve as the tiebreaker for players in a position group with the same score.

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Anthony Davis remains second, DeMarcus Cousins now fourth in All-Star voting

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