This NBA season has been competitive and exciting so far. With just over half of the season left, there has been a lot going on. Some teams are trying to make a playoff push while others want to keep their spots.

The New Orlean Pelicans have been pretty spectacular this year. They were able to turn it around and win games and are currently sitting at the number six spot in the Western Conference with their two stellar big-men in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

The bad news for the team is that they have lost Cousins for the rest of the season due to an injury suffered last night against the Houston Rockets.

The injury to the star player will complicate his contract. Hopefully, he will return and be the same great player that he is.

Recap

The New Orlean Pelicans faced the dominant Houston Rockets last night and it had all the acclimations of a playoff game. The lead would go back and forth until the Pelicans pulled ahead and maintained a leading score until the second half of the game. The Rockets kept inching closer, but they ultimately lost to the opponent.

The Pelicans played good basketball last night as The Rockets did not have an answer for Anthony Davis. Cousins contributed dishing the ball to shooters for threes or driving and scoring in the paint. The question still remains. Can the Pelicans make the postseason without the assistance of DeMarcus Cousins?

The injury

DeMarcus Cousins went down hard as he landed awkwardly on his ankle during the 4th quarter of the final moments in the game. An article by ESPN explains what occurred and what it means for the team. The article states, "Pelicans All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins will undergo surgery to repair a torn left achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season." This is horrible because it came at one of the worst times as the Pelicans are trying to make the playoffs and the team was playing great basketball.

Cousins and Davis were starting to click.

Anyone could tell that the injury did not look good initially. The All-Star center got up and sat right back down grabbing his left foot. His teammates had to assist him to get off of the floor as he did not want to put pressure on his left leg at all.

Cousins season

According to CNN, Cousins was having a great year so far, averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

Cousins is a dynamic player who is able to do a lot on the floor. It is heartbreaking to hear that he suffered such a devasting injury after starting to play so well for the team.

The situation will complicate his contract talks because he is set to be a free-agent next season. Right now, the center will have to rehab and get back to form from the injury. The setback will also make it more difficult for the Pelicans to make the playoffs. I believe that they will still make the playoffs. The problem is that, without Cousins, the Pelicans could be eliminated with the first opponent they face.

The matter also complicates things for Anthony Davis, who has been rumored to want to leave or be traded to another contender.

With the injury to Cousins, Davis could be gone next year as well. The pairing of the two big-men has not worked out like it was supposed to originally, but when both players were starting to click on the offensive end, things were looking up, and then Cousins was injured.

Support around the league

LeBron James drafted DeMarcus Cousins for his All-Star team and tweeted out support to the big-man, along with other star players. People have to remember that the NBA is a brotherhood and that no one, regardless of any rivalry, wants to see another get hurt. Cousins might not be well-liked with referees, but he is throughout the league.
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