The new plan for the New Orleans Pelicans seems to be to have Anthony Davis sit out fourth quarters. While it makes sense for the team to protect him for future trades, it's not surprising that it's frustrating for him.
According to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Anthony Davis wants to play in crunch time:
“I mean, I think everybody wants to play the fourth quarter,” Davis said at the Pelicans' morning shootaround. “Obviously it is frustrating. I've never, like I said before, been a guy who has been able to sit out the fourth, but I just play and do whatever I can, play as hard as I can for the minutes I am on the floor.”
The Pelicans aren't in a position to do this, though. Davis has already made it clear he doesn't want to be in New Orleans after this season. That, coupled with their position in the Western Conference, makes it obvious he shouldn't play much.
The Pelicans are currently 27-35. That record puts them in 12th place, six games behind the San Antonio Spurs for eighth. While they aren't completely out if it, surpassing that many teams is a stretch.
With the playoffs basically out of the picture, the Pelicans don't have much to play for the rest of the year. Playing Davis would take away time from younger players and increase risk of injury to him.
Giving Davis more time might make them win a few more games, too. Although they might not admit it, New Orleans would probably rather be as bad as possible in order to get a better spot in the lottery.
For Davis, the frustration is understandable. He has always shown a desire to win and to go out there and play his hardest. Having to sit on the bench in fourth quarters can't be easy for a competitor like him, especially when he knows he can help the team win.
Luckily for everyone involved, this drama should be resolved before the start of next season.
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