The Bird Calls Podcast Episode 76: Boogie’s performance best ever in a New Orleans Pelicans uniform?

You all know the stat line by now:

DeMarcus Cousins was the most dominant player in the game against the Chicago Bulls and by not so significant a margin — a game that includes a probable future Hall of Famer in Anthony Davis.

How good was Boogie?

The stat line alone was the best since Kareem in ’72, and he became the first player to post a 40 and 20 line three times in a season since Moses Malone.

Even the mightiest of Boogie haters were silent for this one as he and Jrue Holiday teamed up to clamp down on the recently surging Bulls, who with Nikola Mirotic in the lineup, have been the fifth best team in the East in the previous 24 games.

• “DeMarcus had a stat line for the ages,” said Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. “It’s one of the best performances I have seen ever in this league.”
• ”Yo @boogiecousins chill out man!! Sheesh!!! Super sick stat line,” James tweeted.
• ”What he did tonight was unbelievable,” Rajon Rondo said. “He carried the team and put them on his back. I think he can be one of the best to ever do it at his position. He’s putting up crazy numbers, but he’s also making his teammates better. He’s doing the intangibles, taking charges, blocking shots and he’s in damn near every pick and roll. The numbers are amazing but there are so many other things he’s doing that aren’t showing up in the stat book.”

A week ago, Justin Verrier of the Ringer asked not only if Demarcus Cousins belonged in the All-Star starting lineup, he asked if Boogie belonged in the game.

Most Pels fans nodded in agreement.

But there can be no denying the beast that was the Bayou Boogie on Monday night. The Pelicans went full Pelican as they allowed a 23-5 run to start the fourth. Joel Meyers called the game at the ten minute mark. No one, I repeat, NO ONE, gave the Pelicans a shot with 7:33 left trailing by 18.

Still a work in progress

”We didn’t flip a switch, we’re not good enough for a switch,” Anthony Davis said. “We just decided to play defense. It was tied up going into the fourth quarter, and they went on a crazy run. With like eight minutes left, we said we’re just going to play defense.”

Now Davis, had his own impressive stat line with 34 and 9, but this quote is troublesome to say the least.

By his own admission, the Pelicans were not giving full effort up until this point. The third quarter remains a disaster for our heroes, as they carry a net rating of -21.1 in the third in the month of January. They are the best scoring team in the first half, the 25^th in the third quarter.

In today’s podcast, David Grubb and Kevin Barrios break down the reasons. Is it effort? Is it the combined play of Jameer Nelson, Rajon Rondo, and Dante Cunningham? Is it Alvin Gentry?

Either way, the Pelicans pulled out the great comeback win and a lot of acclaim should go to Jrue Holiday. “It was all effort and defense down the stretch (of the fourth quarter). ... I credit Holiday just for igniting the team.” – Boogie

Not to be forgotten is Holiday, who surely deserves a spot on the All Defense team this year for his stunning play and energy throughout. Though his shot wasn’t falling (5-17), he found other ways to contribute by locking down on Jerian Grant, Justin Holiday and Zach LaVine in dogged fashion.

Holiday’s three pointer at the end of regulation clinched the first overtime. We are well past the midway point of the season, and he is playing well above our highest of preseason expectations.

Finally, we welcome first time guest Jonathan Delong of AttheHive.com to talk Hornets and what the Pelicans should expect tonight in Charlotte.

And hey, we like you. If you you like us, subscribe and rate our pod today!