Following a perfect 4-0 start to the 2018-19 season, the New Orleans Pelicans have dropped four consecutive games, and superstar Anthony Davis seems to be feeling the heat now.
Davis was rested for Thursday's road game against the Portland Trail Blazers - a 132-119 defeat. After the game, Davis explained that he has to play near-perfect basketball if the team has a chance of winning.
"If we lose, it's on me. If we win, they give my team the credit and I'm fine with that,"Davis said, via Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. "So, I got to play almost perfect every night to give us a chance to win."
"But my teammates do a great job. Even the games I didn't play, those guys have been battling night in and night out to get victories. ... I don't try to put too much pressure on myself, but I know it's there."
The Pelicans got fine production out of Julius Randle (29 points), Jrue Holiday (17 points), and E'Twaun Moore (19 points), on Thursday. However, it wasn't enough for New Orleans to beat the team that they swept a half-year ago in the opening round of the postseason.
RELATED: ANTHONY DAVIS WILL FORCE A TRADE FROM PELICANS TO JOIN LEBRON JAMES [RUMOR]
Davis is doing his part, piecing together another MVP-like season. He's averaging 25.2 points, 13 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. With Davis leading the way, the Pelicans will make the playoffs, and they should threaten to win 50-something games.
However, rumors are circling that Davis will seek a trade out of New Orleans after this season. Mark Heisler of the Orange County Register recently reported that insiders believe Davis will to be traded, and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be on his radar.
That's for another day, though. Davis and the Pelicans are trying to bust out of this early-season slump and make the playoffs for a second consecutive season. But as Davis outlined, he'll need to be nearly flawless if the Pelicans are to have a chance most nights.