Anthony Davis is a superstar with an expanding all-around game. Jrue Holiday plays like a star.
But Davis is getting only limited minutes, and Holiday is injured.
So, that leave a huge production void on the Pelicans.
Elfrid Payton has been filling it.
Payton’s 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a win over the Mavericks last night gave him five straight triple-doubles. That streak puts him in elite company.
19 PTS | 10 REB | 11 AST@elfrid joins Russell Westbrook (4x), Oscar Robertson (3x), Wilt Chamberlain (2x) & Michael Jordan as the only players in @NBAHistory to record 5 straight triple-doubles! #DoItBig pic.twitter.com/jhBPqzwsjJ
— NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2019
This is a nice accomplishment by Payton. Obviously, he’s not nearly as good as Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. This is a statistical oddity. But Payton is still playing well enough to get included with only Hall of Famers and a future Hall of Fame. That counts for something.
Payton has a solid all-around game that lends itself to getting triple-doubles. He’s active on the glass for a point guard. He’s comfortable running an offense and handling the ball enough to get so many assists.
But he’s an inefficient scorer who doesn’t space the floor enough. His defense is disappointing. There are reasons New Orleans was 0-4 during the first four games of his streak and got outscored by 12, 27, 13 and 7 with him on the court during those games.
Take this streak for what it is – a very cool feat, but not something that elevates Payton into a higher class of players.
