The New Orleans Pelicans can't do anything to quell media chatter regarding the future of Anthony Davis. All the Pelicans can do is make it as hard as possible for Davis to leave New Orleans.

Part of that, of course, is showing Davis that the Pelicans can compete with the best teams in the Western Conference. And while they did a pretty good job of that last spring, reaching the conference semifinals for the first time in 10 years, things have been tougher this season.

The Pelicans have seen the league's fourth-biggest increase in offensive efficiency, scoring 3.9 more points per 100 possessions than they did last season. But they've also seen the fourth-biggest increase in defensive efficiency, allowing 4.5 more points per 100 possessions than they did last season.

The Pelicans still have a positive point differential (+0.9 per game, ninth in the Western Conference). But they've struggled in close games, going 7-14 (only Cleveland has been worse) in games that were within five points in the last five minutes. They've also struggled on the road, where they're 4-15, having lost five straight away from the Smoothie King Center.