For the first time since LeBron James' early days or Michael Jordan's nascent years with the Chicago Bulls, the NBA considered the MVP candidacy of a player on a 45-win team. [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball ] Had Pelicans big man Anthony Davis not missed 14 games due to injury in 2014-15, many would have placed him right next to Stephen Curry and James Harden in the Final Triptych of Deserving Dudes. Really, when you start a descriptor off with "for the first time since LeBron James or Michael Jordan," you're on the right path. The Pelicans as a franchise eventually might not work the right way up their figurative path towards championship contention in the West, but Davis certainly is. If the career arc continues apace for the 22-year old, we're going to be watching something special. In fact, we already have. Davis was a monster in 2014-15, leading a mismatched and oft-injured New Orleans franchise to the postseason for the first time since the Chris Paul Era. He managed 24.4 points, making over half his shots and 80 percent of his free throws, adding 10.2 boards, 2.2 assists, and a combined 4.4 blocks/steals for the Pelicans. His...