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Pelicans' Williams wants to get Anthony Davis 20 shots per game

Kevin Liles / USA TODAY Sports

Monty Williams' coaching has been called into question over the years, but at least the New Orleans Pelicans head coach knows what – or rather who – his team's bread and butter is.

"Anthony (Davis) cannot be in a game and not touch the ball," Williams said Wednesday. The previous night, Davis scored 14 points on only 12 shots in a loss against the Sacramento Kings.

Williams held a meeting with his team Wednesday, issuing objectives to be carried out for the remainder of the season, according to The Times-Picayune's John Reid.

''We have to have an effort to get him at least 20 shots every night," Williams said of Davis. ''And that’s on me, too. As much as I draw up plays for him, run the offense through him, the guys on the floor has to know it. When they don’t do it, I’ve got to make sure they get him the ball. Because he’s not a selfish player, he’s going to make the right plays. And our guys know that.''

Davis has averaged 17.7 field-goal attempts per game so far this season, which ranks ninth in the league. The only player averaging 20 or more shots per game is Kobe Bryant (23.4).

Still, it's no wonder Williams wants the Pelicans to feed the beast that is Davis. The 21-year-old is averaging 25.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 2.1 steals and 1.8 assists through 13 games, posting a ludicrous Player Efficiency Rating of 34.5.

''We lose chances to win games because we don’t pass the ball the way we should," Williams said. "We start playing one-on-one basketball and that was something we talked about today.

''They just have these blips on the screen where we just kind of go on our own way."

One would think getting Davis more shots would be easier with Eric Gordon sidelined due to a torn labrum, but the shooting guard was only attempting nine shots per game. Tyreke Evans, meanwhile, has taken 15 shots per game despite shooting just 40 percent from the field.

(H/T CBS Sports)

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