This summer, New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry shook up his coaching staff and hired former Denver Nuggets assistant Chris Finch to become the architect of a new and improved offensive scheme.

The reason why Finch was so appealing to the Pelicans was that he designed a system that featured big men Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic on the court together (before Nurkic was traded away). Even after Nurkic was dealt, Mason Plumlee saw some run at the same time as Jokic.

Now with both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins at his disposal in New Orleans, Finch will have an opportunity to take what he learned in Denver and apply it in the Big Easy, with the best frontcourt duo in the NBA.

As a result of the coaching addition, Davis has been working on his all-around game in Vegas with Cousins this summer.

“I’m doing a lot of everything,” he told Scott Kushner of The New Orleans Advocate. “I didn’t have a chance to work out last year because of the knee surgery. I’m kind of using it to work on everything and get back into a rhythm. I’ve worked on shooting, ball-handling, passing, defensive stuff and whatever it is. I’ve just been trying to work on it all and get better. I know it’s going to be a little different than we’re used to with Finch coming in with a different system, and I just want to be prepared for whatever he throws at us.”

Davis is also aware that the Pelicans’ offensive sets might end up looking similar to the Nuggets’ did last season.

“I know they were saying we could be kind of like (Nikola) Jokic and (Jusuf) Nurkic and how they did stuff in Denver before,” Davis noted. “They kind of ran their offensive package through those two big guys who were skilled. That’s what we are hoping he’s looking to do with me and DeMarcus.”

Last season, the Pelicans ranked 25th in the NBA with an Offensive Rating of 105.81, and as a result, finished 34-48. The Nuggets benefitted from Finch’s expertise offensively, as they owned the 4th ranked Offensive Rating of 113.90 despite their 40-42 record.

Point guard Jrue Holiday signed a five-year deal to stay in New Orleans this summer and the team was also able to bring in Rajon Rondo, a pass-first floor general that should complement Cousins and Davis well. While New Orleans plays in the stacked Western Conference, their frontcourt duo should make them an extremely tough matchup for any opponent this year.

“Everybody is tired of losing,” Davis admitted. “We feel we have the tools right now to be successful, and we can still add some pieces, maybe, or sign some guys. But right now I think we look good on paper. We just have to figure it out, but we just want to win. Everybody wants to win.”

With Finch on board, Davis and Cousins might headline one of the most surprisingly dangerous offenses in the NBA this season.