Over the first eight games of the season, DeMarcus Cousins has made a brilliant start and has been a dominant figure on the floor for the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The big man is averaging career-highs across the board as he's putting up 30.1 points, 13 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. 

Cousins is clearly playing with a renewed focus this year and seems to be enjoying his basketball in the Big Easy. 

The 27-year-old is in a contract year and is arguably in the best form of his career as he hopes for a huge contract in the summer when he hits free agency. 

One of the reasons for his hot start is down to his lethal frontcourt partnership with Anthony Davis and how the duo have complemented each other. 

But Davis credits his teammate for having a different mentality this season and sees this as the biggest factor in his strong start. 

“He’s had a different mindset. He wants to win,” Davis said. “He wants to get a taste of that playoffs and he’s doing whatever he has to do to make sure that happens. He’s been playing extremely well. I’m happy he’s on our team.”

'Boogie' has had his fair share of disciplinary problems but he's finally let his play do the talking so far this campaign and the Pelicans will hope that continues as they pursue a playoff berth. 

The three-time All-Star has recorded a double-double in seven of the eight games he's featured in so far and also dropped a triple-double in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

He has taken his game to another level and found a way to co-exist with AD and has also helped to improve the production of the likes of Jrue Holiday and E'Twaun Moore.

Despite the center's consistency, the team has been anything but. New Orleans dropped to 3-5 after a 104-98 loss at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the closing stages last night. 

Cousins did everything he could as he filled the stat sheet with 35 points, nine rebounds, six assists, six steals and three blocks.

The Pelicans have struggled to find a consistent run and can look amazing one night and awful the next. 

But the former Sacramento Kings star looks determined to finally end his playoff drought and could have his best opportunity of doing that with the Pels.

With a tough Western Conference, however, New Orleans will find it hard and will need their talented big man duo to continue producing at the level they are to give them a chance of securing a top-eight spot.