METAIRIE, La. -- As mounting losses bury them deeper and deeper in the Western Conference standings and Anthony Davis holds out for help like a kitten caught on a telephone wire, the New Orleans Pelicans have cautioned not to expect any miracles upon the return of Jrue Holiday.We dont want to put pressure on him and make him feel like hes the savior, general manager Dell Demps said.Jrues not the cavalry, coach Alvin Gentry said last week. Hes not coming in with the white horse and the stuff like that.Indeed, when it comes to New Orleans postseason chances, the white horse may have already left the barn.The Pelicans, at 2-10, are one game better than they were this point last season, when an injury-induced malaise ultimately gave way to a disappointing 30-win season. Precedent doesnt foretell a much kinder future this time around, either: In NBA history, of the 65 teams that have started 2-10, eight have gone on to make the playoffs.But perhaps this offers a shred of hope: The most recent team to begin 2-10 and make the postseason cut was the 2010-11 Philadelphia 76ers, who started a 20-year-old point guard named Jrue Holiday.Thats just the beginning of why Holidays return from a three-month hiatus to tend to his wife and new daughter has loomed over this beleaguered franchise, even as every member with a speaking role has, to their credit, stressed patience and family first.Hes an All-Star, point-blank, said Pelicans forward Solomon Hill, a fellow Los Angeles native who shares a trainer with Holiday.Hes a great defender, scorer everywhere. Hes a leader. Hes been there, hes been in the playoffs, hes upset guys in the playoffs. Hes a proven vet, but hes still young. Hes definitely a core-type player, one that you [build] a franchise around.The Pelicans obviously have one of those in Davis, whose numbers have swelled across the board as his role expands to include keeping tempo, singing backup and cleaning up afterward. Even after missing Wednesdays loss in Orlando, the 23-year-old superstar leads the team in minutes played, points, rebounds, blocks, steals, field goal attempts, field goal makes, free throw attempts, free throw makes and morose interviews.But as anyone with internet access will tell you, Davis needs more support. Even as their superstar maximizes an offensive workload befitting Atlas, the Pelicans rank a meager 27th in offensive efficiency. Take Davis and the since-waived Lance Stephenson off the ledger and their field goal percentage (40.8) would rank tied for last.The leagues basement is also where youll find a 3-point percentage (29.1) that somehow dips on open looks (22.3 percent, per NBA.com/Stats), of which there are plenty thanks to the attention Davis draws.ETwaun Moore has stretched out his legs in new environs but an aversion to contact leaves him dependent on a slow-coming 3-ball.Tim Frazier scraps and knows how to keep Davis stuffed with touches (40 percent of Davis buckets come off Frazier passes, per NBA.com/Stats), but has seen his turnover rate steadily rise as defenses adjust to play the pass.Terrence Jones had perhaps the best non-Davis offensive performance with 26 points in Wednesdays loss to the Magic, but their skill sets may overlap too much to coexist like they did in Kentuckys 2012 national title run (the duo has a minus-8.6 net rating in 134 minutes this season, per NBA.com/Stats).The Pelicans dont need a second-coming. Theyll take something, anything from a talent like Holiday to galvanize an offense that mustered league-average last season despite a parade of late D-League call-ups but has struggled this season with parts coach Alvin Gentry admits are better-suited in tertiary roles.With a guy like [Holiday], a guy that can score the ball the way he does -- youre not just talking about scoring but efficiently, Hill said. Getting to the line, creating for others. You cant just all of a sudden triple-team Anthony Davis anymore. You have to account for [Holiday]. Regardless if he plays five minutes or 48 minutes, hes going to affect the game. He just brings an intensity that if youre not ready for him youll never be ready for him.Davis, whose effective field goal percentage last season rose four points when he played next to Holiday, per nbawowy.com, has been looking forward to the opportunity since the summer.We worked out a couple times together in L.A. We just tried to develop that chemistry, Davis said. Theres always been that gap where we couldnt really build that chemistry. But this summer was a good summer for us. Its unfortunate he had to go through what he had to go through with his family. But now that hes going to be back, we got to try to find a way to rekindle that chemistry.How quickly theyll be given the opportunity to showcase their pick-and-roll synergy remains to be seen. Holiday, at least from the jump, is likely to come off the bench until he gets back up to NBA speed.It will be harder to keep Holiday -- who occupied a bigger role on offense than ever last season yet kept his turnover rate among his career lows and assist rate among his career highs -- away late. The Pelicans are tied for the most crunch-time opportunities this season, per NBA.com/Stats, but have also totaled the most losses (7) in those situations in large part because of the sixth-worst clutch offense.I think I can do whatever they want me to do, if its cheerlead, hand out Gatorades, play defense, call a set, whatever it is. Im just here to help, Holiday said. Down the stretch I do think I could help with some directing and just tightening it up at the end of the game.No one will confuse Holidays talents for those of Davis, whose origin story has reached the part where the superhero begins to hone his newfound powers. But a steady hand to guide him may be enough to save the day.Until he gets back I really wont be able to understand it, but Im pretty sure he has [maybe] the largest role on our team, Hill said. AD, being a young guy still coming into his own. Of course [Davis] can score the ball. But just that leadership role hes taken -- hes definitely taken strides, but Jrues done it. Jrues played with multiple All-Stars, played in the playoffs.He knows who he is. I definitely think when he gets back, hell be able to be that guy for us. Nike Free On Sale . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Nike Free Cheap Online . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. http://www.nikefreecheapaustralia.com/ . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Cheap Nike Free Shoes . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Nike Free Shoes Clearance . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- J.A. Happ finally got a win against the Los Angeles Angels.Josh Donaldson went 3 for 3 with two doubles and scored two runs, Russell Martin hit a three-run homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Angels 7-2.Happ (19-4) was winless in five starts against Los Angeles coming into the opening game of the four-game series, but pushed it out of his mind as he took the mound. He then took a shutout into the seventh inning.I was a little bit aware but you kind of put that stuff out of your head once the game starts, Happ said. I was just trying to attack and be aggressive. It worked out, we made some nice plays.Happ was charged with two runs and three hits, struck out three over six-plus innings and got his 13th win in his last 17 starts and his career-best 19th. Its the most wins for a Toronto pitcher since Roy Halladay won 20 games in 2008 and he trails Rick Porcello by one win for the major league lead.I was just trying to get us back to the dugout as usual, Happ said. Got some early outs that definitely helped keep the momentum on our side there.Toronto (80-66) remained tied with Baltimore for the two AL wild cards, two games behind East-leading Boston.The Blue Jays got an emotional boost in Donaldsons return. After playing coy with the results of an MRI on his hip, Donaldson appeared to be back to form, reaching base five times and sparking rallies in the fourth and sixth innings.I didnt know what to expect, to be honest with you, but he looked great, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. Hes a key guy for this team and everybody knows that. He just adds that extra dimension. Its good to have him back.In his fourth big-league appearance, Daniel Wright (0-3) gave up two runs before exiting in the sixth after walking leadoff batter Donaldson. Jose Valdez replaced him and got the first out but walked Jose Bautista and then gave up home run for the second night in a row, this one Martins 19th that put the Blue Jays up 5-0.I think Daniel definitely took a big step forward from his last start, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. I think right now, wheres hes starting to lose a little bit is he hasnt been stretched out early all year, to where hes going to be able to fight through that sixth inning and be into the seventh.Andrelton Simmons hit a two-run homer to pull the Angels within three and chase Happ.dddddddddddd Simmons, who missed the last three games with a sore thumb, has three home runs in his last two games and extended his hitting streak to nine games.Despite the lingering soreness in his thumb and hand, Simmons has seen a sudden power outburst that he credits to improved pitch selection.Hitting homers makes everything better, Simmons said. Im swinging at better pitches, so my pitch selection has been better. And just being more relaxed and not missing my pitches.Devon Travis capped the scoring with a two-run single off Deolis Guerra in the top of the ninth. Guerra then loaded the bases with one out but A.J. Achter came in and got Bautista to ground into a double play.TROUTS MILESTONE WALKMike Trout was issued his 100th walk by Happ in the sixth inning. Trout became the 10th player in A.L. history to walk 100 times twice before his 25-year-old season.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: 3B Donaldson returned to the lineup after missing the entire three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this week with a sore right hip. Neither Donaldson nor manager John Gibbons went into detail about the results of the MRI he underwent on Wednesday, only saying hes good enough to play.Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs will play catch Monday with the hopes of making one more start this season. The Angels havent made a decision as to whether or not he will pitch again this season. Skaggs, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 and made nine starts before being diagnosed with a mild left pronator strain on Wednesday, is likely headed to instructional league after the season concludes.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey is coming off a loss in Oakland in which he gave up five earned runs in six innings. Dickey won his only outing against the Angels this season, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 23.Angels: RHP Jered Weaver is looking for win No. 150 on Friday in the second game of the four-game series. Weaver could become just the second Angels pitcher to win 150 games, joining Chuck Finley (165). Since Aug. 25, Weaver is 3-0 with a 3.97 ERA and has pitched well against the Blue Jays, going 11-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 14 starts. ' ' '