The Golden State Warriors will face New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference Semifinals, the only sweep of the playoffs to date against Portland. Can the Pelicans around Anthony Davis also annoy the almost overwhelming Dubs and is Stephen Curry making his comeback? You can get the information in the preview of the series.
Neither team had been out of action for a long time, as both the Warriors and the Pelicans prevailed in the first round. While the reigning champion defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games with slight problems, New Orleans swept away the Portland Trail Blazers with four wins in as many games – perhaps the biggest surprise of the playoffs so far and the only sweep so far.
This was a real exclamation mark for the chronically unsuccessful franchise from the Big Easy. Most recently, New Orleans won a play-off series with Chris Paul in 2008. At that time the Pelicans were still called Hornets.
But the statistics give the Pels little hope. Since 2013, NOLA have lost 26 of 28 games against the Warriors, including a sweep in 2015 when the two teams met in the first play-off round. After all: The Pels won the last duel of the Regular Season in April in the Oracle Arena.
It was the only game of both teams anyway, which has a little expressiveness. In the first three comparisons in the early stages of the season, DeMarcus Cousins was still on the field for New Orleans, which will not be the case due to his Achilles tendon injury. On the Warriors’ side Stephen Curry was missing, he is expected in the course of the series, probably already for game 2.
Nevertheless, there is optimism in the Pelican camp. “We know we can beat them,” sounded Anthony Davis before the show. “We proved this in the Regular Season, they are a good matchup for us. We go into the games with a lot of confidence.”
The goal is to stop the incredibly hot offense of the Pelicans, but the Warriors should have enough tools for that. Davis will have to be taken care of by Draymond Green, but unlike Portland, the Dubs have enough players to get AD out of rhythm by changing guards. Of course, the Dubs also had problems with LaMarcus Aldridge (23.1 points, 51 percent out of the field) in the first round, but the supporting cast of the Spurs was almost cancelled.
This is with the Pels for Davis above all the Backcourt around Rondo and Holiday. “We must defend them conscientiously,” Durant knows. “AD had some monster games, but these guys are creating its possibilities.” It is particularly important to watch out for transition; in the half-field, the Pelicans open field often loses explosiveness.
After Washington and Indiana, no team scored more points in transition than New Orleans (16.8). The Warriors need to be cautious here, because there are some phases with a lot of lack of concentration in the master from time to time. The Gentry team, on the other hand, scored an average of 19 points in the Portland Series after losing the ball (third place).
Turnovers are also a flaw in Curry’s game (3.0 per game), yet the double MVP is the team’s joker from the Bay Area. Even without the Point Guard, the Warriors would still be the favorite in this series, with the superstar and his sheer presence the dubs are one level better.
The big question for the Pelicans will be how to contain Durant. The matchup with Portland was very convenient for Head Coach Alvin Gentry’s team, as the Blazers did not have an outstanding winger. There lie the weaknesses of the Pels, who play with E’Twaun Moore, a nominal guard, on the three. You can’t hide Moore from the Warriors.
In the Regular Season the Pels tried Point Guard Jrue Holiday against KD, but as it turned out, the size advantage for the final MVP was much too big. Solomon Hill or Darius Miller should see more minutes and try to play Durant, Nikola Mirotic should also see the Warriors star a few times.
Alternatively, Davis could check the Durantula, but the brow is actually too important for the offense to wear him down in this unfavorable duel. The Pels will want to avoid Davis defending at the perimeter, because the ring protection is no longer given.
That’s why New Orleans will try to push through its strengths – and they are clearly in the offense. The Pels scored 114.7 points for 100 possessions in the four games against Portland, plus the Pels are the fastest pace in the entire league.
In addition to Holiday and Davis, role-players such as Nikola Mirotic (46.2 percent threesome against Portland) and Rajon Rondo also shone. The Pels will need a strong supporting cast that scores efficiently to have a chance in this series. The Pelicans will hardly win over the defense, maybe in a real shootout.
New Orleans is hot, will at least tickle the champion and represent the real first endurance test for Golden State. The matchups are very unfavorable for the Louisiana franchise, however, and Golden State still has a real joker up their sleeve in Curry. It would take gigantic ideas from Davis for this series to be lengthened by the Pels. Nevertheless, the Warriors have to be very careful, New Orleans is always able to put 130 points on the scoreboard. However, if the defence remains at the same level as against the Spurs, the Dubs will have no problems, not least because they have more depth in the squad. Forecast: Warriors in five.