Warriors vs. Pelicans Preview with Pelican Debrief
By Eric He
As the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans get set to square off in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday, the previews and predictions are inevitably churning at full force.
To help prep for the series, we turned to Matt Cianfrone, editor at Pelican Debrief for some answers and insights into the storylines:
Q; What is the mindset heading in, knowing that it will take quite an effort to upset the No. 1 seed?
While I’m not sure what it is around the team but for me this is all just gravy. The Pelicans battled through a ton of injuries this season so the fact that they were able to fight through them all and make the playoffs in the Western Conference is just amazing. The most important thing this season was the growth of Anthony Davis and that happened so whatever happens in the playoffs is extra. There isn’t any expectation of an upset.
Q: How would you describe Anthony Davis and his importance to the Pelicans?
Sometimes late in games the great Joel Meyers will just call AD “The Franchise” after he makes a big play and there is no better way to describe him. AD is the Pelicans and they wouldn’t be anywhere close to the playoffs without him. He is a game changing defender, an elite shooter and an unstoppable pick-and-roll threat. Outside of LeBron James and Kevin Durant there isn’t a player that can claim to be better than Davis. He is just amazing.
Q: How do the Pelicans slow down the Warriors’ shooters?
Well in all honesty they probably won’t but I think the best way to try is using Jrue Holiday in Eric Gordon‘s place. That gives the Pelicans some size on the perimeter with Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Quincy Pondexter to hopefully bother the Warriors shooters. But Evans loses focus off the ball too often and Holiday is still working back from injury so it remains to be seen how much he can play. That means a lot Gordon who is too small to really bother Klay Thompson and too slow to defend Steph Curry. Which means lots of Warriors points.
Q: There is some controversy regarding the Warriors calling their last matchup against the Pelicans a “scrimmage.” What are your thoughts on that and will it motivate the Pelicans?
I kind of laughed at it. The Pelicans seemed to use it as motivation though and got a big win. Considering the relative youth of both teams though I am all for it causing a bit of a rivalry to develop. The game is more fun with those. As for motivation I don’t think it will change much. The Pelicans are going to want to win the series no matter what and while they may mention it here or there I don’t think that can be the driving force behind trying to win the series.
Q: Predictions for the series?
Warriors in five. I think the Pelicans steal a game in New Orleans thanks to a crowd that has been great lately and an Anthony Davis big game but at the end of the day the Warriors are too talented. The Pelicans can’t defend both Klay Thompson and Steph Curry effectively at the same time and Andrew Boguts defense inside is going cause Tyreke Evans problems. It was great for the Pelicans to get here but the ride ends soon.