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Golden State Warriors Readying the Brooms

By Greg Chin

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The Game Three heroics will still be fresh in the Golden State Warriors’ minds when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Four tonight. Had the Warriors been unable to claw their way back from a 20-point deficit, they might be heading into tonight’s game with the threat of a 2-2 series on their minds.

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Instead, they will take the court in a relaxed atmosphere, knowing that they are almost guaranteed to progress to the next round without much fuss. Despite the Warriors having a 3-0 series lead, the two teams have played each other very closely. The Warriors have struggled with capably handling Anthony Davis, and the Pelicans have looked very dangerous through certain moments of the three games played.

A win tonight could give the Warriors almost a week off before they start the next round of the playoffs. For a team that has prioritised rest and health, having a week’s worth of rest will be a blessing.

Keys to the Game

  1. Avoiding Game Three Shenanigans

The 20-point comeback may have been incredible to watch, but the Warriors cannot find themselves in such a deficit anymore. They were simply outplayed in the first three quarters, and Draymond Green’s foul trouble was a big reason why Anthony Davis was able to run rampant.

  1. No Complacency

The series may be 3-0, but the Warriors haven’t exactly blown the Pelicans out of the water with their play during the series. It’s been back and forth between the two teams, with the Pelicans showing that they can trouble the Warriors. The Dubs need to avoid the complacent style of play that has been creeping in lately – one false move and the Warriors could be on their way to a humbling loss.

Key Matchups

  1. Draymond Green v Anthony Davis

It’s hard to say who the winner of this matchup has been – Davis has been able to get his numbers (30 points, 11 rebounds per game), but Draymond Green has limited his production on the court. The Warriors are +19.7 points when Draymond is on the court, and has been the only capable defender against AD. They struggled when Green’s influence was limited due to foul trouble, so he will have to watch himself tonight.

  1. Stephen Curry v Jrue Holiday

While many are picking Draymond Green as the player of the series for the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry isn’t far behind for consideration either. His three-point attempts have skyrocketed, which explains his decrease in accuracy. Still, Game Three was a perfect example of how Curry’s shooting helps his team even when he isn’t shooting well – the Warriors were able to score off putbacks on four of five Curry misses in the fourth quarter. His shooting is so deadly that he draws multiple defenders towards him, creating mismatches across the floor for his teammates.

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