Can the New Orleans Pelicans Upset the Golden State Warriors?
The New Orleans Pelicans are up 3-0 in their series against the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors are leading with the same margin against the San Antonio Spurs.
It isn't a surprise the Warriors are winning there series, but it is a surprise that the Pelicans are handling the Trail Blazers easily.
What's scary about New Orleans is that they are winning without DeMarcus Cousins. He hasn't played since January because of a torn Achilles. The Pelicans are playing just fine without him and one of the reasons why is Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis is averaging 24.3 PPG this series. Rajon Rondo is averaging 12 APG this series.
He has done a great job so far in the NBA playoffs at dictating the pace for the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday has stepped up his game and he is averaging 23.3 PPG in this series.
Nikola Mirotic scored 30 points for the Pelicans in Thursday Night's 119-102 win in Game 3 against the Trail Blazers.
Because a team has never come back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history, it is more than likely the New Orleans Pelicans will play the Golden State Warriors in the second-round of the NBA playoffs. Can the sixth-seeded Pelicans upset the Warriors in a seven-game series?
It is quite possible the Golden State Warriors will be without Steph Curry once again in the second round.
The offence will have a tougher time getting off shots without him because the Pelicans are very good defensively with Rondo and Holiday in the backcourt and Davis is a very good rim protector.
Golden State will have a difficult time playing small ball. If Draymond Green plays the five, he will get eaten alive by Davis. Even if they put in Zaza Pachullia or Javel McGee at center, Davis will still get his points.
Nikola Mirotic is a very good shooter, but he isn't very good defensively. The main problem for New Orleans is they don't have anyone to stop Kevin Durant.
He will go at will against the Pelicans and Durant will be very aggressive.
The Golden State Warriors also have a better bench than the New Orleans Pelicans and Steve Kerr is a better coach than Alvin Gentry.
I think the Pelicans would give them a tough series but at the end of the day, the Warriors would win this series in six or seven games because of the championship pedigree they have.