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NBA Playoffs 2018: 5 keys to Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans matchup

By Philip Rossman-Reich

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 14: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots over Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans at ORACLE Arena on March 14, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 14: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots over Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans at ORACLE Arena on March 14, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as an intriguing challenge to the Golden State Warriors. Can they keep up their hot run and score another upset?

The New Orleans Pelicans entered their series against the Portland Trail Blazers with expectations of putting up a fight and maybe advancing to the second round. Either way, both teams would be sacrificial lambs to the juggernaut that is the Golden State Warriors. Their plucky little story would come to an end.

Then Anthony Davis went nuts — 33.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game — Jrue Holiday shut down Damian Lillard and the Pelicans swept the third-seeded Trail Blazers right into the summer.

Narratives and storylines shift quickly in the Playoffs. And the Pelicans now look like world beaters capable of doing the unthinkable.

The Warriors have not helped sway that notion back to the original and inevitable Golden State Warriors-Houston Rockets march with their five-game series win over the San Antonio Spurs. Golden State has looked a bit human at times without Stephen Curry. The team is not firing on all cylinders and Davis is increasingly looking like the best player in the series. Or at least enough to contest Kevin Durant for that title.

The series between the Pelicans and Warriors will bring up a ton of interesting matchups. How does New Orleans handle the size from Golden State on the wing with their smallish backcourt? How does Golden State handle New Orleans’ size?

This is a series that will be much more than a rehash of the 2015 first-round series. That was a surprisingly close series for a four-game sweep — Golden State won the games by an average of 8.0 points per game and included that classic overtime game in Game 3.

The Warriors and Pelicans are much different teams these days. Both have grown in different ways. And their collision in the second round is going to bring up a lot of interesting matchups and storylines.

That Rockets-Warriors collision does not seem set.

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