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

2. Size on the wings

The New Orleans Pelicans have a little bit of a problem they have been able to cover and play around. Their starting lineup is small, at least on the perimeter.

Jrue Holiday, E’Twaun Moore and Rajon Rondo were able to do a lot of damage against the Blazers in the first round. But that is an awfully small backcourt especially going up against a much bigger team in the Warriors.

Holiday and Moore are listed at 6-foot-4 and Rondo is listed at 6-foot-1. One of those players will have to defend Kevin Durant or switch onto Draymond Green. And Klay Thompson is a big 6-foot-7.

This is a huge mismatch for the Pelicans. New Orleans was great defensively against Portland, but this is a much bigger challenge.

The Pelicans will have to adjust some things to their rotation. But playing Solomon Hill, DeAndre Liggins or Ian Clark more is not going to solve many of the problems. Those players just are not as effective offensively as the current Pelicans group. That disruption to the rotation could have some major after-effects for the team.

New Orleans has to find a way to overcome this major disadvantage on the wings with its roster. This is one of the major drawbacks. And Davis is not likely going to be able to clean everything up by himself. Not with the way the Warriors pass the ball.

Golden State clearly has an advantage here and the team is likely to exploit it.