- May 23, 2012
- 15,710
- 14,490
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
- Other Teams
- Tottenham Hotspur, New Orleans Pels
1. Golden State Warriors vs 8. New Orleans Pelicans
Head-to-head: Golden State leads 3-1
4/12/14 New Orleans 85 @ Golden State 112
14/12/14 Golden State 128 @ New Orleans 122
20/3/15 New Orleans 96 @ Golden State 112
7/4/15 Golden State 100 @ New Orleans 103
Record: 67-15 (1st in NBA)
O Rating: 2nd
D Rating: 1st
Leading scorer: Steph Curry 23.8ppg
Leading rebounder: Draymond Green 8.2rpg
Leading assists: Steph Curry 7.7apg
Starting line-up: Steph Curry / Klay Thompson / Harrison Barnes / Draymond Green / Andrew Bogut
Key bench contributors: Andre Igoudala, David Lee, Mareese Speights, Shaun Livingston
Injury List: David Lee's health is a minor concern
Season recap: What else can you say really other than - wow.
Many suspected that there was more to this group than the good time thrills provided nightly by the Splash Bros in preceding years- but surely few foresaw the almighty splash the Dubs would make in season 2014/15 under Steve Kerr. Where Golden State had forged a defensive identity and taken their first steps towards long-overdue respectability under the eccentric tutelage of Mark Jackson, Kerr's Warriors put together an offensive show that was worthy of the sum of their considerable parts.
With their offensive schemes catered towards - but crucially not totally reliant upon - the stupendous shooting of their star backcourt duo, the Dubs were a well-oiled machine at BOTH ends of the floor. Breaking franchise and league records seemingly daily, Golden State started the season like a house on fire and to their eternal credit, never really slowed down. The end result was one of the more dominant regular season performances in recent memory. Youth & experience, firepower & tenacity, coaching & chemistry... there are precious few chinks in the Dub armoury.
Strengths: Basketball.
Shooting (1st in 3Pt%, 2nd in 3Pt makes, 2nd in 2PtFG%) Interior D (1st in 2PtFG% allowed), Perimeter D (5th in 3Pt% allowed, 4th in steals)
Weaknesses: Free-throw differential (-300 FTA, bottom 10 for attaining and conceding)
Record: 45-37 (t. 13th in NBA)
O Rating: 8th
D Rating: 22nd
Leading scorer: Anthony Davis 24.4 ppg
Leading rebounder: Anthony Davis 10.2rpg
Leading assists: Jrue Holiday 6.9apg
Starting line-up: Tyreke Evans / Eric Gordon / Quincy Pondexter / Anthony Davis / Omer Asik
Key bench contributors: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson, Norris Cole
Injury list: Holiday will likely play only limited minutes
Season recap: Forever an enigma, the wacky Pels seemed to have blown their chance at a playoff berth before a final day win over the red-hot Spurs clinched their first chance to experience the post-season since 2011.
The young team spent the majority of their season alternating between dizzying highs and unfathomable lows - often in the same week. No team was more prone to maddening inconsistency than New Orleans - the fact that they won late season crunch games against the best in the NBA (including the Dubs, Spurs & Hawks) simply rendered earlier slip-ups against the likes of the Knicks, Sixers, Magic and Nuggets as even more staggering. At times the Pels were their own worst enemies.
New Orleans remains a team that lacks a clearly defined indentity - the Pelicans shot the three well, but seldom. The team is blessed with length and shot-blocking in the frontcourt, yet remained a defensive basketcase. And while the youth and athleticism on the roster seemed likely to cater for an up-tempo approach, under Monty Williams the Pels remain one of the slowest-pace teams in the league. The good news for New Orleans is that for the first time in a long time, the casualty ward has been emptied - ownership and management have paid a high price to assemble the squad, so it's time for the Pelicans to deliver on expectation.
Strengths: Outside shooting (4th in 3PFG%), Rebounding (4th in OReb%), Shot-blocking (2nd in blocks)
Weaknesses: Perimeter defence (28th in turnovers forced), shot selection (18th in FTA rate, 23rd in 3PA rate)
What we can expect: Half as many prayer circles as there would have been in a Mark Jackson/Monty Williams duel.
Look, this series belongs to the Dubs unless something extraordinary happens (probably sporting a unibrow). One factor to watch will be the Splash Bros. long-range accuracy - guarding the three point shot is actually one of the few things that New Orleans does well defensively. Guarding Steph Curry and Klay Thompson four times in one week is another matter altogether though.
This might not be a series for Omer Asik, as the Dubs tend to go pass around and shoot over opponents rather than drive through them. Whether than means extended playing time for Ryan Anderson or not remains to be seen - the noted gunner's shooting touch has noticeably deserted him, while he's a liability at the other end of the court.
Key for Golden State: Draymond Green. It's highly likely that Green will be charged with the responsibility of slowing down Anthony Davis. While he can't compete with the Brow for height, Green does possesses the combination of quickness and defensive nous necessary to combat the Pelicans' unconventional big man.
Key for New Orleans: Jrue Holiday - the Pels only hope of remaining competitive in the series lies in keeping the Dubs perimeter firepower relatively in check. Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon won't be slowing down anybody - thus the responsibility will fall primarily on the shoulders of Holiday. Health remains an issue.
Prediction: The Dubs will run often, and early - all the way to the second round.
Head-to-head: Golden State leads 3-1
4/12/14 New Orleans 85 @ Golden State 112
14/12/14 Golden State 128 @ New Orleans 122
20/3/15 New Orleans 96 @ Golden State 112
7/4/15 Golden State 100 @ New Orleans 103
Record: 67-15 (1st in NBA)
O Rating: 2nd
D Rating: 1st
Leading scorer: Steph Curry 23.8ppg
Leading rebounder: Draymond Green 8.2rpg
Leading assists: Steph Curry 7.7apg
Starting line-up: Steph Curry / Klay Thompson / Harrison Barnes / Draymond Green / Andrew Bogut
Key bench contributors: Andre Igoudala, David Lee, Mareese Speights, Shaun Livingston
Injury List: David Lee's health is a minor concern
Season recap: What else can you say really other than - wow.
Many suspected that there was more to this group than the good time thrills provided nightly by the Splash Bros in preceding years- but surely few foresaw the almighty splash the Dubs would make in season 2014/15 under Steve Kerr. Where Golden State had forged a defensive identity and taken their first steps towards long-overdue respectability under the eccentric tutelage of Mark Jackson, Kerr's Warriors put together an offensive show that was worthy of the sum of their considerable parts.
With their offensive schemes catered towards - but crucially not totally reliant upon - the stupendous shooting of their star backcourt duo, the Dubs were a well-oiled machine at BOTH ends of the floor. Breaking franchise and league records seemingly daily, Golden State started the season like a house on fire and to their eternal credit, never really slowed down. The end result was one of the more dominant regular season performances in recent memory. Youth & experience, firepower & tenacity, coaching & chemistry... there are precious few chinks in the Dub armoury.
Strengths: Basketball.
Shooting (1st in 3Pt%, 2nd in 3Pt makes, 2nd in 2PtFG%) Interior D (1st in 2PtFG% allowed), Perimeter D (5th in 3Pt% allowed, 4th in steals)
Weaknesses: Free-throw differential (-300 FTA, bottom 10 for attaining and conceding)
Record: 45-37 (t. 13th in NBA)
O Rating: 8th
D Rating: 22nd
Leading scorer: Anthony Davis 24.4 ppg
Leading rebounder: Anthony Davis 10.2rpg
Leading assists: Jrue Holiday 6.9apg
Starting line-up: Tyreke Evans / Eric Gordon / Quincy Pondexter / Anthony Davis / Omer Asik
Key bench contributors: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson, Norris Cole
Injury list: Holiday will likely play only limited minutes
Season recap: Forever an enigma, the wacky Pels seemed to have blown their chance at a playoff berth before a final day win over the red-hot Spurs clinched their first chance to experience the post-season since 2011.
The young team spent the majority of their season alternating between dizzying highs and unfathomable lows - often in the same week. No team was more prone to maddening inconsistency than New Orleans - the fact that they won late season crunch games against the best in the NBA (including the Dubs, Spurs & Hawks) simply rendered earlier slip-ups against the likes of the Knicks, Sixers, Magic and Nuggets as even more staggering. At times the Pels were their own worst enemies.
New Orleans remains a team that lacks a clearly defined indentity - the Pelicans shot the three well, but seldom. The team is blessed with length and shot-blocking in the frontcourt, yet remained a defensive basketcase. And while the youth and athleticism on the roster seemed likely to cater for an up-tempo approach, under Monty Williams the Pels remain one of the slowest-pace teams in the league. The good news for New Orleans is that for the first time in a long time, the casualty ward has been emptied - ownership and management have paid a high price to assemble the squad, so it's time for the Pelicans to deliver on expectation.
Strengths: Outside shooting (4th in 3PFG%), Rebounding (4th in OReb%), Shot-blocking (2nd in blocks)
Weaknesses: Perimeter defence (28th in turnovers forced), shot selection (18th in FTA rate, 23rd in 3PA rate)
What we can expect: Half as many prayer circles as there would have been in a Mark Jackson/Monty Williams duel.
Look, this series belongs to the Dubs unless something extraordinary happens (probably sporting a unibrow). One factor to watch will be the Splash Bros. long-range accuracy - guarding the three point shot is actually one of the few things that New Orleans does well defensively. Guarding Steph Curry and Klay Thompson four times in one week is another matter altogether though.
This might not be a series for Omer Asik, as the Dubs tend to go pass around and shoot over opponents rather than drive through them. Whether than means extended playing time for Ryan Anderson or not remains to be seen - the noted gunner's shooting touch has noticeably deserted him, while he's a liability at the other end of the court.
Key for Golden State: Draymond Green. It's highly likely that Green will be charged with the responsibility of slowing down Anthony Davis. While he can't compete with the Brow for height, Green does possesses the combination of quickness and defensive nous necessary to combat the Pelicans' unconventional big man.
Key for New Orleans: Jrue Holiday - the Pels only hope of remaining competitive in the series lies in keeping the Dubs perimeter firepower relatively in check. Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon won't be slowing down anybody - thus the responsibility will fall primarily on the shoulders of Holiday. Health remains an issue.
Prediction: The Dubs will run often, and early - all the way to the second round.
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