Perhaps playing in New Orleans will give Davis some life. Klay Thompson led Golden State with 26 points on 9-22 shooting. He ended the Portland series with a 47-point, 10-rebound performance in front of the Pelicans’ home crowd.
Advertisement
Every time Golden State would cut into the lead, then-Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson, and Anthony Davis would push the lead back up to 18, or 19 points.
As he did in the series-clinching Games 3 and 4 at home against the Blazers, Mirotic needed New Orleans’ rally-towel-waving, confidence-boosting fans to back him up. It was only after beating out Ben Gordon and others in training camp three years ago that he earned Golden State’s 15th roster spot. But after locking up the Warriors and holding them to 19 third-quarter points, New Orleans was well out of reach.
Draymond Green almost posted a triple-double with 20 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. After a timeout, Steve Kerr threw in the towel by subbing in previous DNPs such as Zaza Pachulia and Jordan Bell. It’s not just that their shooters were off, although they were. Davis is also pulling down 12 rebounds each game. It wasn’t even that close. Because of how the team’s long-term financials stack up, Golden State opted to fill Clark’s spot with Nick Young for one-year, $5.2 million. He finished with 18 points on the night. “That’s what you ask for going into a playoff series”.
Game 4 will take place on Sunday afternoon. “I think we did that tonight”. The Pelicans cranked up their defensive pressure and the result was this shot chart by the Warriors, where they barely got to the rim – they had six more midrangers than shots within three feet – and missed their jumpers. When the Pelicans hit their outside shots, they have the offensive firepower to hang with the Warriors.
“You’ve just got to stay with it”.
Many of these players are elite defensively, too, but good offense trumps good defense, and expect that to be the case once again in this game. He got free from Jrue Holiday, did a small pump-fake, took a dribble and shot the ball. “I just have to be aggressive”. “To me, those are the kind of players that I’d like to have on the team”. Not in a insane way or anything, just let them know we’re not a pushover. We’re here to fight. Green asked. “I haven’t got into it yet with him, period”. However, the Pelicans continued to shoot the ball well as they set a franchise record for three pointers made in a half with 10 (10-16).
54-36: Pelicans edge in points in the paint.
Advertisement
At stretches during the regular season, Davis performed like the best player in the National Basketball Association. If the Pelicans can keep up this pace of play, Golden State could find themselves gasping for air come the fourth quarter, which could help the Pelicans garner their first win of the series.
