Hoops Habit
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To First Round Series Against New Orleans Pelicans

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 7
Next
Golden State Warriors
Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

With a win last night to close the regular season, the Golden State Warriors finished 2014-15 with a 67-15 record, a phenomenal 39-2 home record, the top seed in the Western Conference and a historic point differential of +10.1 — the eighth highest mark in NBA history.

More from Golden State Warriors

But even with the Dubs’ historical brilliance this season, none of that matters now. The 2015 NBA Playoffs are here and if the Warriors lose four of seven games in a series, their magnificent season will come to an end without accomplishing the main goal of winning a championship.

After last night’s action, we now know the first one-eyebrowed obstacle to Golden State’s championship pursuit: Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans, who rejoin the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

The Dubs had the No. 1 seed locked up weeks ago; the Pellies locked up the final playoff spot in the West on the last night of the regular season with a home win over the San Antonio Spurs, by virtue of their tiebreaker over the Oklahoma City Thunder (who also finished with a 45-37 record).

In four meetings this season, the Dubs posted a 3-1 record against New Orleans. In the three games they won, the Warriors won two blowouts (112-85 on Dec. 4 and 112-96 on Mar. 20) and one in overtime (128-122 on Dec. 14). Golden State lost its most recent game against the Pellies, 103-100, on Apr. 7.

Given what we know about how these two teams match up and what we’ve seen from each all year long, it’s time to take a look at the five keys to advancing for the Golden State Warriors with a little first round series preview.

Series Schedule:

Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 18 (3:30 PM ET)
Game 2: Monday, Apr. 20 (10:30 PM)
Game 3: Thursday, Apr. 23 (9:30 PM)
Game 4: Saturday, Apr. 25 (8:00 PM)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, Apr. 28 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 1 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 3 (TBD)

Starting Lineups:

Golden State: Stephen Curry (PG), Klay Thompson (SG), Harrison Barnes (SF), Draymond Green (PF), Andrew Bogut (C)
New Orleans: Tyreke Evans (PG/SG), Eric Gordon (SG) Quincy Pondexter (SF), Anthony Davis (PF), Omer Asik (C)

Next: No. 5

Home/Golden State Warriors