Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To First Round Series

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

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 /

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Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Controlling The Boards

The Golden State Warriors averaged 44.7 rebounds per game this season, the seventh best mark in the league, per NBA.com. The New Orleans Pelicans, by contrast, averaged 43.5 per game, good for 16th. When these two teams have played, however, the Dubs have dominated the boards, stepping up their averages to 48.5 rebounds per game (compared to New Orleans’ 44.5).

Four games is a small sample size, but with both Anthony Davis and Omer Asik to worry about on the offensive boards, the fact that the Warriors have been able to dominate in this key area is no small feat.

Davis loves getting easy points on electrifying put-back slams and Asik’s offensive game is so limited that if the Dubs put a concerted effort into boxing out, they can eliminate second chance points as they’ve done for most of the season. The Pelicans only shoot 43.7 percent from the field against the Warriors, so corralling those misses and controlling the glass will be important.

Next: No. 4

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