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2018 NBA Playoffs: Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans preview

By Josh Cornelissen

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images /

The New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors have moved on quickly to the second round. What are the keys to the series, and which team will win?

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors are the first of the NBA’s second round matchups to be set in place, and in fact, two of the first three teams to emerge from the first round. Both teams dispatched their opponents quickly and will accordingly get time off before their next games.

As the 6-seed, the Pelicans were not favored against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. They didn’t let that stop them, winning close games in Portland and then cruising to blowouts in New Orleans to sweep the Blazers. Jrue Holiday looked like an MVP candidate, Anthony Davis was unstoppable and Rajon Rondo appeared to have taken a time machine back to 2010.

The Warriors did not roll over their opponent in such exciting fashion. Playing without Stephen Curry, they beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games through a more methodical process, in a series overcast by the death of Gregg Popovich’s wife, Erin.

As Saturday approaches, questions swirl around this series. Are the Pelicans as good as they looked in the first round? When will the Warriors be at full strength? And does Alvin Gentry possess any secret Warriors knowledge to pull off the upset?