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

2. Is this New Orleans backcourt for real?

Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday have come alive in the playoffs thus far. This is not wholly without precedent, as Holiday has been on fire ever since DeMarcus Cousins went down and Rondo became a different player in the postseason last year with the Chicago Bulls.

But even so, no one was expecting this level of play. Rondo is averaging 11.3 points and 13.3 assists per game, dropping 3-pointers at a 42.9 percent clip. His lob passes to Anthony Davis were unstoppable and demoralizing, and defensively he was engaged as well.

Holiday has been even better, perhaps the MVP of the postseason thus far, averaging 27.8 points, 6.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game to go with absolutely smothering defense on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. When he guarded the MVP candidate in Game 1 for example, Lillard shot just 1-for-11 from the field.

If their inspired play continues, then the Warriors should not feel safe. Holiday can slow-if-not-stop Klay Thompson, and that leaves the rest of the roster to shade toward Kevin Durant. It’s possible that Holiday could even see time on Durant. At the point, Rondo can continue to get the ball to Davis from unique angles, denying the Warriors the chance to shut down one specific path.

Without Curry, the Warriors are the less-talented backcourt — a crazy statement, but true in this instance. Rondo and Holiday have been incredible thus far; can they keep it up?