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

3. How do the Warriors slow down Anthony Davis?

Many of the matchups in this series are established for us, especially if the Pelicans go to a switch-heavy lineup. But for each team, a decision has to be made about the primary defender on each superstar. The Pelicans, short on wings, may need a defense-by-committee showing to slow down Durant.

Kevin Durant will get his. What the Pelicans cannot do is get complacent, but rather stay dialed in on Durant. The bigger question is, how do the Warriors in turn defend Anthony Davis?

One option is one-on-one with Draymond Green, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate at the same position. But Green stands just at 6’7″ (a generous estimate) while Davis is 6’10” and all long limbs and leaping ability. As good as he is, could Green really stop this play?

The other options aren’t much better. The Warriors have a center rotation of fringe roster players but no high-end defensive talent. Can JaVale McGee match Anthony Davis? Of course not. David West doesn’t start, Jordan Bell has been marginalized and Zaza Pachulia doesn’t play altogether. Which big man can stay with Anthony Davis?

If the Warriors go to a group effort, doubling Davis and not relying on one single defender, the entire unit will be stretched thin trying not to break and leave a player wide open. The Warriors have done this before, deserting a non-shooter to double aggressively on a player carving them up.