New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons the season is over

1. The Hamptons 5

Since Steve Kerr took over the head coaching job for the Warriors in the summer of 2014, we’ve seen him make decisions that have changed the outcome of playoff series.

After going down 2-1 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2015 Western Conference semis, Kerr decided to have center Andrew Bogut “guard” Tony Allen, allowing the career 28.2 percent 3-point shooter to fire at will.

In the Finals of that same year, following a  2-1 series deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kerr replaced Bogut with Andre Iguodala in the starting lineup, allowing Golden State to play smaller and faster. The Warriors won in six, and Iguodala won Finals MVP.

In their second round matchup against New Orleans, Kerr was at it again.

Once the Pelicans took Game 3, Kerr didn’t want to take any chances in allowing his opponent to gain momentum, so he unleashed a starting five over the final two games that hadn’t ever started a game together, famously dubbed the “Hamptons 5.”

By inserting Iguodala into the starting lineup, replacing JaVale McGee, the Warriors were able to trot out five high-IQ, unselfish ball-handlers who could spread the floor on offense, switch pick-and-rolls on defense and, thanks to Draymond Green, not get dominated in the restricted area.

New Orleans did everything it could to make a competitive series, but once Kerr pulled out his trump card, it was over.

Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft

The versatility and firepower of that lineup is unlike anything the league has ever seen before, and it was certainly something the Pelicans could only hope to contain.