Golden State Warriors

Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans return home to play Golden State Warriors

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:38 p.m. ET

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Oct 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) defends Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 122-114. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans (8-17) will try desperately to keep momentum alive in a home matchup with the Golden State Warriors (21-4).

Like Omer Asik trying to receive a pass, the New Orleans Pelicans can’t catch a break. Disappointed after a horrible home loss to the Sixers last Thursday, they were met in the next game by Chris Paul’s first 20-point/20-assist game ever. The next night, a win was in sight against a T.J. Warren-less Phoenix Suns squad. Of course, that game on the second night of the back-to-back would end in overtime.

Sure, a win is a win, but the reward for that win is the opportunity to get eviscerated by the Golden State MVPs. Woo-hoo!

More from Pelican Debrief

There is almost no sense in comparing the Xs and Os of this matchup; the Pelicans are without the talent necessary to compete with the Warriors. If guys like Dante Cunningham, Tyreke Evans, and Quincy Pondexter were healthy, they might have the versatility to compete defensively and make things interesting offensively around Anthony Davis. Tonight, unless Jrue Holiday has the game of his life, there simply won’t be enough firepower on the New Orleans sideline to measure up to that of the Dubs.

Anthony Davis and Tim Frazier have excelled in the last two matchups with this team: Davis has a combined 78 points and 30 rebounds, while Frazier has tallied 34 points and 20 assists. The quick pace the Warriors imprint upon their games favors pick-and-roll players like Frazier, and Davis benefits. AD also has seemed particularly confident against any non-Draymond Warriors defenders this season.

It will be interesting to feel the mood of the game tonight– Davis was at his energized best in both of the first matchups, which happened in the first month of the season. He has seemed off over the past week or so, playing tired defense, too many minutes, and scoring less (only 14 points against Phoenix on Sunday).

Tonight’s result may ultimately come down to who plays their style the best. If the Pelicans’ role players can do their thing, Davis can return to early-season form, and Holiday can fill in the gaps, a close game might not be out of the question. On the other hand, if the Warriors score 140 points, as they’ve done twice over the past three weeks (and another with 138 points), the game might be out of hand early.

Who, When, Where and How to Watch

When and Where: The game will be played at 7:00 p.m. CST in New Orleans.

How To Watch: The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports New Orleans and NBA League Pass.

Injuries:

New Orleans: Quincy Pondexter (Left Knee), Tyreke Evans (Right Knee) and Dante Cunningham (Right Fibula Fracture) are all OUT. Jrue Holiday (Left Turf Toe) and E’Twaun Moore (Right Toe Contusion) are both PROBABLE.

Golden State: Zaza Pachulia (Wrist) is DOUBTFUL.

Probable Starting Lineups:

New Orleans: PG Tim Frazier, SG Buddy Hield, SF Solomon Hill, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik

Golden State: PG Stephen Curry, SG Klay Thompson, SF Kevin Durant, PF Draymond Green, C Kevon Looney

Other Players to Watch:

New Orleans: E’Twaun Moore, Terrence Jones, Reggie Williams, Cheick Diallo, and Langston Galloway

Golden State: Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Ian Clark, JaVale McGee, and David West

What’s Next for the Pelicans?

The Pelicans will stay in New Orleans through their off-day tomorrow before playing the Indiana Pacers at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST.

November 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with forward Kevin Durant (35) after Curry made his 13th three-point basket during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Curry made 13-three point baskets for the NBA record of most three-pointers in a single game. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 116-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

There isn’t a clear answer to the Curry Question on the Pelicans’ roster

So far this year, Kevin Durant has been the Warriors’ most valuable player, and one of the most valuable in the entire league. He is second in the league in Win Shares according to Basketball-Reference, sixth in Box Plus-Minus, and has a plus-24 Net Rating; a clearly great season.

But the Pelicans have a defender who fits the bill of a Durant Defender as well as any in the league: Solomon Hill. Hill’s combination of balance, strength, and foot speed gives him about as good a chance as any NBA player of controlling Durant. Force him into some bad decisions or open misses, and you’re doing better than most.

Stephen Curry, on the other hand, has no clear Pelicans foil. I’ve touted Frazier’s defense in every Warriors matchup this year, as his scrappy ability to contest every shot makes him look better against a matchup like Golden State. Though he gets caught on many of them, he fights through every screen and has the quickness to recover from over-playing a pump fake or quick pass. However: Frazier is not the answer.

Curry scored 23 points in the first matchup before breaking the NBA’s single-game three-point record in the second. For both games, however, the Pelicans were without Jrue Holiday.

He is the kind of sturdy, smart defensive player who logically poses a threat to Curry’s fake-and-shake style. The Houston Rockets’ Patrick Beverley comes to mind as a comparison. Statistically, Holiday has been a below-average defender for basically his entire time in New Orleans, but he is clearly a more talented player than the Pelicans’ other backcourt options on that end.

Against the Warriors, defending the pick-and-roll is vital; Holiday is a strong screen-fighter, and can switch onto bigger players when necessary. He rotates well, and like Frazier, works to contest every shot.

If you can force Durant and Curry to spend a handful of possessions on inefficient shots, you give yourself a chance. That’s all the Pelicans can hope for.

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