The Warriors and Pelicans meet in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs today at 12:30 at Oracle Arena. You already know what to expect from Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis, but which individual will be the breakout player?
All our writers here at Warriors World have submitted their predictions, tell us what you think and comment at the bottom of the page:
Jordan Ramirez:
Andre Iguodala. It’s odd having to list a veteran of Iguodala’s stature as a possible breakout candidate, but he goes so unnoticed on a national scale that it’s appropriate that he’ll finally be back on that radar these playoffs. Not that the national radar matters towards wins or anything important, but it just shows how an incredibly important asset can practically be forgotten simply because the player is quiet and comes off the bench. His basketball IQ, passing, ability to run the floor and not to mention his stout defense gives Kerr and his team the versatility to play him anywhere and everywhere.
Daniel Leroux:
I am not sure this series will have a true breakout player but if it does, it could be Jrue Holiday in a losing effort. Jrue has done a nice job on Stephen Curry in the past and playing with Tyreke Evans has allowed him to shift a little more off the ball, which has helped his offensive game during the recovery process. Steph will get his but Jrue may open some eyes.
Sheed Malek:
Harrison Barnes. Yes, you read that correctly, Harrison Barnes. Barnes will get open looks galore with the Pelicans trying to get the ball out of Steph Curry’s hands. Barnes is one of the best 3pt shooters in the league, especially from the corners. Pelicans don’t have a SF who can put pressure on Barnes on the offensive end- Pondexter and co. don’t scare anyone with the scoring ability. I got Barnes averaging 15+ppg and making the Pelicans pay for trapping Steph.
Alex Torres:
With all the attention on Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, this will open up some lanes for the Warriors, which is perfect for Leandro Barbosa. The Brazilian Blur has become an integral part of the second unit and that should continue in the post-season. Barbosa still has a very quick step and had been knocking down jumpers with consistency this season. Barbosa won’t drop 17-20 points per game, but he will be bring a spark off the bench and has a knack of getting to the hole with ease.
Saam Esfandiari:
Harrison Barnes. Make no mistake Iguodala will get the lions share of the minutes at small forward as the playoffs go on. However vs. a team without consistent scoring at the SF position, Kerr might opt to utilize Barnes shooting over Iguodala’s defense. New Orleans ranked 22nd in defense largely due to a poor perimeter. All of the Pelicans’ attention will be on Curry and Thompson, so Barnes will have the opportunity to get a lot of open shots.
Yama Hazheer:
Claiming that Klay Thompson has been on an absolute tear the past four games might be an understatement. In just 30 minutes a game, Thompson is putting up 29 points per game on 55 percent shooting, and 61 percent from beyond the arc. He’s made 19 out of 31 three pointers during that span. No coincidence, the Warriors have won all four of those games. The attention of the Pelicans’ defense will be primarily on Stephen Curry. Thompson will get more opportunities. Despite struggling against New Orleans in the regular season, the playoffs are a different animal and Thompson has caught fire at the correct time.
Jared Williams:
Unlike the rest of my life, when it comes to “breakout player” my views are pretty conservative: I abide by a strict interpretation of the words. Thus, Steph, Klay, and Dray have already broken out. I’m picking someone whose game has consistently elevated the bigger the stage. A player without an overly demanding defensive matchup (his opposition is Quincy Pondexter). Someone who should have an endless amount of wide open corner three-pointers. Someone who has indeed personally blocked WarriorsWorld on twitter. Yes, I’m going with Harrison Barnes as the breakout player of this series. Or maybe this is just wishful thinking -also very likely.