The Golden State Warriors survived a scare from the Orlando Magic thanks to the late game heroics of Steph Curry. The winning streak is now at 10 games and Anthony Davis stands between the Warriors and their 11th consecutive victory. On the season, the Warriors are 6-1 at home.
Anthony Davis is having an amazing breakout year. Unfortunately for him, the rest of the Pelicans aren’t. The Pelicans are 8-8 and battle in what’s arguably the toughest division. In the Southwest, the Grizzlies and Texas three-step are currently four of the eight playoff eligible teams. The Pelicans are tough competition as they defeated the Thunder with both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in the lineup.
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Players To Watch
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is the newest member of the NBA’s elite. His play has been noticed by the entire league. The NBA has become a guard dominated league and it’s refreshing for fans to see a dominant big man return. Andrew Bogut and Mo Speights will have their hands full the entire night. Davis’ length and athleticism makes him incredibly hard to guard. On top of that, his defense is excellent. He leads in the league in blocks with 3.06 a game. He’s averaging nearly 25 points and 11 boards a contest.
Jrue Holiday
After a stress fracture in his right tibia, Holiday has returned to playing basketball at a high level. Hooking up with Anthony Davis has really helped his game and efficiency. Holiday has played in all the games and has put up 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The most important stat may be his turnovers. This season, the number has declined making him an important piece for the upcoming Pelicans.
Keys To Victory
Home Court Advantage
There’s no place like home. In fact, there’s no arena in the NBA that can match the energy and enthusiasm the Oracle provides. Curry tweeted his game winner was derived from the ovation of the fans. When there’s an atmosphere like that, there’s no chance of a lack of energy from the players.
Run The Offense
The emphasis on pushing the ball in transition is still there but an uptempo game isn’t always an option. A perfect example of scoring in transition is the Steph game winner on the Magic. Rather than looking to set up in a half court where the defense is set, it’s easier to score when the defense isn’t ready. If the transition defense from the Pelicans is stopping the Warriors, it’s important for the team to get into their half court set. Usually ran through Bogut, the pick and rolls clear up space on the floor. The isolation ball needs to be held to a minimum aka at the end of the shot clock.