It's very clever if anyone could have predicted that New Orleans would be the first qualified team for the conference semifinals. Pulses in the regular season, deprived of one of their two stars since January (DeMarcus Cousins, victim of an Achilles tendon rupture) and opposed to a better ranked team (Portland, 3rd) in the first round, the Pelicans n did not inspire confidence. Yet at the end of a match 4 again mastered and won hands down (131-123), the men of Alvin Gentry dismissed the Blazers with a backhand to offer at least a day of rest more than their potential opponents. A broomstick that raises questions about the real limits of this group.
Many thought NOLA's strength was limited to the only talent of Anthony Davis. Not only has the All-Star interior proved to be the unstoppable cyborg that has been hinted at since joining the league in 2012 (47 points and 11 rebounds last night), but his comrades are also evolving to a bluffing level. . Jrue Holiday, shifted to position 2, scored 41 points and 8 assists Saturday, confirming her return to the fore after four complicated years in Louisiana. Rajon Rondo, who no one wanted after a few years worthy of his talent in Dallas and Chicago, saw a real resurrection (16 assists in match 4) and his former partner in the Bulls Nikola Mirotic proves to be one of the best picks of winter.
And now, Golden State?
The depth of the bench seems always to limit the ambitions of Pelicans, but their hard core is so effective that the problem is not relevant. It may be on the other hand from next week. Except cataclysm, the Golden State Warriors will be on their way to the semifinals. The defending champions lead 3-0 ahead of a home match on Sunday Sunday against limited San Antonio Spurs and deprived of their coach Gregg Popovich, in mourning after the death of his wife.
This will obviously be a different story for New Orleans. But where a victory without suffering or defeat Californians would have been the most logical bet a few days ago, the situation is different today. Nobody, not even the Warriors, will dare to face the Pelicans the flower with the rifle. In this, this post-season, the first in three years and a beating 4-0 against the same Warriors in the first round, is already a success.