The Pelicans Respond By Blowing Out The Warriors In Game 3
Is it possible? Could we have ourselves an actual series? It sure looked that way after the 119-100 Pelicans win. If we’re being honest this looked a whole hell of a lot more like the Pelicans we saw against POR in the previous round, you know the one that swept the 3 seeded Blazers. It’s crazy to think but this Pelicans team is a few breaks away from having a 2-1 lead against the Warriors. If anything the last two should certainly get the attention of GS, and if you’re a Pelicans fan you have to feel great going into Game 3. You’ve had a few rounds against this team now with Curry back, and you’ve hung around. On a night you needed big time performances from your best players, they more than responded.
AD of course led the way with a stupid 33/18/3/4 on 15-27 shooting, continuing his tear through any opponent that stands in his way. Rondo with the most Vintage Rondo performance of all time with a little 2-11 night but a finishing line of 4/10/21 and a +23. What even is that? Playoff Rondo that’s who. Between his on court production and getting in Draymond’s head a little bit, we’re getting the best possible version of Rondo. Love how unafraid he is. Then don’t forget about Jrue’s 21/7/5 on 8-14 either, he was great. Obviously the biggest adjustment was the fact that the Pelicans shot the ball well, finishing with 50.0/45.2% splits with 14 3PM. They had four guys with at least 3 3PM and their bench completely worked the Warriors second unit. This was a true ass kicking through and through.
If you’re GS, you aren’t panicking. You are the better team, but you certainly need to play better. Chalk this up to a rough shooting night, I mean 38.9/30% with just 9 3PM doesn’t happen too often to this team. The one thing that should be of concern was it looked like Curry got a little exposed on defense, and really as a team this looked like the type of defense that got Kerr all worked up at the end of the season. Now if they win Game 4 then none of this matters, but what have we seen time and time again this playoffs. You give a team an ounce of life, and bad things tend to happen.
Bring on Game 4.