Recap: Pelicans Lose Home Opener to the Warriors

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Published: October 31, 2015

The New Orleans Pelicans (0-3) lost their home opener against the Golden State Warriors (3-0) 134-120. Steph Curry led the Warriors scoring 53 points on 17/27 shooting. He made 8/14 shots from beyond the arc and all 11 of his free throws. Draymond Green made four of five shots from beyond the arc on his way to 21 points to copilot the victory. The Pelicans saw Anthony Davis get his 100th career double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds (with two blocks) in a losing effort.

For the Pelicans, it wasn’t offense that was the issue, but defense. The Pelicans gave up 112 points from either beyond the arc, at the charity stripe, or in the paint. Barely forcing the Warriors to take the shots they don’t want to take, the Pelicans were eviscerated on the offensive end. 24 fast break points didn’t make matters any easier. Head coach Alvin Gentry said “I have to do a better job as a coach. We have to do a better job as a team. We have to do a better job defensively.” Davis echoed his frustrations on defense, saying “We just got to play with more effort. More energy, more heart.” As Gentry said, the Pelicans “Didn’t come up with the 50-50 balls. [The Warriors] got all the loose balls.”

The Pelicans were leading after the first half 65-64, having held Curry to 15 points. In the third quarter, the Pelicans allowed the Warriors to score 41 points. Curry himself scored 28 in the quarter (as opposed to the Pelicans 26). As Gentry said, “In the third quarter, [Curry] just didn’t feel us. If you allow him to play that loose the end result is gonna be that…Yes he made some tough shots, but we let him off the hook also. Let him get over the top of screens, we weren’t supposed to do that.”  Once Curry got hot, the Pelicans allowed the game to get out of hand.

New Orleans did see some good play from Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday. Anderson finished with 19 points, making half of his 16 shots. Holiday finished with 22 points and six assists. He played 27 minutes, the most he has played in this season, and way above the 15 minute restriction he had been said to be on until January. Holiday said the extra minutes were planned, and that he felt “A little tired, but no pain.” Holiday said he isn’t sure if this will be the new norm, or merely a trial run. Gentry said Holiday was supposed to be on a 25 minute restriction, and went a couple of minutes over as the team went for the win.

The New Orleans Pelicans next game will be at the Smoothie King Center, as the Pelicans take on the Orlando Magic.

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