Golden State's seven-game winning streak meets a New Orleans team with a pressing defensive problem on Monday night in San Francisco. The Pelicans have just conceded 139 points to the Clippers, and now they're heading into Chase Center to face Stephen Curry, fresh from a 41-point overtime performance against Orlando. The immediate question isn't whether New Orleans can score. It's whether it can stop the Warriors from choosing the shots they want.
The Clippers' 139–123 victory exposed the cost of allowing an opponent to move the ball comfortably. Los Angeles finished with 34 assists, shot 54.8 per cent from the field and made 42.1 per cent of its threes. New Orleans committed 17 turnovers while recording 23 assists of its own. Those figures tell a sharper story than the final margin: the Pelicans were giving away possessions while the Clippers were repeatedly creating clean looks. The result and numbers were reported in Reuters' game account.
That matters against Golden State because Curry can turn a defensive hesitation into a three-point attempt before the help has recovered. The Warriors' recent 126–119 overtime win over Orlando required 41 points from their star, but Monday's matchup gives the rest of the attack a chance to test how well New Orleans communicates through screens and switches. Curry's shooting draws attention; the possession after that first defensive rotation can be just as important.
New Orleans does have a direct way to make this uncomfortable. Trey Murphy III scored 26 against the Clippers, while Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears each had 25. That spread of scoring gives the Pelicans multiple ways to put pressure on a defence, particularly if Williamson gets touches near the basket rather than being asked to manufacture everything from the perimeter. Getting those attacks underway without careless turnovers is the more urgent adjustment.
The Warriors also have rotation questions of their own. The Monday matchup information lists Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis and Will Richard as unavailable, with Gui Santos probable. Those absences leave less margin for mistakes on the wing and make the balance between Curry's scoring and the supporting cast's defensive work especially important. Availability should be treated as the pregame listing, not a confirmed starting five.
There's a useful reminder in the teams' previous meeting. New Orleans beat Golden State 113–109 on 24 February, with Zion Williamson scoring 26 points; the official NBA game report also records 64 Pelicans points in the paint. That result came with different personnel and circumstances, but the route to putting Golden State under pressure is recognisable: make the Warriors defend inside, force them to rebound and prevent them from settling into a comfortable perimeter rhythm.
Monday's official NBA fixture is scheduled for 10 pm Eastern Time on 9 November, so this is a preview, not a result. Golden State brings the momentum and the most dangerous individual shooter into the game. New Orleans brings enough offensive talent to compete, but its response to Sunday's turnover and defensive breakdown will decide whether the Pelicans can turn a high-scoring contest into a genuine upset opportunity.
Comments