NBA Betting? Pelicans vs Warriors Predictions
NBA playoff betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free NBA picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com. There are now 16 teams competing for the NBA Championship. Stick with us for the entire 2015 NBA playoff run.
NBA Basketball Odds
Golden State vs. New Orleans
Series Odds: Warriors -4000/Pelicans +2000Series Schedule:
Game 1 @GS: 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday (ABC)
Game 2 @GS: 10:30 p.m. ET, Monday (TNT)
Game 3 @NO: 9:30 p.m. ET, April 23 (TNT)
Game 4 @NO: 8 p.m. ET, April 25 (ESPN)
Game 5 @GS: TBD, April 28 (TBD)*
Game 6 @NO: TBD, May 1 (TBD)*
Game 7 @GS: TBD, May 3 (TBD)*
*if necessary
The Warriors have been the best team in the NBA this season wire to wire. The addition of Steve Kerr seems to have unlocked the potential of this group which has finally found a defensive presence to match its offensive weaponry. Now they just have to keep it up in the playoffs where if they get by New Orleans they will be playing teams with a lot more pedigree.
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The Pelicans only qualified for the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, barely edging out Oklahoma City. This is their first time in the playoffs since 2010-11, back when Monty Williams was a rookie coach and Chris Paul was still running the point. Nobody on this roster has much playoff experience of any kind.
Starters
The Warriors are blessed with an All-Star backcourt in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. This season both might have had their best seasons yet with Curry getting big time MVP consideration and Thompson combining lethal outside shooting with more forays to the basket. The starting five is usually rounded out with Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes. Bogut gives the team a defensive backbone and Green and Barnes are versatile contributors.
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New Orleans has a true stud in Anthony Davis, who just might be the best power forward in the NBA already. The challenge is that he is surrounded by a mercurial cast, especially on the perimeter where any combination of Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Evan Gordon may start. All can be good offensive players but they struggle with balancing their own games with the greater good of the team. Omer Asik takes some of the physical play off Davis but doesn’t provide much other than rebounding.
Advantage: Warriors
Bench
The Warriors are able to look to their bench for a little bit of everything. They have bigs who can score, unselfish defensive players and former All-Stars David Lee and Andre Iguodala. This team will likely shorten its rotation but they have great options.
Ryan Anderson is not the player he used to be but he can still space the floor and provide offense off the bench. Other than him there is not a lot to rely upon as the likes of Norris Cole and Luke Babbitt have their moments, but rarely more than that.
Advantage: Warriors
Coaching
Steve Kerr seems to have a knack for getting what he wants. This offseason he took the Warriors job, when everyone assumes he was going to the next coach of the Knicks and turned a good team into a juggernaut.
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All without demanding any attention, in fact he deflects it whenever possible. This is his first playoffs though so we will see if he can get it done when the intensity is cranked up.
It is hard to say how good a coach Monty Williams is. He has a sub .500 record with the Hornets/Pelicans and has never won a playoff series. The only thing that points in his favour is how Anthony Davis has blossomed since entering the league but that might have happened anywhere.
Advantage: Warriors
Prediction: The Pelicans are not in the same league as the Warriors right now and the odds prove it. Golden State will win but you cannot make any real money betting them on the series price so I would looks to backing them on the road in the series when the spread are likely to be more reasonable. You might want to look at some unders from game to game as the game will slow down and the Warriors are a better defensive team than their reputation.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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