super heavy artillery

Chapter 439 The Pelican Standing Up from the Ruins
Back in Oklahoma, Donovan immediately gave his players a day off.Although they swept the Timberwolves and became the first western team to advance to the playoffs, their opponents in the second round are about to come out.

On April 2018, 4, the Pelicans ushered in Game 25 against the Portland Trail Blazers at their home court.In the first three matches between the two teams, they all had the last laugh.In this game, whether the Pelicans can continue their previous excellent state and defeat their opponents again is what everyone is most concerned about.It is also something that everyone in the Thunder pays attention to.

In fact, the beginning of this round of the series was very surprising.As a fifth-ranked team, the Pelicans have two consecutive wins on the road.Back at home, they won again.What was supposed to be a close matchup turned out to be one that the Pelicans could sweep.You know, since 2001, no team ranked below fifth in the league has swept their opponents in the first round, and the Pelicans are moving towards this goal today.Interestingly, the 2001 team that swept the opponent with a gram is the predecessor of the Pelicans: the Charlotte Hornets.They were still in the Eastern Conference at that time, rushing to the playoffs with the sixth regular season record.And swept the third-ranked Heat in the Eastern Conference 3-0 in the first round.

This season, the ill-fated Pelicans saw hope of revival.They formed the super twin towers of Davis + Cousins. With the assistance of Rondo and Holiday, they abruptly used a set of old-fashioned tactics to break through in this fast-paced, three-point era. world.New Orleans fans seem to have seen the city rise from the ashes.This makes them extremely excited!
Both this city and this team have experienced too much suffering over the years.A massive tsunami left the Pelicans, then Hornets, in Oklahoma City.Then the league took custody and Paul left.If Tom Benson hadn't gritted his teeth and bought the team in 2012, the Pelicans would have stayed in New Orleans.The Pelicans don't yet know what to expect.Later, the arrival of Davis gave the Pelicans hope for a revival.But a 0:4 first round of the playoffs made this team fall into a trough again.

Just when everyone was looking forward to what height Davis and Cousins ​​would take the Pelicans to, disaster befell the Pelicans again.Cousins ​​was out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon against the Rockets on January 1, which dealt a heavy blow to the team.Many people think that the Pelicans are finished this season again.But one person allowed the Pelicans to stabilize the situation.

This person is called Mirotic, a 210 Spanish big man.After a period of up-and-down adaptation, Gentry put him back in the starting lineup.The beard-shaved titan ushered in a big explosion. In the last 5 games of the regular season, he averaged 25.8 points and 12.0 rebounds. He averaged 4 three-pointers per game and made 46.5% of his three-pointers.His rise has greatly reduced the pressure on Brother Nongmei. The Pelicans are equivalent to reorganizing the inside twin towers, and Mirotic does not occupy the ball, which not only benefits Brother Nongmei, but also defender Holiday.When the Pelicans were still fighting against Cousins ​​Twin Towers, Holiday had relatively few ball possessions, because Cousins ​​would attack with the ball in the game and occupy a lot of possessions.Mirotic basically acts as an offensive finisher, and most of his offensive methods are catch-and-shoot or layups.Holiday's performance in the second half of the season was significantly better. After the All-Star break, he averaged 19.8 points and 7.2 assists per game, shooting 50.8% from the field. All three statistics have improved compared to before the All-Star break.

Mirotic successfully made up for Cousins' position, which also allowed them to break through the barrier again after experiencing a period of twists and turns and advance to the playoffs as the fifth in the Western Conference.

But before the start of the playoffs, no one is optimistic about the Pelicans. 22 ESPN experts agree that the Blazers will beat the Pelicans to advance in this round of the series.But the Pelicans slapped those experts in the face hard.Although those guys are often slapped in the face.

Judging from the performance of the playoffs, it is very possible for the Pelicans to sweep the Trail Blazers.The Pelicans played crazy in the playoffs. According to local media reports in New Orleans, in the first three games of the series, the Pelicans started Holiday, Rondo, Moore, Mirotic, and Davis at the same time. In minutes, the offensive efficiency of the five-man team reached 60 and the defensive efficiency reached 122.3.Even higher than the Thunder's starting lineup, which also swept their opponents!

The overall performance is dominant, and the performance of the core players, the Pelicans have the upper hand.

Anthony Davis, the absolute core of the Pelicans, has shown a superstar level in the past three games.He played very well on both ends of the floor.The average data of 35+12+5 per game is the best proof.

In fact, Davis' superstar performance also benefited from the performance of another player.

This person is Rondo.A key factor in the Pelicans' transformation has been the instillation of Rondo's success on the team.Rondo, who was regarded as locker room poison in both the Mavericks and Bulls, has become a good medicine for the Pelicans.This team embraced Rondo's personality and brought it back to life.

In fact, Rondo is a typical playoff player.In the playoffs, he turned into an All-Star point guard.In the previous three games, Rondo averaged at least 11 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists in a quasi-triple double.Especially in the field of assists, Rondo ranks first among all players in the playoffs, more than Westbrook and Harden.Under Rondo's combing, the Pelicans' offense played vigorously.The most frightening thing is that Rondo's excellence is not only on the offensive end, he also directs the Pelicans' players to defend.In the first three games, Rondo contributed a lot to Lillard's sluggish performance.He even made a cameo as a coach, and in some rounds he replaced coach Gentry to arrange tactics.

In addition to these players, Holiday is also the key to the Pelicans' past three victories.He not only caused Lillard a lot of trouble on the defensive end, but also blasted the opponent on the offensive end.After Rondo shouldered the organizational work of the team, Holiday was completely liberated.In the first three games, he averaged 23.3 points and 6 assists per game, shooting 53.4% ​​from the field and 38.5% from the three-point range. Compared with the regular season, the data has been greatly improved.

On the other hand, the Trail Blazers, their core player Lillard's performance is very sluggish.In the first three games, he made 30 of 10 two-pointers and a 33.3% shooting rate; he made 25 of 8 three-pointers and a 32.0% shooting rate.To win, Lillard must regain his form.

(End of this chapter)