Warriors Look To Bounce Back, Slow Down Davis

        Golden State won 73 games last year, added Kevin Durant and proceeded to be routed by the San Antonio Spurs on opening night. Golden State had only two losses at the "Roaracle" during the 2015/16 campaign and start with a goose egg in the win column. New Orleans struggled last year, but got a healthy Anthony Davis to score 50 points, grab 16 rebounds, steal seven balls and block four shots, but still lost to the Denver Nuggets. As expected, they would be able to stick with teams until they ran out of gas.

        Still, both were at home.

        Both, will be looking at redemption during each teams respective second game of the season. 

         Durant wasn't happy about the loss to San Antonio, saying it was a "slap in the face" and "woke us up." Internet trolling went as far as saying Durant would void his contract with Golden State to sign with the Spurs, effective immediately. Durant went 11-18 from the field, scoring 27 points to go with 10 boards but had a +/- of -13. The worst among starters.  

          Gregg Popovich just flat out out-coached Steve Kerr, as the Spurs held the Warriors to 7-33 (21.2%) from range and had a rebounding edge of 55 to 35. While New Orleans may not have a Pop on the coach, and they got outrebounded 69-42 themselves against the Nuggets, Davis needs to crash the boards at a high rate, and the Pels need to close out from range. They allowed Denver to go 8-24 (33.3%), and the Nuggets aren't as potent of a team, plus, Golden State won't have another off night.

     "
After what happened a few nights ago, we know that they're going to come in hungry for a win," Davis said. "We've just got to come out prepared knowing those guys are going to take some bad shots and make them go in. We've got to stay composed and not let that kill our spirit and let the momentum go to them."

       In all reality, Warriors will probably run away with this one, but for the Pelicans to have a chance, they must dominate the glass and keep the Warriors from getting open looks.