Western Conference Semifinals: Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans, Preview, SWOT Analysis & Prediction

X-Factor

Warriors

San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors - Game Two

Stephen Curry will bolster the Warriors to a degree that few players in the history of the game have been able to, when he comes back. With him off the court, the Warriors' offensive rating fell by more than 10 points during the regular season. When the Warriors eased Curry back into the lineup in December against the Grizzlies, Curry went 10-of-13 from downtown and prompted Steve Kerr to say:

Everything just looks better. The food in there is going to taste better tonight. My wife’s going to be even better looking than she already is. My kids are going to be happy. Steph, he has that impact. That's the way it is.

Of course, it's only the greatest shooter in the history of basketball that the Warriors have missed in the playoffs thus far.

Pelicans

Portland Trail Blazers v New Orleans Pelicans - Game Three

The Pelicans expected former All-Stars Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo to excel in their roles in the first round, but what they got from Nikola Mirotic is indisputably at least as important as any other player they have on the roster save for the Brow.

Mirotic went OFF in game 3 against the Blazers, scoring 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the floor. Over the series, he averaged 18.25 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and a whopping 2.5 blocks. The spacing that he provides to the Pelicans' offense can never be overlooked, and on his best day, Mirotic is capable of winning games by himself for any team - as he proved in the first round at the cost of the Blazers.