The season started the same way the last one ended. With a win.
The Golden State Warriors opened their 2015-16 season with a 111-95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Warriors were led by guard Stephen Curry, who dropped 40 points. The depleted Pelicans were simply no match for the reigning champions. Here are four things we learned from the Warriors' season opening win.
1. Stephen Curry Is In Mid-Season Form
Actually, no, that's not accurate. Curry looked like he was in mid-Finals form. The Pelicans couldn't guard Curry, who scored 24 in the first quarter. Had the game not been out of hand early, Curry likely would have dropped 50. He had at least 10 "Curry plays." You know, the plays that would result in an embarrassing turnover for the rest of us mere mortals or end in a benching for 90 percent of the NBA. Somehow, Curry turns those plays into buckets. Curry wasn't perfect in the first game of the season, but he looked sharp.
2. Offense Is Clicking
A new (interim) head coach and shortened offseason could result in a rusty, sluggish offense for many teams. That wasn't the case for the Warriors. New Orleans, plagued by a static offense of its own, had no answer for the well-oiled machine of Golden State. With constant motion and screens, the Warriors often found wide-open looks that resulted in buckets. On one possession, I counted six picks by the Warriors. Not surprisingly, it ended in an easy basket. The offense will likely add new wrinkles as the season goes on, which means Year Two in the scheme could mean an even deadlier offense.
3. Who Gets David Lee's Minutes
Despite missing over a third of the season, David Lee averaged 18 minutes per game last season. Lee is now on the Boston Celtics, which means there is an opening for his minutes. If Tuesday's game was any indication, we have an idea of how those minutes will be split. The biggest beneficiary is center Festus Ezeli, who played 17 minutes in the season opener. He averaged only 11 minutes per game last season, but scored 13 points, second-most for the Warriors. Guards Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston saw more playing time, but that is likely because the Warriors used smaller lineups against a Pelicans team that has Anthony Davis as its only true big man. As for who didn't get Lee's minutes, that was clearly forward Jason Thompson, who joined the team in the offseason. It looks like Ezeli is primed to see most of Lee's minutes this season.
4. Effort Is There
Watching the game live from Oracle Arena, it was clear the Warriors had more energy and intensity. The 50-50 effort balls seemed to slide 75-25 in favor of Golden State. The Warriors out-rebounded the Pelicans 56-33, which includes 21 offensive boards for Golden State. That's a clear indication of a better motor and effort from the Warriors. While a loud crowd and energy from a ring ceremony might have been a factor, the Warriors' effort was impressive.
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