OAKLAND – Cuts to the basket are being rewarded with point-blank layups. The open man beyond the arc is consistently receiving a pinpoint feed, allowing him to fire an uncontested jumper. When those options don’t work, it’s often been time to simply toss a pass high above the hardwood and let Anthony Davis snare it and slam it through the hoop.
New Orleans’ offense was a high-precision machine in its first-round sweep over Portland, but also looked superb during a five-game winning streak to close the regular season. The Pelicans are leading the 16 playoff teams in a range of categories, including offensive efficiency (114.