@Jim_Eichenhofer
Golden State’s Steve Kerr noted after Game 1 that one path to the Warriors winning a playoff series vs. New Orleans may come from limiting some of the Pelicans’ primary scorers, even if it means living with Anthony Davis putting up exceptional individual numbers. To an extent, that’s what’s happened in the first two games: Davis is averaging 30.5 points, but Golden State has held off New Orleans by margins of seven and 10 points, respectively.
However, the task of controlling New Orleans’ array of offensive weapons comes much more easily when some of them aren’t even on the floor, or are playing but hampered by injury concerns.