The Golden State Warriors flexed their muscle on Saturday night blowing the New Orleans Pelicans out in Game 1 123-101.
If the loss in the series' first game wasn't enough for the Pelicans, Stephen Curry is expected to make his return to the lineup in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Here are three takeaways from the Dubs Game 1 victory.
Draymond Green
Draymond Green's game doesn't always jump off the page, but as he'll be happy to remind you - he's an all-star too. Green finished with his fourth career playoff triple-double posting 16 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals in just 30 minutes.
1️⃣6️⃣ POINTS
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) April 29, 2018
1️⃣5️⃣ REBOUNDS
1️⃣1️⃣ ASSISTS
Draymond Green leads the Warriors to a big Game 1 win against the Pelicans pic.twitter.com/e7RNJuZgs4
Green is the heart and soul of the Warriors and when he sets the tone early Golden State is tough to beat. If the Pelicans have to deal with Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and a motivated Green - this series will end quickly.
Jrue Holiday
Holiday was spectacular in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 27.8 points, 6.0 assists and shot 57% from the field - all while helping neutralize Damian Lillard on the defensive end.
In Game 1 he started the game right where he left off in the Portland series. Holiday finished the first quarter with seven points, three assists and helped hold Klay Thompson to just five points on 2-for-7 shooting.
That's where the great play stopped for Holiday as he finished the game with just 11 points, four assists and Thompson went off for a game-high 27 points.
New Orleans can't afford for Holiday to disappear for stretches in this series if they plan on moving onto the next round.
Ball Movement
Coming into Saturday's game the Pelicans were 22-6 this year when they log 29 or more assists. In Game 1 they finished with just 24 assists.
Playoff Rondo did his part in trying to get others involved dishing out 11 of those 24 dimes - which is one assist shy of his magic number. When Rondo has 12 or more assists New Orleans is 15-2 including the first-round of the playoffs.
It's already tough scoring against the length and athleticism of the Warriors, they had eight steals and 10 blocks in Game 1.
If New Orleans can find a way to get back to moving the ball the way they did against the Trail Blazers they'll be able to exploit a Golden State team who can get lazy defensively and test Curry's bad wheel in the process.
