OAKLAND -- Though a staggering amount of attention will swing toward Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis during the Warriors-Pelicans playoff series, another matchup may be more pivotal.
This Western Conference Semifinals series likely will be dictated by what happens between two shooting guards that, like several other fabulous shooting guards still in the postseason, came of age in greater Los Angeles.
If Klay Thompson outplays Jrue Holiday, the Warriors almost certainly win the series regardless of what Davis does.
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If Thompson offsets Holiday, it’s advantage Warriors.
But if Thompson loses the battle, Stephen Curry and Durant need to be spectacular for the Warriors to prevail.
And here’s the odd twist: There is no assurance Thompson and Holiday will be assigned to defend each other.
No two guards in these playoffs have been more impressive at both ends than Thompson and Holiday, who made the 2013 All-Star team as a point guard in Philadelphia but now spends the majority of his time at shooting guard behind veteran point guard Rajon Rondo.
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“It frees him up to score,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s really a combo (guard), and not having to assume all the point guard responsibilities is probably good for him. He can be a secondary ball-handler when Rondo’s on the floor, or he can take over with the game on the line like he did in Portland. He’s just playing at a really, really high level right now.”
While Thompson averaged 22.6 points per game, on 52.9 percent shooting, including 51.6 percent from deep, against San Antonio, Holiday was even more productive, averaging 27.8 points, while shooting 56.8 percent overall, and 35 percent beyond the arc in a sweep of the Trail Blazers.
Thompson, who attended Santa Margarita High School in Orange County, is well acquainted with Holiday, who attended Campbell Hall High in North Hollywood.
“Jrue has been great since he was a kid,” Thompson said. “He’s always had a talent, a special talent, for basketball. He was very highly touted since we were in middle school. He plays with great pace, he’s never in a rush and he’s very smooth with what he does. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
Thompson was often the hottest player on the floor during the Warriors-Spurs series, and he also had to chase Patty Mills around on defense. Mills averaged 13.4 points on 43.9-percent shooting.
Holiday often was the best player on the floor in the Pelicans-Blazers series, which says a lot considering the magnificence of Davis. In addition to his offense, Holiday also locked up Lillard (18.5 points per game, 35.2-percent shooting, 30 percent from deep).
“He can score at all three levels and he’s a pest on the defensive end,” Thompson said. “He’s just gotten better every year. I know he’s been injured at times, but this year he’s played 82 games and he’s healthy and it’s great to see. It’s going to be a great matchup for all of us.”
Note Thompson’s use of the word “us.” Though he is certain to see his share of Holiday, Thompson also will spend time using his length to contain Rondo, who averaged 13.3 assists as the catalyst of the New Orleans offense against Portland.
But know that in facing Holiday, Thompson will have some a pride on the line. It goes back to the high school days. Going against Holiday is no different, in that sense, than facing All-Star shooting guards James Harden or DeMar DeRozan, as well as small forwards Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, all of whom groomed their games in the LA area around the same time.
“There’s just so much talent down there,” Thompson said. “And I was very blessed to be able to compete against those guys in high school, at the grassroots level, because I knew they were going places and at the time I was not sure I was. Being able to hold my own definitely helped my confidence as a kid.”