Golden State completing the gentleman's sweep of the Spurs gives us our first second round match-up, versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
The big question surrounding the Warriors is of course the status of two-time MVP Steph Curry. While they were able to crush a short-handed Spurs team, they are certainly much more vulnerable without him. Truth be told, I'd still pick them to win it all even if he missed the rest of the post-season, but their offense definitely takes a huge hit with him on the sidelines. He's expected back sometime in the middle of this series, but we'll see how well he does. He was clearly hobbled in the 2016 playoffs, a big reason why they almost lost to OKC and did lose to Cleveland.
For the Pelicans.. well, they are the only team to record a sweep in the first round, becoming the first team to sweep a 3 seed in the first round since... they did it as the Charlotte Hornets back in 2001. They looked like an elite team in the first round, with Jrue playing the best ball of his career, playoff Rondo playing connect 4 wins in a row, Mirotic making everything, and AD showing why he's a top 5 player. That they were playing against a flawed, mentally weak Blazers team should take nothing away from what they accomplished.
Still, I'm going with the Warriors in 5 very close games. Kevin Durant is going to have a field day, and I think Steve Kerr will actually bother to make adjustments and game plan for the Pels.