Adrenaline key to Pelicans winning Game 3

What does an underdog have to do to beat the top dog?

Don’t take their foot off the gas.

In sports, adrenaline matters. Have you ever heard the phrase, “They’re playing down to the competition?” That’s because the team who is expected to win isn’t playing with enough adrenaline because they felt like it was going to be an easy win.

Right now, the New Orleans Pelicans have their foot on the gas, but with the news that Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is out for two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, it is imperative that the adrenaline mindset does not change for the Pels. It’s natural and normal to almost let out a sigh of relief — like, OK, this will be easier without Booker.

But the fact is, it won’t. The Suns are the #1 seed for a reason. They have depth. They didn’t go 64-18 all thanks to Booker. So the young Pelicans team cannot let their mindset waver for the rest of the series.

What are the other keys to winning Game 3? I thought you’d never ask.

• BI and CJ have to get off to a hot start. They have to take control and demand the ball.
• Jonas Valanciunas will have to continue controlling things from an offensive rebounding standpoint. He’s been phenomenal so far, but you can bet the Suns are going to attempt to shut him down in Game 3. He’s got to go to work and win that battle.
• Contain Chris Paul as much as possible. Herb Jones should get this defensive assignment with Booker being out so making sure Paul does not get a hot hand is important.
• Knock down the 3. The Pelicans shot so much better in Game 2 than Game 1, and that opened up the paint for Jaxson Hayes and Larry Nance. They will need that same kind of shooting percentage in Game 3.

If the adrenaline stays high, the intensity will be there, and everything else will fall into place. The Pelicans truly have to embrace the slogan, “Won’t Bow Down.”