Steph Curry explains how the Warriors were able to bounce back from a tough loss to the Spurs and beat the Pelicans 122-114 and how long it will take for all the pieces, including the new faces, to adjust perfectly to their game plan. (3:04)

NEW ORLEANS -- The Golden State Warriors’ 122-114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night featured Anthony Davis, a superstar whose rise is in need of assistance, against Kevin Durant, the superstar who just received the world.

On Wednesday, Davis scored 50 points and the Pelicans lost. It started as a game against the Denver Nuggets and ended as a symbol for his time in New Orleans. Davis is bereft of help -- due to injuries, due to roster construction. On Friday, he delivered another powerful performance, claiming 45 points, 17 rebounds and, again, an unfair loss.

Durant is not so much bereft of help. If anything, he -- and his costars -- might even have too much of a great thing. The Warriors have so many scorers, so many playmakers, that their offensive actions appear awkward. On many possessions, it’s as though thought is overwhelming instinct. In the early stretch of Friday's game, center Zaza Pachulia (4-of-6 for eight points) was finding money at the rim as his All-Star teammates sought out a rhythm. Eventually, Durant (30 points), Stephen Curry (23 points) and Klay Thompson (28 points) established themselves.

Golden State will figure it out on offense, as they slowly did in this game. Defensively, the issues are more pronounced and probably more enduring. While commending the team’s improved effort, Warriors coach Steve Kerr cited miscommunication as a reason the night did not go so easily. "We're going to have to get so much better,” Kerr said after the game. “You can see how much work we have ahead. We have plenty of talent but talent is not going to be enough."

The Warriors are carrying a half-dozen centers on the roster (depending on how one defines a big). On Friday night, young Kevon Looney, he of 20 years and two hip surgeries, got thrown into the fire. “I thought he was great,” Kerr said. “He was a +13 in 7 minutes.” Kerr added, “He's one of those guys, he doesn't look that fast. He doesn't look like he jumps very high. But he knows what he's doing."

Looney performed well, especially under the circumstances. Golden State had a one-point lead when Looney entered with five minutes remaining in the stanza. At the end of the quarter, the Warriors led by 11. Of course, much of this had something to do with a Curry scoring 8 consecutive points, but the effort was steadied by Looney’s hand -- most especially on the quarter’s chaotic, closing possession when the UCLA product turned a sure Curry turnover into an assist aimed at Andre Iguodala. Of the play Looney said, “I was looking at Klay first. They jumped out, I made the right play. Just reading the defense, really.” Of his comfort in getting thrown out there in these situations, Looney added, “I practice with these guys every day. These are some of the best players in the league, so I get confidence playing against Draymond (Green) and (Kevin Durant) every day, so I was ready to play.”

Is Looney the solution to Golden State’s weakness in the middle? That’s likely too much to put on a 20-year-old who’s still trying to build his body up. What’s clear is Golden State, for all the preseason hype, has a weakness it’s still struggling to address. While one doesn’t want to overreact after two games, the Warriors’ defense looks, at this point, unrecognizable.

Whether that’s due to a lack of rim protection or a lack of comfort, the Warriors must improve on that flaw. When and if they do, they are sure to get very little credit for the feat. For this team, meeting expectations might be a lot easier in theory than in practice.