D'Angelo Russell has been a mystery since arriving in The Bay to play alongside the current version of the Golden State Warriors, one that no longer boasts the same firepower as the past five years. Following the first win of the season against the New Orleans Pelicans, it looks like the Warriors might have just figured out how to make it work — and it all was due to happenstance.

Russell was having a pedestrian game until his name was called upon in the middle of the third quarter. Stephen Curry had gotten call for a fourth foul, gotten it wiped off after Steve Kerr won his first-ever coach's challenge, but soon fouled again and was forced to sit on the bench with 6:09 left in the period.

Up 19 points on the shorthanded Pelicans, the Warriors had to survive the rest of the quarter until Curry could return to start the fourth, a situation they might see in the future. Russell proceeded to take control of the offense, scoring seven points and assisting on two layups while helping the Warriors stretch the lead to 24 by the end of the third.

Russell was heavily involved in pick-and-roll plays from the start, and his shifty, yet collected old-man game is perfect for situations in which calm is the top attribute in the Warriors' basket of needs. Plays like this fake behind-the-back pass turned into an easy lay-in for his strong left hand, giving him just enough space to knife his way into the defense:

Another was this lead pass to rookie Eric Paschall, whom he's developed an early rapport with through the early get-go.

Russell used and abused the pick-and-roll schemes Kerr had drawn up for him this summer, which lends to his strengths. The Warriors shooting guard put up a season-high 24 points, collected seven rebounds, and dished out eight assists — not a perfect performance by any means, but a sign of progress indeed.

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The 6-foot-5 D'Angelo Russell gives the Warriors something Klay Thompson never did, an uncanny ability to find the open man and constantly make plays off the dribble. As much as the Warriors coaching staff has worked with Thompson on his playmaking, it simply does not come as natural to him as it comes to Russell, and having two point guards in one starting lineup could be beneficial for this team — especially when Curry finds himself in foul trouble.

D-Lo will do most of his damage with the second unit, but that is exactly what the Warriors need with such a thin and inexperienced bench.

“That’s the biggest thing D’Angelo brings us,” Kerr said after the game, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “The ability to play through him when Steph goes to the bench. He’s a brilliant passer and a great pick-and-roll player. It allows us to continue to put pressure on the defense.”

As for Russell's rapport with Curry? The two already had a highlight-worthy sequence that wound up being the play of the game.

Looks like the Warriors might have just started to figure this thing out.