So much for a championship hangover. Fresh off a 67-win season and the franchise's first title in 40 years, the Golden State Warriors followed their pregame ring and banner-raising ceremony by handling the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans 111-95 Tuesday night at Oracle Arena. It will be a challenge to repeat as champs, but the season opener suggested that the Warriors are up to the task. [ Yahoo Fantasy Basketball: Sign up for a league today ] The star of the night should not come as a surprise. Reigning MVP Stephen Curry started very hot, scoring a career-high 24 first-quarter points on 9-of-13 shooting (including 4-of-7 from deep) as Golden State put up 39 in the opening period. Take a look at Curry's searing opening to the season in this clip: Curry cooled down to finish 14-of-26 from the field and 5-of-12 from three-point range, but his 40 points are the best mark for a reigning MVP in a season opener since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 41 in 1972. As ever, Curry's ability to shoot from anywhere at any point stretched the Pelicans defense and opened up the Warriors attack. Nevertheless, the game was not an outright romp for Golden State. All other Warriors shot a mere 4-of-18...