NBA Playoff predictions: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State
By Ken Newhouse
The Memphis Grizzlies face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Warriors’ held the best record in the NBA at 67-15 in the regular season.
Beale Street Bears writers’ teamed together to make their predictions for the best-of-seven series between Memphis and Golden State. This is the first time the two teams have met in a postseason matchup. The Warriors’ won the season series over Memphis 2-1.
Predictions
Justin Strawn – If Mike Conley plays, I’ll be bold and pick the Grizzlies in 6. If he doesn’t, I think the Grizz go down in 5.
Ben Parker – This series rests on Mike Conley’s health. If he is able to play and at most misses only one game, I’ll go with my heart and pick the Grizzlies to win in six games. If he misses two or more games, or misses the series, I got the Warriors winning this series.
Ken Newhouse – The Grizzlies’ will have a tough time against Golden State if Mike Conley doesn’t play. We saw that at the end of the season in their lone trip to Golden State. Mike Conley and Tony Allen didn’t play in the last matchup between the two teams, so if both can play it should be a close series.
I’ll have to pick Grizzlies’ in 6 if Mike Conley plays. The Warriors’ are talented, but have struggled against Memphis in recent years. Before the lone loss in Golden State this season, the Grizzlies’ had won eight straight at ‘Roaracle Arena.’
Christian Dudley – I am more optimistic for this series than a lot of people, I believe, from a Memphis Grizzlies’ standpoint. The December meeting between these two teams showed just how great the Grizzlies can be and that was before Jeff Green was on board. Steph Curry is about to have nightmares of Tony Allen, the Grindfather. Allen may force Curry and even Thompson to fold under pressure.
It’s all or nothing for the Grizzlies right now and as long as they take one of the first two games of the series and take care of business at home, I see Memphis winning the series. If Conley plays at all, I could see the series being over in six games in favor of the Grizz, but if Conley does not play at all in this series, I believe M-Town pulls off the upset in seven games.
Nir Regev – The best defense meets the best offense. Initial call was Grizzlies in 6 pre-Conley injury. This series will be substantially difficult without his on-court presence. It would be a tough matchup with Conley.
Apr 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward JaMychal Green (0) and guard Jordan Adams (3) combine to foul Golden State Warriors guard Justin Holiday (7) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors were the number one team this year for a reason. Curry is playing at an MVP form. There is no position on the floor in which the Warriors are lacking a challenge for the Grizzlies. Klay will open the court with his three point shooting. Iggy does a bit of everything and plays great defense.
Particularly, Bogut is a Grizzlies style player out there. Despite all of this, the Grizzlies’ front court and stone defense will prove an excellent rival for the Warriors.
An iron mentality that held the Trail Blazers’ scoring stars to record lows percentage wise for most of the first round.
The question is how will they respond to Curry without Conley? They appeared to have trouble late in the Trail Blazers series. Easily could develop into a Game 7 situation.
First thought, best thought. I’m sticking to my original predication of Grizzlies in 6.
Highlights
Check out some of the highlights in the Grizzlies lone victory over the Golden State Warriors from earlier in the 2014-2015 season. It should give some Grizzlies’ fans hope that the best team in the league can be beat.