Dec 16, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) gathers a rebound in front of Golden State Warriors forward Marreese Speights (5) at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
While the Golden State Warriors are receiving praise from all over, the Memphis Grizzlies could surprisingly topple the NBA’s best team and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
The Memphis Grizzlies begin their second round series of the 2015 NBA Playoffs by facing the NBA’s best team–the Golden State Warriors–today at 2:30 P.M Central.
Golden State are currently 10-point favorites to win Game 1. At this rate, this will be a reoccurring trend throughout the series. Yes, even if Mike Conley returns from injury and suits up for the Grizzlies. Almost everyone is counting the Memphis Grizzlies out. Already. Everyone.
The Warriors got an out-experienced and out-gunned Pelicans, Grizzlies without Conley, then will have Houston or an EXHAUSTED Clippers team
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 3, 2015
Yes, the Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Warriors in three of their four meetings in the regular season. Great point indeed.
In the one Grizz victory, Memphis still had Prince and Pondexter on the team and therefore had not acquired Jeff Green yet. Even Memphis’ Jon Leuer received just shy of 20 minutes of floor time and he recorded a solid 11 points and four rebounds. The Warriors simultaneously did not have Andrew Bogut available. The Grizzlies won by seven points at 105-98, but it is merely impossible to gauge this series on one meeting in December, although from the field, Draymond Green (2/11) and Stephen Curry (9/25) were terrible offensively. That Grizz defense is something else. Just saying.
Mar 27, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jeff Green (32) steals the ball from Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) in the second half at FedExForum. Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 107-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
As for the three Grizzly losses, one in particular stands out–March 27th in M-Town. This matchup was perhaps the closest comparison of both team’s current rosters and rotations out of any of the four Grizzlies/Warriors pairings of the regular season. Both teams had all rotation guys available. Both teams shot identically, free-throw were nearly the same, and the rebounding battle was neck-and-neck. The one key factor was that Golden State nailed 16 threes while Memphis made just five of the long-range bombs. The Splash Brothers. Curry dropped 38 and Klay Thompson scored 28 to lead the Warriors.
The Memphis Grizzlies must be on their way out of the postseason because their facing the “Splash Brothers,” right?!
Think again.
I am proclaiming now that the Memphis Grizzlies will NOT lose this series to the Golden State Warriors. With or without Mike Conley, the Grizzlies will capture the second round and will advance to the Western Conference Finals.
This is quite a bold statement, right?
No. And now I will tell you why.
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