Q&A: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
By Ken Newhouse
I recently partook in a Q&A with Eric He from Blue Man Hoop, FanSided’s Golden State Warriors fan site, and he was gracious enough to answer some questions for our readers about the upcoming Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors series.
Discussion
1. Were you surprised by the Warriors’ success during the regular season?
"“Yes. I expected them to improve under Steve Kerr, but no one could have predicted 67 wins and essentially an embarrassment of riches with two All-Star starters, breaking practically every team record in franchise history and rising to the top of a ridiculously good Western Conference. No one — not even the most optimistic of fans — would have thought this team would be this good.“"
2. If there was a secret weapon off of the Warriors’ bench who would that be?
"“Marreese Speights. He came out of nowhere to become a Sixth Man of the Year candidate during the regular season and is a threat anytime he is on the court. His ability to knock down jump shots and draw charges on defense make him an instant energy player. On several occasions he would enter the game and score 6-8 consecutive points — as indicated by his average of 23.6 points per game per 36 minutes. And he’s a former Grizzly, so there’s added motivation.“"
3. Do any players from the Grizzlies’ scare you in this series? If so, who could pose the biggest matchup threat for the Warriors?
"“Zach Randolph. The dude is big, is relentless on the glass and has a nice touch around the rim and from the mid-range. Draymond Green will likely draw Randolph on defense, and although we know that Draymond can hold his own against much bigger opponents, this is the matchup where I see potential difficulties.“"
4. I’ve really enjoyed Steve Kerr coaching this season. How do fans like the new head coach?
"“Everyone — and I mean everyone, from the fans to the players to ownership — absolutely loves Steve Kerr. He inherited a good team and turned it into a great one. And he did it without any controversy or distractions, unlike his predecessor. Kerr interacts very well with his players and uses his assistants to the fullest extent (again, unlike his predecessor). He is always extremely prepared and has implemented some very successful changes to the Warriors’ system that bumped them from 51 to 67 wins. But most importantly, his sense of humor and light-heartedness has made this season enjoyable for everyone.“"
5. Are there things that the Warriors’ can improve on after their sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans?
"“Despite the fact that it was a sweep, the Warriors didn’t necessarily blow the Pelicans away. They barely hung on in Game 1. Game 2 was tight until the final 12 minutes. Game 3 required a miraculous 20-point comeback and Stephen Curry magic in the fourth. Even in Game 4, they allowed a huge advantage to get trimmed down to single-digits. The Warriors didn’t exactly dominate the Pelicans, and there were definitely weaknesses such as their inability to contain Anthony Davis. Fortunately, the Grizzlies don’t have a freak of nature like AD, but they are a far better team than New Orleans and will make this series a tight one if the Warriors play like they did in Round 1. It is safe to say that there will be no 20-point comebacks against this Grizzlies squad.”"
Thank you to Eric He of Blue Man Hoop for participating in our Q&A session just ahead of the Grizzlies’ and Warriors’ tipoff in game one of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Tipoff is set of 2:30 CT and can be seen on ABC. If you live in the Memphis area, the game will also be broadcasted on 92.9 FM.