Memphis Grizzlies: 5 reasons to remain optimistic after losing Game 1 vs Golden State Warriors

No. 4: De’Anthony Melton the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 2

After falling out of the rotation in the first-round vs Minnesota, De’Anthony Melton made a triumphant return, not too dissimilar from Jaren Jackson.

Melton played just seven minutes apiece in Game 3 and Game 4 vs the Timberwolves. He did not play in Games 5 or 6.

Against Golden State, Head Coach Taylor Jenkins called his number and he delivered. In 25 minutes of action, Melton dropped 14 points on 5-8 FG (3-6 3PT), grabbed 7 rebounds and 3 steals. He was outstanding.

He was able to put a slight dent in the 31 points Jordan Poole poured in from Golden State’s bench. If we can get a few more performances like that from Melton, everything is going to be a-ok in Grind City.

No. 5: The Grizzlies proved to themselves they can hang with the Warriors

Look, the narrative in the short lead-up to Game 1 was something like this: The Grizzlies were 3-1 against the Warriors during the regular season BUT, they never faced a full-strength Warriors team.

The faced the Warriors with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but no Klay Thompson and they faced them with Curry and Thompson, but no Draymond Green.

So, in Game 1, with all three in the starting lineup, the Grizzlies took them to school, winning the first quarter 32-24. Then, in quarter two, all hell broke loose when Green committed a flagrant-2 foul on Brandon Clarke, resulting in an ejection.

Once Green paraded around FedEx forum to wave goodbye and taunt the crowd, the Warriors kicked it into another gear. Golden State buckled down and started to control the pace of the game and forced Memphis into playing half-court.

Memphis was just a few degrees angle difference on Ja Morant’s layup from winning Game 1 vs losing.

Memphis should be playing with confidence. We’ve got the personnel to hang with and beat the Warriors not just in Game 2 but in the entire series.