Memphis Grizzlies: We can play the blame game or we can move on to Game 5 vs Golden State

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and, perhaps more so, Dillon Brooks should shoulder a very large portion of the burden from the team’s Game 4 implosion against Golden State.

Brooks, for continuing to shoot the ball, despite going 4 of 18 from the field (until he hit a meaningless buzzer-beater at the end of the game). The shooting woes were compounded by his decision to shoot a step-back three while the team was up by one with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter.

Jenkins, made several questionable decisions in the game, chief among them: allowing Brooks unencumbered free reign to continue shooting the ball.

You could also point blame to Kyle Anderson and his pitiful free-throw shooting (2-7 FT). Or, Jaren Jackson Jr. and his three-point shooting (0-7 3PT). Or even Desmond Bane, for only taking 8 FG attempts in the entire game.

There are a lot of fingers to point as to the root cause of why the Memphis Grizzlies lost Game 4 vs the Golden State Warriors.

But none of that matters anymore because there’s an incredibly short turnaround to Game 5, set for May 11 at 8:30 PM CT on TNT.

Memphis Grizzlies must put awful performance behind them to focus on Game 5

The players and more so, the fans, have to put a terrible outcome behind us and focus on the Grizzlies winning Game 5 at home inside the FedEx Forum.

This is win-or-go-home, do-or-die basketball— the season is on the line. And fortunately for us, this 2021-22 Memphis Grizzlies squad has no quit in them.

They are going to come out and compete like crazy to do everything in their power to win Game 5 and keep this series going. The Ja-less Grizzlies have shown the basketball world (and themselves) they can hang with the full-strength Warriors.

If the Grizzlies win Game 5, the series is 3-2. Game 6, with our backs against the wall, anything can happen. If, by a miracle, this team can win two games in a row, a final showdown in Game 7 will be played in Memphis.

This team has proved doubters and naysayers wrong all season long. Who’s to say they can’t continue that in Game 5 vs the Warriors? This team plays it’s best basketball when they are the underdog.

If the Grizzlies can get Brooks to focus on his defense instead of shot-hunting, the team will be in a better position to win games.

Stephen Curry, one of the best scorers in the game, scored just 14 points when guarded by Brooks in Game 4— that’s something to build on for Game 5.

Guys are going to continue to step up for Memphis. They always have. The next-man up mentality will guide the Grizzlies to a Game 5 win and keep the fight alive.