3 teams Memphis Grizzlies may struggle to beat in 2022-23

Memphis Grizzlies want all the smoke when they play Golden State Warriors

Let the rivalry begin. Even though the Golden State Warriors are the defending world champions, the Memphis Grizzlies match up perfectly against them. One could even argue they put up a better fight than the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. On top of that, Golden State was third in turnovers per game last year, so the Grizzlies were able to get out in transition. But, somehow, this is still one of the toughest matchups for the Grizzlies going into next season, and you probably know why.

The storylines of the first three games of last year’s playoff series were not about basketball; they were about ejections and injuries. In Game 1, Draymond Green was ejected from the game for pulling Brandon Clarke’s jersey in mid-air. Three minutes into Game 2, Dillon Brooks “broke the code” and clotheslined Gary Payton II, which kept him out for the rest of the series. During the 4th quarter of Game 3, Ja Morant’s season ended with a knee injury that he felt, was caused by Jordan Poole at the time. The drama didn’t stop when the series ended either.

The offseason trash talk was so apparent that the NBA scheduled these two teams to headline their Christmas Day slate.

In total, the Warriors and Grizzlies will play 4 times next year, and ALL of them are nationally televised. Not to mention the high probability that these teams could meet in the playoffs again.

Golden State’s biggest foe next year is not the Boston Celtics or Dallas Mavericks, but the Memphis Grizzlies. The 4-time world champs want to put the young stars from Memphis in their place. It’s not about trash talk, injuries, or ejections; it’s about the Western Conference royalty remaining the same.

The Warriors have a bone to pick with the Grizzlies. With the greatest shooter of all time and Draymond Green in a contract year, it’s going to be a tough matchup. But, one phrase comes to mind about this matchup next season: Memphis “ain’t ducking no smoke.”