The Golden State Warriors once feared the Memphis Grizzlies.
They fell 105-98 in overtime at the Grindhouse in the first of three regular-season matchups, an April loss that continued Golden State’s poor historical record in Memphis.
But then something happened. Well, make that a few things.
The Warriors returned to the FedEx Forum in March and embarrassed the Grizzlies via a 107-84 beat down. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 66 points on 14-of-21 shooting from distance while Andrew Bogut and Co. held Memphis to just 35 points in the second half.
Then the Grizzlies traveled to Oracle Arena and experienced what life is like without point guard Mike Conley in unfriendly confines.
Golden State won 111-107, as Curry and Thompson racked up 67 points on 21-of-30 shooting, including 11-of-16 from downtown. They also helped create a dominant 27-point advantage over the Conley-less Grizzlies after three quarters, affording every Warriors starter a nice fourth-quarter respite on the bench.
Thirdly, and most unfortunately for Memphis, Conley suffered multiple facial fractures against the Portland Trail Blazers in Round 1. Doctors declared a four-to-six-week recovery period and head coach Dave Joerger has at least ruled him out for game one Sunday.
So, seeing as the Grizzlies return to “Roaracle” without their floor general and top Curry neutralizer, the hardwood future for Joerger’s squad is dismal at best.
Backups Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih are in for a rude awakening. And there’s only so much Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph can do down low and in the paint. Bogut and Draymond Green limited the duo to just 16 points, seven rebounds and an unsightly minus-54 plus/minus during these teams’ last meeting.
The Splash Brothers will go off and the NBA’s unrivaled defense will stifle a Memphis offense that already ranked 20th in scoring with Conley on the court (98.3 points per game).
Here is how scouting expert Amin Elhassan of ESPN characterized the Grizzlies’ chances without Conley:
"Tremendous impact on many levels…Conley is the main orchestrator and play creator for a middle-of-the-road offense, controlling tempo, keeping everyone happy, and forcing the opposing defense to react and contract to his drives. Additionally, he's one of Memphis' best (and few) bona fide 3-point threats, so his absence will be doubly felt by Memphis' interior when the Warriors' defense can afford to gamble and double down in the post without fear of repercussions. This is especially so when considering that Conley's replacements, Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih, are both poor shooters from 3. Defensively, Conley is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league, with active hands, quickness and a high IQ…Without Conley, Allen likely will draw the majority of the assignment chasing smaller, quicker Curry all over the floor and Thompson will have a decided advantage over Memphis' "B" defenders."
Elhassan added: “Without Conley, this isn't a series, it's a ritualistic sacrifice.”
(Insert proverbial dropping of the mic and crowd going bananas.)
ESPN colleague and yearlong Warriors’ beat writer Ethan Sherwood Strauss offered: “I just don’t see this going well for the Grizzlies…Warriors in four.”
In any case, whether Conley makes a miraculous appearance or not, we’ll give the Grizzlies one when the series returns to Memphis. They’ll simply grind one out, heart-and-muscling their way to a television-unfriendly victory.
But after a Dubs’ blowout and two convincing wins over the first couple of games, this second-round battle will sap the Grizzlies’ spirit and end in a gentleman’s sweep at Oracle.
Warriors in five.
All team and player stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com
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