The Memphis Grizzlies are Not Ready to Take Down the Warriors
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I was following the Grizz-Warriors game yesterday, obviously. I could not watch it because I went to my nephew's first bday party, then we planted our veggie garden and then my daughter had a softball game. It was quite the afternoon.
Even with my busy Sunday, I would periodically check my phone to see how the game was going. The Grizz played pretty well. They were loose, had fun and were winning for a good chunk of the first half. They held a six point advantage after the first half in fact. I was happy. They were in it. They were playing well. They were making shots from what I could gather during my phone checks.
Then the Warriors woke up. They had one of their patented rain storms of threes in the third. It felt like they could not miss. I was bummed. The Warriors even held a ten point lead early in the fourth. I stopped checking after a while. We were driving to softball, I was tired and I was frustrated with the Grizz.
Then I checked a few minutes before the softball game started and the score was tied. I was stoked. I figured they would do what they had done in round one and win on a comeback. Well, that did not happen. The Grizz led by two with just over 35 seconds left. The Warriors had the ball, but the Grizz won games like this in round one. Every game, except one, was a comeback win. But the Warriors got Klay wide open, of course he hit the three and the Grizz turned the ball over with a chance to win. That was it. Game one goes to Golden State.
I understand it is just one game. The T'Wolves beat the Grizz in game one in the last series. The Bulls got a game from the Bucks in round one. Hell, the Pelicans took two from the Suns. But this one felt different. This was a game that the Grizz controlled for three of the four quarters. They weathered the Warriors storm of threes. They had the lead. Hell, they even had a chance to win game one in the end. But they didn't. And I am terrified that this is going to haunt them. This could be their undoing. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr were amazing in this game. The defense, minus the third quarter, was solid. They kept things at bay. Draymond got ejected, which was very, very questionable. But they still did not win the game. They still got beat. The Warriors got the win. Steph hit threes and played really good defense. Jordan Poole has been a revelation. I love watching him succeed, being that he played at Michigan. I just wish it was not against the Grizz right now. Looney and Wiggins and the "other guys" did what they needed to do. But Klay did not do much until he was absolutely needed. And he showed up. A guy who has not played much basketball for the past two years did what he does. He hit that three. He let the crowd know. He actually said, "this is what I do", and he is not wrong. Klay is a killer. Klay loves taking big shots. He thrives in moments like this, no matter how off he has been all game. He is that good. It is frustrating to watch when he does it to your team. But as a fan of basketball, it is hard not to admire. That is the sole reason why this game felt so different. The Grizzlies played well. Their stars showed up. They hit open threes that they usually don't. They did enough to win. The Warriors goofed off for a half, then had a super hot quarter and then had a player who was struggling hit the biggest shot of the game. They did not have to go 100 percent and they still won.
The Grizzlies are young and brash and they have the feel of a team that can put this past them. But this is also the playoffs. This is against the Warriors. This is Steph, Draymond, Klay and now Poole. This is Steve Kerr. This is the NBA who'd much rather see the Warriors in the conference finals. This is the big time. And the Warriors did what they have become known to do. I am still pulling hard for my team, but they have a very, very, very big uphill climb, and I'm scared, as a fan, that they aren't ready. Prove me wrong Memphis. Win this series. I am rooting big time for that to happen. But my expectations have been squashed after seeing what happened in game one.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.