The Golden State Warriors bounced back with a resounding 142-112 victory over the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on Saturday evening. Inserting Jonathan Kuminga into the starting lineup for the injured Gary Payton II was a brilliant move for coach Steve Kerr as Kuminga contributed 18 points in 17 minutes.
Stephen Curry led the way for Golden State with 30 points and six assists on 50% shooting from the field. Jordan Poole was magnificent once again after a dreadful Game 2, tallying 27 points, while Klay Thompson bounced back from his slump with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
As Game 3 was wrapping up, Ja Morant sustained an unfortunate knee injury that could affect his status for the rest of the series. With a hobbled Morant for the rest of the series, it is highly unlikely for Memphis to remain competitive in this series and possibly not even win a game anymore.
Here are three other reasons why Golden State is poised for a five-game victory in its hotly-contested second-round series with Memphis.
3 reasons why Warriors won't lose another game to Grizzlies
Talent and offensive firepower are way too much
Inexperience is a massive disadvantage against Golden State for the young Grizzlies, who are just in their second year of playoff basketball. Morant was phenomenal in that Game 2 victory, but it would be foolish to expect him to dominate every game to that historic extent—especially after re-injuring his balky right knee. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. continued struggling with their jumper on Saturday, neutering the offensive sets of coach Taylor Jenkins.
The struggles of Curry, Poole, and Thompson in Game 2 will occur only once in a blue moon. Memphis cannot rely on shooters of their caliber to simply continue misfiring from the perimeter throughout the series' remainder. Furthermore, more solid outings by Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins or Otto Porter Jr. in certain games will pose an even bigger challenge for the Grizzlies to overcome.
Role players explode on some nights for every team, but the reliable secondary scorers like Bane and Jackson Jr. must be consistent and aid Morant offensively for the Grizzlies to stay competitive with Golden State going forward.
Undersized Warriors are winning battle of the boards
Entering the second-round matchup against the Warriors, Memphis was expected to have an edge on the boards with Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Kyle Anderson known to rack it up in that department. Missing James Wiseman forced the Warriors to utilize undersized bigs all season, a development easily exploited by some teams throughout 2021-22.
With the Grizzlies deciding not to insert Steven Adams until garbage time, Jenkins elected to downsize and match the athleticism and versatility of Golden State. The prevailing assumption was they'd have an advantage on the glass despite that lineup choice, but that hasn't been the case since the Western Conference Semifinals tipped off. The Warriors have owned the rebounding battle instead, with Wiggins emerging as an especially consistent force tracking down his teammates' misses.
If that trend continues, certainly don't expect Memphis to wrest control of this series back from the Warriors.
Ball movement and chemistry is top-notch
NBA fans were impressed with the bonding and camaraderie of the Grizzlies amid the adversity and injuries they experienced during the regular season. Still, it's Golden State's blend of teamwork and selflessness that remains basketball's best barometer for overall team culture and chemistry.
The Warriors do not run a plethora of pick-and-roll sets, but they run a ton of split actions and off-ball screens that catch defenses off guard. Guys like Curry and Poole are terrific in losing their defender even if they do not have the ball because they have a great feel for the instincts and tendencies of each player on the roster. Moreover, the Warriors also adjusted with a zone defense for lengthy portions of Game 3, preying on Memphis' inconsistent outside shooting with impressive communication and connectivity.
Golden State is peaking at the right time, re-cementing itself as a legitimate favorite to win the NBA championship. None of the second-round series have ended yet, but a potential matchup with the Phoenix Suns in the Conference Finals would be must-watch TV for any NBA fan.
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