After a thrilling opening round of NBA basketball, teams began tipping off in the second round of matchups this weekend. The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies were looked at as a headline matchup and the opening game lived up to the hype. The home Memphis crowd was lively throughout and it was a hard-fought battle for both sides.

The tides seemed to turn just before halftime when Draymond Green committed a hard foul on Brandon Clarke with 1:18 left in the first half. The play was reviewed and officially ruled a flagrant 2. This ejected Draymond Green from the game and led to criticism across social media from several NBA stars.

Even with the ejection, the Warriors were able to secure the win. It was a tight game and the Grizzlies had a chance to get the victory as time expired. The lay-up attempt from Ja Morant did not fall and the Warriors managed to grab the Game 1 victory by a score of 117-116.

Draymond Green plays a major role in the Warriors' style of play, so his ejection was a major loss. Golden State needed others to step up in his absence and this proved to be the case. Here are the three biggest factors in making up for Draymond's production and taking the series advantage.

3 reasons the Warriors won Game 1 without Draymond Green

Jordan Poole's continued rise

There can't be enough said about how impressive Jordan Poole has been. After being named to the G-League third team last season, Poole has become a crucial part of the Warriors' offense. The Michigan product deserves a ton of credit for modeling his game around the Golden State system. This continues to be put on display on the biggest stage.

In the opening matchup against the Grizzlies, Poole poured in a team-high 31 points. He shot 5-10 on three-point attempts and also was a team-high +10 in the matchup. It was a well-rounded performance from Jordan Poole, as he also tallied nine assists, eight rebounds, and two blocks.

The passing performance was especially impressive. Poole has continued to grow his overall game and has taken massive steps forward as a facilitator. The threat of his shooting demanded coverage from the opposing defense and the 6'4 guard capitalized on the lanes they left open. The 22-year-old has taken massive strides in this area and is a major reason for the Warriors' postseason success.

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Gary Payton II's Strong Play

He may not have had the same eye-popping numbers, but Gary Payton II also made a major impact in the opening game. Payton II was given the start in the matchup and played a total of 23 minutes. He found a way to be active the entire time he was in the game and did the little things the team needed. The Oregon State product ended with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal.

With Draymond Green out of the game, Payton was able to successfully fill the role Green traditionally plays. Payton II was asked to initiate the offense in a way he doesn't typically do but stepped up the challenge. The Warriors were in need of a guy to provide the effort and grind that their Defensive Player of the Year typically does, and Gary Payton II did just this.

Warriors Depth and System

The Warriors have made a firm case why they are the most polished team left in the playoffs. Draymond is a vital part of their team but they did not skip a beat without him. This is a massive credit to the depth and system the franchise has in place.

Steve Kerr did an excellent job pulling the strings in the rotation and each player whose name was called stepped up to the challenge. Kevon Looney gave a solid 19 minutes of play, Otto Porter was effective in his play, and Jonathan Kuminga did a solid job when called upon.

Many of the elements pointed the game in Memphis' favor, but this did not deter Golden State. If they haven't made it known already, the Warriors have made it clear they are competing for a championship. The youthful Grizzlies roster has an incredibly bright future, but the Warriors have a more effective system of play in place. Each member of the Golden State roster knows exactly what their role is and does it to the best of their ability. The Warriors have built a well-oiled machine and taking one part out is not enough to cool them down. Expect Draymond Green to be on his best behavior moving forward, but the Game 1 victory in Memphis gives the Warriors a massive advantage moving forward.