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The Golden State Warriors took a 2-1 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in a resounding way. Their 142 points was by far the most of any time in the 2022 playoffs thus far. While Oracle Arena is no longer, the Chase Center has done its job for Golden State in the postseason.
Their Game 3 victory pushed their home record to 4-0 in the postseason, so far. Game 4 is once again in San Francisco, as the Warriors head in as 8.5-point favorites. Let's take a look at our bold predictions for the Warriors' Game 4 in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Grizzlies.
Warriors Game 4 Predictions
3. Another 15+ point win
In Game 3, the Warriors seemed to really find something. A lot of it came down to them being unconscious from the field, as they shot 63% on the night. With that, they were able to get what they wanted all night long. The Grizzlies simply had no answer to try and slow down their slew of shooters. While another 30-point win is unlikely, it seems the Warriors figured the Grizzlies out. It may be a bit of an overreaction, and the Warriors' home court advantage helped their odds. With that, the Warriors were in total control for all of Game 3.
At the hands of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole, the Grizzlies have their hands full with perimeter shooting. Guys like Otto Porter Jr. and Andrew Wiggins stepped up their games in Game 3 as well, knocking down shots from the perimeter as well. That's how it is, as role players always seem to do better at home in the NBA playoffs. Ja Morant's knee injury in Game 3 doesn't hurt the Warriors' chances either, as it remains to be seen how much it will affect him moving forward. For these reasons, the Warriors will pick up where they left off and win by more than 15 points in Game 4.
2. Steph scores 40+
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Stephen Curry has flown under the radar in this series, yet he's averaging 27 points per game through three contests. He scored 30 in Game 3 and the free throw line was his best friend. He shot just two-for-eight from behind the arc, but made all 14 of his free throws. That was more than double the amount of free throws he attempted (6) in Games 1 and 2 combined. That seemingly put to bed the struggles from the first round, in which he uncharacteristically shot just over 70% from the line. Additionally, Curry got to the rim and finished when he did. He made five of his six shots inside the arc in Game 3.
Poole's been the Warriors' breakout star, but Curry remains that guy for the Warriors. We've yet to see a full Steph Curry explosion in the playoffs. His 34 points in Game 2 of the first round was his highest tally in the first eight playoff games. The 30-point Game 3 performance was his best numbers in this series, but signs are pointing to a Curry masterpiece. Combine the fact that his free throws are back to normal and he's getting to the rim at ease, Curry just needs to hit a few three-pointers early to set the tone for Game 4.
1. Ja Morant scores under 30
All series long, Ja Morant has torched the Warriors. He's yet to score under 34 in a game, as he's scored 34, 47, and 34 in the three games, respectively. That sets his per game average at just over 38 points while he's shot 50.6% from the field. It's about time the Warriors slow him down for a full 48 minutes. With guys like Morant, sometimes you have to let them cook and focus on slowing down the role players. Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane have been largely ineffective in the series, as the Warriors possess very good defensive wing players to defend those two.
A player scoring under 30 points shouldn't necessarily be bold, but that's just what it is with Morant in this series. He's been the Grizzlies' best player at all times, something couldn't be consistently said in the first round. Now, Morant's not dealing with Patrick Beverley chasing him around on each possession. At some point though, he's bound to slow down in this series. Add in the fact that he'll be dealing with a knee injury, and Morant won't be nearly as effective and dominant in Game 4.
