Subscribe
Follow Us
The Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors are in a complete dog fight in the Western Conference Semifinals. Both squads have a win two games into the series after games that went down to the wire. As Ja Morant told Stephen Curry after the final buzzer of Game 2, we're gonna have some fun.
Now that the series is shifting to the Bay Area, a lot can change. The Grizzlies will have to adjust to the new environment while the Warriors get back to the place where they boast a winning percentage of 75.6 percent. Morant and his squad will have to face a new beast over the next two contests.
Still, Memphis made it this far for a reason. They are as resilient and hungry as they come. Morant's amazing talent and the team's superb depth can give the Warriors problems and showed in their last playoff series that large deficits and playing on the road don't shake them.
Game 3 should be another close fight for the Grizzlies. Here are three things to look out for as they seek the 2-1 advantage.
Memphis Grizzlies Game 3 Predictions
3. Ja Morant matches his playoff career-high in assists
After a 47-point outburst in Game 2, the Warriors will have to get back to the drawing board. They can't let Morant get to the paint so easily. The Grizzlies' star is adept at getting two feet in the paint but the Warriors will have to make sure they don't offer him any more room.
Clogging the paint and/or using bigger lineups won't stop Morant from making his way to the paint but he will have to be more mindful of his surroundings. He is very good at finding his Grizzlies teammates on the perimeter despite throwing his body down the lane at nearly full speed.
Morant's game-high for assists in a playoff game is 15, which he accomplished in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Grizzlies' previous series. If the Warriors lock in on him, he will need to be the set-up man for his teammates in order to take the win. Even if the Dubs don't do that, he will have to use the threat of his passing to make his life easier.
2. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. lead Memphis in scoring
With Morant doing the dishing, someone will have to do the swishing. Bane and Jackson will most likely be the ones to step up and hit the big shots.
Jackson scores 33 points in Game 1 and has something to prove after fouling out in the previous game. With his shooting range and size, he could torment the Warriors from all over the floor.
Bane should be able to get back to scoring at a high clip and is due for a good game after shooting 5-17 from deep so far in this series. He had several big scoring outbursts against Minnesota and can score in more ways than just unloading from deep.
The Grizzlies may not need Bane and Jackson to score 30 points. What they will undoubtedly need, though, is efficient shot-making and smart shot selection.
1. The Grizzlies steal Game 3
Memphis is riding high after their huge win. Although they will now be heading on the road, they will be bringing their energy with them.
Even with Bane, their leading scorer from the first round, shooting poorly, the Grizzlies have kept up with the Warriors and their shooters. If Jackson rebounds after a rough Game 2 and the rest of the squad comes to play, the Warriors may find themselves in a hole. Memphis beating them on the glass and getting so many rim attempts has worked so far. Unless the Warriors light it up in a big way from beyond the arc, the Grizz could jump out to a lead in the series.
After two extremely close games, the Grizzlies and Warriors will duke it out at Chase Center on Saturday night.
