Grizz vs Warriors: An Old Fashioned Beatdown

Last night’s match-up between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors resulted in another old fashioned beat down. The Warriors came to deliver a loss to the only NBA team that had eluded them this season. The message was delivered loud and clear, and resounded throughout the sold out FedEx Forum.

The first half was even play. The excitement was palpable, both on the court and in the stands. The Smash Brothers vs the Splash Brothers. The play was possibly the most physical we’ve seen thus far this season, and like the rest of the season the whistle did not fall on our side. You could see the frustration, particularly with Marc Gasol, after each whistle failure, or foul call. At the half, Memphis went to the locker room trailing only by 5.

Steph Curry put up 38 points and 10 assists. As in the Cleveland game, Golden State’s starters were in the game until the end. Perhaps Curry was left in to attain that double-double. Klay Thompson put up 28. The Splash Brothers were a combined 22 for 39 from the field. On the flip side, Mike Conley and Jeff Green led with 16 points apiece, Gasol scored 13, and Randoloh 10. Steph Curry single handedly out scored all Memphis starters.

The third quarter is where the game disintegrated. Steph Curry scored 17 of his 38 in the third quarter, of which he went 4-6 from beyond the golden arc. Memphis was out scored 31-16 in the third. Tony Allen retired to the locker room in the third quarter, with a left hamstring strain, and did not return to play. This is the same injury that plagued Allen in the first portion of the season. Kosta Koufas was a force to be reckoned with in combination with a hustling Vince Carter. Unfortunately shots just did not fall. “I say just moving the ball,”  Thompson said of the third quarter difference. “It’s that simple.”

Golden State turned 19 Memphis turnovers into 32 points. “Our turnovers are killing us.” Dave Joerger said post game.  And that was a major differential. Memphis could not keep their hands on the ball, nor could they convert shots into points.

I called the Courtney Lee injury several weeks ago, although it turned out to be his hand rather than his shoulder. His return has not yielded results, indicating the hand remains an issue. Marc and Zach were not aggressive, and sat for long stretches in the second half.

Memphis struggles against teams that play the stretch four, and continue to have difficulty defending the perimeter. As Klay Thompson pointed out, ball movement was a Golden State key to the Grizz demise. The same could be said for the Cleveland Cavaliers dismantling is the Grizz Wednesday night.

On of the reasons Memphis fails to accomplish the same level of ball movement is the ever changing line-up. Dave Joerger has continually played with the line this season, trying out different conglomerations. These are things that should’ve been settled by now. And should have been worked out in practice. You cannot establish a rhythm without knowing where the instruments are going to be. Teams with consistent line-ups are able to fine tune the rhythm. Quick whips, and no look passes. The first half season establishment of Gasol, Randolph, Allen, Lee, and Conley had that rhythm, and were reinforced by a sound second unit. We have to return to that rhythm.

The Grizzlies travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Sunday. The Spurs have been a consistent thorn in the Grizz game plan. Memphis had finally removed the mental block associated with the Spurs, let’s hope it remains removed.