If the Grizzlies fell in their series against the Warriors, the battle was bitter and disputed for six games, even after the injury of Ja Morant. So Dillon Brooks, one of the great actors in this series but not always for the right reasons, prefers to warn everyone in the Bay: Memphis is coming with the intention of seizing power.
In an NBA that badly needs rivalries, the Warriors and Grizzlies could well represent the new fashionable opposition in the Western Conference. Anyway, the ingredients are there. Both franchises have built a little history since last year, with Memphis first sending Golden State on vacation to the play-in tournament before the Dubs knocked out Taylor Jenkins’ men this year after a physical streak that left quite a few traces (thought for Gary Payton II). On the one hand, we have a team with the DNA of champions who have won three NBA titles over the last decade and who want to get back to the top, on the other we have a young and hyper-ambitious group who want to win their place among the cadors of the Wild Wild West. On both sides, we have the superstar evolving on the same position with Stephen Curry and Ja Morant. On both sides, we have a big mouth with Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks. In short, there is everything you need. And precisely, Brooks is already hot at the idea of returning next year to try to bring the Warriors back down from their pedestal despite the respect he has for them (via NBC Sports Bay Area).
“We are young and they are getting older, so they know that we will be there every year. I play to earn the respect of my peers. It gives motivation, playing against them and against two of the best shooters in history allows you to learn. It was a great feeling. It’s a good thing for us, so we’ll take it with us this summer to try our luck again. »
Clearly, the future looks bright for the Grizzlies. They have made a huge ascent this year, rising to second place in the West with 56 wins on the clock, just ahead of the … Warriors. Ja Morant has become a real superstar, Desmond Bane has been progressing at breakneck speed since his arrival in the NBA, Jaren Jackson Jr. has established himself as a defensive reference, and more generally Taylor Jenkins’ group is doing very well (it’s not than a cliché) with a collective that is pleasing to see. So many reasons to believe in the potential of this Memphis team to one day become a real contender for the title. However, don’t count on the Warriors to kindly get out of the way. After two years without Playoffs due in particular to major injuries, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are back together and we see immediately what happens: a qualification in the Western Conference Finals at least. These guys know each other by heart, are always hungry despite their three rings and love the atmosphere of the Playoffs. So yes, it’s true, they are getting older (34 for Steph, 32 for Klay, 32 for Dray) but getting old doesn’t always mean decline, at least not yet at that age. Before turning 37, Chris Paul was playing at an exceptional level. We don’t know what’s happened since, but you know what we mean. LeBron, even if he is a special case, pushes the limits of Father Time every day. So if we were Dillon Brooks, we wouldn’t just rely on age to hope for the disappearance of these cursed Warriors, who manage to last over time thanks to the culture they have been able to build for a good decade. A culture which allowed Andrew Wiggins (27 years old) to become All-Star and in which fits today a young talent on the rise like Jordan Poole (22 years old), as well as a promising rookie like Jonathan Kuminga ( 19 years old). So it’s certainly not tomorrow that Golden State will disappear from the NBA map.
There may come a day when the Grizzlies end the dominance of the Warriors. In the logic of things, Memphis should continue its ascent, while Golden State could at some point give way when Steph, Klay and Draymond have taken a few more rods. But we know that in the NBA, logic does not always prevail and we have learned over time to never underestimate the Dubs.
Text source: post-game press conference (via NBC Sports Bay Area)
Grizzlies dance crew singing “Whoop that trick!” in Stephen Curry’s face during Game 5 timeout pic.twitter.com/yxeeCBrHvk
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 12, 2022
