NBA – Supported by Desmond Bane, the leader and the interior of the Grizzlies largely contributed to the victory against the defending champions (131-110).
With around fifteen games remaining before the playoffs, the defending champions are doing everything but reassuring with a third defeat in a row and a barely balanced record. Where the return of the Grizzlies at home, after three straight losses away from their bases, did them good. Especially in the current context around Ja Morant…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– 48 points in the first quarter. Golden State slapped entry. The Warriors had a lot of trouble covering the opposing outside shooters, starting with Jaren Jackson Jr and Tyus Jones, not to mention Luke Kennard who came to complete a first quarter of total domination of the locals (48-28). Stephen Curry and the Warriors signed a big “run” in the second quarter to get back to just four units (57-53) … before their defense crumbled again in the face of the Grizzlies’ multiple circle attacks, finally leading by 18 points at the break (77-59). The defending champions will still find a way to get closer to the score in the following minutes. With more serious defensiveness, and the welcome address of JaMychal Green, they finished third with three possessions (99-92). But their dike gave way one last time in the final period…
– One five outranks the other. The “+/-” column of the final sheet clearly shows the phenomenon. Apart from Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, who finish with an honorable note, the other holders have sunk in terms of impact on the score. Quite the opposite for the Grizzlies in which four incumbents finish with at least a +19 to the score. These are the effects of the first and fourth quarter in particular, largely in their favor. It should be noted that the Warriors’ “run” in the second took place while Tyus Jones, Jaren Jackson Jr. or Dillon Brooks were on the bench. One wonders about Steve Kerr’s choice to start with the Curry – Thompson – Poole – DiVincenzo quartet around Green alone to face the Tillman – Jackson tandem. The Warriors were overwhelmed in defense with fullbacks trying to help into the key, opening up space for the shooters across the way. Hence the choice of Steve Kerr to start the second period with Kevon Looney.
– Same California demons. On their streak of five straight wins, they had contained their opponents below the 106 point mark each time. From ? 113 points against the Lakers, 137 against the Thunder and 131 last night… The defensive ailments of the Californians are known, as are their difficulties in playing their basketball outside. This defeat is their 8th in a row in this context. They thus equal a series started last October, at the start of the season. They are also approaching their negative record under the Steve Kerr era of 10 away defeats set between the end of 2019 and the start of 2020.
BROOKS VS GREEN ACTE III
We suspected that this kind of scene could occur during this meeting. After their exchange of courtesies over the last few days, Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks had the opportunity to “rub” together, without generating a technical fault.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Five of the Grizzlies. Difficult to highlight one element more than another as this consistent five rolled over the Warriors. We note all the same the big match of Tyus Jones who signs his fifth double-double of the season and is decidedly very comfortable to replace Ja Morant in the five. A word also on Jaren Jackson Jr. who posed a matchup concern throughout the evening for the Californians by his height, his mobility and his address. His replacement Santi Aldama also posed the same type of difficulties.
⛔ Five of the Warriors. Although Stephen Curry, Draymond Green or Jordan Poole held their rank statistically, the overall picture was not enough to reassure Steve Kerr who spent his evening pouting. We can understand it. We think for example of this pass in the third quarter of Jordan Poole towards… nobody since his teammates came to screen him at the head of the racket. Or this Grizzlies throw-in where Klay Thompson and the Warriors, still discussing, completely forgot Tyus Jones in the 3-point corner (ultimately without consequence). So many small errors of attention on the part of executives who question…
THE FOLLOWING
Grizzlies (39-26) : reception of the Mavs on Saturday.
Warriors (34-33) : reception of the Bucks on Saturday.
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