Memphis Grizzlies lost Game 1 but proved they can hang with Warriors
The Memphis Grizzlies may have lost Game 1 against Golden State, but did they prove they can play with the Warriors?
With a little more than three seconds left in the fourth quarter of their Game 1 Eastern Conference semifinals matchup with the Golden State Warriors, the Memphis Grizzlies had one shot to take a 1-0 series lead.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins drew up a great play in which Ja Morant had a layup to win the game. He missed and the Warriors stole homecourt advantage in the series as they took a 1-0 lead. Even though the Grizzlies lost Game 1, there’s an argument to be made that they proved that they can play with the championship-tested Warriors.
No matter how you chop it up, a loss is a loss. Especially in the playoffs, there are no moral victories. However, Morant and the Grizzlies were inches away from holding court in Game 1 against Golden State.
A layup simply didn’t go in and, instead, the Grizzlies have almost a must-win game in Game 2. Nevertheless, the Grizzlies will be able to take some confidence into Game 2. Not only did they punch the Warriors back but they survived every time they were hit with a haymaker from the championship Dubs.
Even after going down by 10 points in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies didn’t back down. They didn’t go away. When they had every reason to, they continued to fight back and eventually retook the lead. That’s grit. That’s grind. That’s what the Warriors have been all postseason long.
And they proved that they’re going to be that against the Warriors too.
Morant went toe-to-toe with Stephen Curry and outplayed him. Morant finished with 34 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, and three steals. Even though it wasn’t enough, it’s something the Grizzlies should feel good about.
dark. Next. NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Knicks land Donovan Mitchell; Jabari Smith at No. 1
The tally will say that Golden State leads the series 1-0. But Memphis isn’t going to go away. In fact, their confidence should be at an all-time high heading into Game 2. The Grizzlies may have lost Game 1, but they proved that they can play with the Warriors.