Grizzlies vs. Warriors: Series Preview

By: Daniel Carp, Grizzlies.com Contributor

Game 1: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. at Oracle Arena
Game 2: Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. at Oracle Arena
Game 3: Saturday, 7 p.m. at FedExForum
Game 4: May 11, 8:30 p.m. at FedExForum
Game 5*: May 13, TBD at Oracle Arena
Game 6*: May 15, TBD at FedExForum
Game 7*: May 17, TBD at Oracle Arena
*If necessary

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Record: 67-15
Standings: First in Western Conference, first in Pacific Division
Starting Five: PG Stephen Curry, SG Klay Thompson, SF Harrison Barnes, PF Draymond Green, C Andrew Bogut
Head Coach: Steve Kerr (first season with team)

The top-seeded Warriors made short work of the eighth-seeded Pelicans, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals in a four-game sweep. New Orleans put up a considerable fight against a team that lost just 15 games in the regular season, with none of the series' four games decided by more than 10 points.

The defining moment of the series was Game 3, when Golden State came back from 20 points down in the fourth quarter to take a 123-119 overtime victory behind point guard Stephen Curry's 40 points, including seven three-pointers. MVP candidate Anthony Davis had a chance to ice the game for the Pelicans from the free-throw line with 9.6 seconds remaining in regulation but came up short.

Golden State took two of its three matchups with the Grizzlies during the 2014-15 regular season, including both of the contests that were played in the last two weeks of the regular season.

When the teams last met on April 13 in the regular season's penultimate game, the Warriors prevailed 111-107 despite a late surge by Memphis. After leading by as many as 32 points in the third quarter, Golden State chose to rest its starters the rest of the way. The Grizzlies took advantage, outscoring the Warriors 41-18 in the fourth quarter and pulling dangerously close in the waning seconds. Shooting guard Jordan Adams scored a team-high 19 points off the bench and backcourt mate Russ Smith added 16 points in just 10 minutes of action to spark the Memphis comeback. Shooting guard Klay Thompson led the charge for the Warriors, scoring 42 points on 15-of-20 from the floor, including 8-of-10 from three-point range.

Memphis did not waste any time in its first-round series either, dispatching the fourth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in five games to advance. After winning the series' first two games on their home floor by convincing double-digit margins, the Grizzlies squandered a 10-point fourth quarter lead and a chance for its first sweep in franchise history, dropping Game 4 99-92 in Portland. Memphis made sure it finished the job in Game 5 despite missing point guard Mike Conley for the second consecutive game as he recovered from surgery for a facial injury.

Center Marc Gasol proved the sprained left ankle he suffered in the final week of the regular season was not going to hamper him in the playoffs, averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the series. Shooting guard Courtney Lee gave Memphis significant offensive production, averaging 17.2 points per contest and shooting 54.5 percent from three-point range. Vince Carter also showed glimpses of why he was one of the league's most dynamic high-flyers earlier in his career, exploding for a pair of highlight-reel dunks in the series clincher.

One of the series' most intriguing matchups became even more compelling after a freak elbow to the face left Conley with a serious facial injury during Game 3 and sent him into surgery. Prior to Conley's injury, his matchup with Curry juxtaposed two distinct styles, the lightning-quick sharpshooter against the deliberate slasher. After the Memphis point guard missed his team's last two games, it is unclear whether he will be available in this series. If Conley is ready to go, he will be forced to wear a protective facemask, and there's no telling how that could affect his performance. Containing Curry when healthy is an unenviable task.

During the regular season, Lee's primary task would have been to slow Thompson down. But after asserting himself as an offensive weapon in Memphis' first-round series against Portland, the matchup at the off-guard spot could be a lot more two-sided. Both Lee and Thompson shot the ball exceptionally well from beyond the arc in the first round, knocking down 54.5 and 48.5 percent of their 3-point attempts, respectively. It's unclear how much defensive intensity will come from this matchup, but you will see no shortage of fireworks.

Memphis' defensive stopper will have his hands full with this matchup. Standing at 6-foot-4, Allen will be tasked with shutting down the 6-foot-8 Barnes, who has the ability to score from both inside and outside. After shifting in and out of the starting lineup in the back half of the regular season, Allen started four of the Grizzlies' five games in the first round. Neither Allen nor Barnes were terribly productive offensively in the first round, but both have the potential to be X-factors in this series.

Although Memphis gives up size at the small forward position, it has a size advantage at the power forward spot with the 6-foot-10 Randolph matching up on Green, who stands at just 6-foot-7. Despite being undersized for his position, Green makes up for it with his strength and intensity. His ability to score from the perimeter can also create a matchup problem of its own. If Randolph uses physical play inside to wear Green down, it could make his life easier on the defensive end.

Another series, another matchup of crafty foreign-born centers. Bogut tends to play the fewest limited minutes among Golden State's starters, but still presents an imposing presence around the rim that will require Gasol's attention. The Grizzlies All-Star center had no trouble scoring the basketball in the first round, but perhaps the most impressive facet of his game was as a passer, leading Memphis in assists on the series. Gasol's ability to attract multiple defenders and hit open teammates out of the double team could be a major offensive asset for the Grizzlies in this series.

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Perhaps the scariest part of Golden State’s four-game sweep of the Pelicans was that the team's normally-pinpoint aim from beyond the arc was slightly off. Despite averaging 39.8 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, the Warriors hit just 37.9 percent of its three-point attempts against New Orleans. Golden State proved that it doesn't need to hit 3-pointers with startling precision to be one of the NBA's most threatening offensive forces.

Memphis averaged 17,329 fans per game at FedExForum this season and the Grizzlies tied for sixth-best in the league with a 31-10 home record on the season. Oracle Arena, home of the Warriors, was near capacity most of the season with an average of 19,596 fans per game. Golden State tied an NBA record this season with a 39-2 record in the regular season and won both of its home games in the playoffs.

Power forward David Lee missed the entirety of Golden State's first-round series against the Pelicans but is expected to return for Game 1 against the Grizzlies.

Memphis' major injury concern will be with Conley, who underwent surgery on a serious facial injury following Game 3 of the team's first-round series. Conley sat out the Grizzlies' last two games and is considered doubtful heading into the Western Conference Semifinals. If Conley makes his return to the court, he will do so wearing a protective mask on his face.

Before Golden State's Game 3 comeback against the Pelicans, the Warriors were 0-358 in franchise history when trailing by 20 points entering the fourth quarter.

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