Are The Grizzlies A Threat To The Golden State Warriors?
By Sumeet Paul
The Memphis Grizzlies have had a difficult start to the season, and it remains to be seen whether or not this is just a minor blip or part of a bigger issue for the organisation. Memphis have started the season 3-5 and prepare for the second meeting of the season with the Golden State Warriors in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
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Their 119-69 loss to the reigning NBA champions on November 2 was a real confidence-sapping night as it was the worst defeat in their history, and although they bounced back the following night against the Sacramento Kings, they have been left with more questions than answers since.
It is particularly confusing given the fact that this is a team that caused Steve Kerr‘s men problems through the regular season last year and in the playoffs.
The drop off can be attributed to the fact that they went on a tough five-game road trip, and the concern can be lowered given that they did play better against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers on the defensive end at least. That will give the players confidence that their game is returning, as although they have also struggled offensively, their ‘grit and grind’ style is built on their suffocating defense and that ultimately is the identity on which they can achieve success.
Furthermore, the organisation made a move this week as they brought in Mario Chalmers from the Miami Heat with Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes moving in the opposite direction while James Ennis completed the four-man trade deal.
Yahoo Sources: Miami is finalizing deal to send guard Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to Memphis for Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2015
The presence of Chalmers alone will bring a winning mentality to the locker room, as although the Heat have struggled in the post-LeBron James era, he has plenty of experience of winning.
However, the most important factor in this struggle for David Joerger’s men is that it is still early in the season, they haven’t reached the levels that they are capable of, and their experience and winning mentality in recent years will ensure that this is something that they can overcome.
As a result, they will be expected to cause the Warriors problems on Wednesday night, and they will in turn be a playoff team by the end of the regular season.
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Whether or not they still have the legs to compete for a championship remains to be seen, as this group is ageing and their title window is certainly closing. Should they cross paths with Golden State in the playoffs again, personal belief suggests that their threat will continue to be respected by the defending champions, but it is no longer seen as something that they can’t overcome.
Golden State won’t be too concerned about the threat that they pose having found a way to beat them consistently in recent times, winning five of the last six regular-season meetings as well as a six-game playoff series last year, but regardless, the Grizzlies will be problematic when they get back to the level that they know they can operate on.