The Golden State Warriors have officially secured a spot in the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Waiting on the other side will either be the Memphis Grizzlies or Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here is what to expect from either opponent.
The Golden State Warriors will prefer the less-talented Minnesota Timberwolves as their second round NBA Playoff matchup.
If there is one thing the Timberwolves have done this season, it is earn the respect of NBA fans everywhere. The underdogs have pushed Memphis to the brink. And, had it not been for numerous blown leads, they could be sailing to a second round matchup with Golden State.
Instead, Minnesota finds itself facing elimination in a 3-2 rut. Nevertheless, the Wolves could pull it out and compete with the Dubs in round two.
This is a favorable scenario for Golden State. While playing with an abundance of heart, the Wolves lack any real firepower to contend with the Dubs. Players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell are skilled — but fall short of matching names like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
There is no doubt the Wolves would scrap and fight until the end but Golden State would have nothing to fear in a battle with Minnesota.
Golden State could not take their foot off the pedal against Memphis
This brings us to the more likely matchup against the Grizzlies. In this series, the Dubs would have to play 48 minutes of pure basketball to avoid a roaring comeback from a Memphis team that has proven they don’t die.
Memphis has faced double-digit deficits in four of five games against Minnesota — yet they lead the series. This young, gritty team just doesn’t give up and this is a worry for a Warriors team who has struggled to keep their foot on the gas for extended periods.
It would only take a momentary lapse from Golden State to let the Grizzlies back into any given game. For this season, the Dubs would need to stay razor-sharp for the entirety of the second round.
The good news is that Golden State is still the more talented team. This means the Dubs will be able to test their might and potentially gain all of the momentum needed to carry themselves to an NBA Finals berth.