The Golden State Warriors will have to be even better than they were in the regular season if they want any chance of beating the Memphis Grizzlies in round two.
Memphis, a young team fresh off their first series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, has the personnel needed to target one of the Warriors’ weaknesses and become a nightmarish roadblock to the Western Conference Finals.
The Golden State Warriors are in for a true challenge against the Memphis Grizzlies, who pose a threat to one of the Dubs’ biggest weaknesses.
The Grizzlies just put on a masterclass in offensive rebounding. Their ability to get second-chance points was the difference against Minnesota, hauling in 76 offensive rebounds in six games.
Brandon Clarke was a menace, attacking the glass relentlessly to secure extra possessions. The 6’8″ forward finished the series with 23 offensive boards, compared to 46 total from the Minnesota Timberwolves as a unit.
Then, there is Steven Adams. The big man wasn’t suited for a one-on-one with Karl-Anthony Towns or a chaotic, frenzied pace versus Minnesota but could fair well against the Warriors’ lineups featuring Kevon Looney or Nemanja Bejlica.
Adams finished the regular season first in offensive rebounding at 4.6 per game.
So far in the playoffs, Golden State ranks 14th in rebounding. The Grizzlies are in second, behind only the Milwaukee Bucks. This could mean trouble for an undersized Warriors team — though, the Dubs ranked second in defensive rebounding during the regular season.
Despite their lack of size, Golden State has managed to scrap in the paint to snag rebounds. This could be a big series for Looney, who tallied 18 rebounds in a game earlier in the season.
Then, there is Jonathan Kuminga. The springy, athletic rookie will be in uncharted territories competing in the playoffs at 19 years of age. Yet, his physical gifts lend him to be one of the Warriors’ best answers for an energy guy like Clarke.
Juan Toscan-Anderson is another possible name that could be deployed to blunt the Grizzlies’ efforts on the glass. The same goes for Otto Porter Jr., who averaged 5.7 rebounds in 22 minutes this season.
Nevertheless, a matchup like this certainly has the Warriors wishing James Wiseman was available to play.