Desmond Bane hitting stride could doom Golden State Warriors

It might not be possible for the Golden State Warriors to put the genie back in the bottle now that Desmond Bane, one of the Memphis Grizzlies’ deadliest shooters, has found his stride in this second round matchup.

Bane was a core reason for the Grizzlies’ round one victory over Minnesota. He led his team in scoring at 23.5 points per game while shooting a red-hot 49.1% from the 3-point line. Bane’s 3-and-D capabilities helped Memphis secure a series win in six games.

Naturally, Bane was a primary focal point for Golden State’s defense entering the second round. His floor-spacing, combined with Ja Morant’s pressure on the rim, could have devastating effects on the series.

However, the series did not start too hot for Bane. He shot just 2-of-9 from deep in the first two games for a combined 14 points. It was obvious his ongoing back soreness was holding Bane back from being the same two-way player he was in round one.

Even in Game 3, when Bane managed to score 16 points on 4-of-7 3-point shooting, his impact was minimal as his team was thwarted by 30 points.

Desmond Bane has snapped out of his slump and the Golden State Warriors better react fast in order to avoid a Game 7.

Once Morant fell with a knee injury, it all seemed downhill for the Grizz. Staring down the barrel of a 3-1 deficit, Memphis had no chance of winning without a resurgence from Bane.

This leads us to the beatdown that was Game 5. Memphis led by as much as 55 points, ultimately winning by a dominant margin of 39. All the while, Bane had some pep in his step with his highest-scoring night of the series at 21 points.

Looking big picture, Bane has made 10-of-17 attempts from the 3-point line over his last three games and appears to be overcoming his back injury. While the Grizzlies still face a 3-2 deficit, continued outbursts from Bane could mean doomsday for the Dubs.

Taking care of business in Game 6 will be pivotal for Golden State as no one wants to play a Game 7 on the road.