San Francisco – While Stephen Curry compared the final of the Warriors season against the clippers to a game 7, Steve Kerr was more measured, and pointed out that he was simply the first of the three Chans in Secure to Playoff Beat.
A victory would have given them a week or a very necessary break, but after a defeat in extra time of 124-119 on Sunday, they will have a second attempt against a Memphis team in the wrong direction.
Golden State will receive the Grizzlies in the game game number 7-8 at the Chase Center on Tuesday, televised in TNT. The winner advances to face the Rockets of Houston Semitic No. 2 in the first round, while the loser will face another game game against the winner of No. 9 Sacramento and No. 10 Dallas.
History: While some of the main characters remain from the semifinal heated of the west conference of the teams in 2022, the coach of the Grizzlies, Taylor Jenkins, has gone. He was fired last month after Memphis fell from second place at the West Conference in 38-20 to the play with a record of 48-34. Golden State, meanwhile, has gone 22-8 since Jimmy Butler III added.
Season series (GSW 3, MEM 1): Jenkins was fired the last week of March, and the Warriors arrived in the city and defeated them, 134-125, a few nights later. Yes, Morant went by 36 points, but Curry poured 52. The victory of the Grizzlies this season arrived on December 19, when Curry (2 points) and Morant (9) were retained to a single digit. Memphis made 27 triples in the 144-93 victory.
GAME HISTORY: The Warriors have 0-3 of all time in the game, including a defeat in extra time against Memphis in Chase Center that eliminated them in 2021.
Recent history: The Grizzlies closed their season with a high note, enrolling the oppressed Mavericks on Sunday, but Memphis has not been better since the coaches changed. In nine games under Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies have 4-5 with the tenth rating of the sausage network in the NBA.
Morant, however, averages 29.8 points per game from the beginning of March, and his counterpart in the post, Jackson Jr. of 6 feet and 10 inches, gives them size that the Warriors cannot match.
Factor X: Playoff Jimmy.
The addition of Butler has turned the Warriors into the best defensive unit of the league and, against the probabilities, also one of the best to reach the free throw line.
What still has the leg on display is that the next Butler of Gear has proven to have when the lights are brighter. Its 17.5 points, 5.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game have been pleasant, but it is known that Butler takes it to a higher level in the playoffs.
He averaged 24.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists while leaving Miami Heat to two final appearances in the last five years. A return to that level would give the child the child of the second weapon that has been possessed as Kevin Durant.
Injury report: Morant only played 50 games this season and was out of Sunday’s final, but all the indications are that the two-time All-Star is ready for the postseason. Meanwhile, Curry is 37 years old and played on Sunday with his right thumb wrapped in athletic tape, taking care of a ailment that has bothered him throughout the season. He also continues to deal with a pelvic contusion that cost him three games last month.
The greatest concern could be with Butler, which greatly favored the duration of the right leg in extra time against the clippers.
