Play-In Game Preview: Warriors vs Grizzlies

As well as the Warriors have played since the signing of Jimmy Butler, and as much as Stephen Curry has stepped up over the past few weeks, they now have their backs against the wall.

Due to some unfortunate and untimely losses down the stretch, they are now in the play-in game.

That goes for the Grizzlies as well.

(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The two teams face off Tuesday night in what surely will be an exciting contest

Both franchises have strong stars who can score in a variety of ways, as well as a slew of role players who can step up to the challenge of a one game series.

Each team has similar strengths and weaknesses. Their production is top-heavy, and they can get scrappy in close games. All of that builds to what could very well be one of the tightest games of the early round.

The Heart of a Grizzly

Memphis is a team that plays hard. They have several strong players, all of whom are capable of putting up big numbers on any given night.

Ja Morant is still one of the most dynamic scorers in the NBA, but Jaren Jackson Jr. (22.2 points per game) and Desmond Bane (19.2 points per game) give opposing defenses trouble as well.

Any of the trio is capable of lighting it up, and if they do it can create a lot of issues for opposing teams.

That’s especially true for a squad like the Warriors, who aren’t necessarily known for their defense. If the Grizzlies can score early from a range of different places, Golden State could get out of sorts.

Even so, there’s no doubt the Warriors will put the majority of their focus on Morant

A one-game series is where big players make big time plays. It’s easy to combat a whole team effort, but more often than not teams win the play-in game off of heroics.

Morant has the exact style of play that can open up the floor and create havoc for the Warriors

They need to stay disciplined, stay at home on their assignments, and make sure that Morant can’t attack the paint in a way that leads to open threes. The more he gets into his rhythm, the harder the game will be.

The Power of High-End Talent

For the Warriors, things appear to be a two-man show.

Stephen Curry remains the best point guard in the league, while Jimmy Butler continues to pad his hall of fame resume with strong shooting, passing, and defense at all stages of the game.

The duo are perhaps the most dangerous pair in the NBA

Curry can score from just about anywhere and commands attention like no one else. Butler also has the ability to take over a game, and can get everyone else involved while doing so.

The Warriors have plenty of talent on their roster, but they only go as far as their two leaders.

If Curry gets hot, he can shoot Memphis right off the floor. The same is true of Butler. If both have a bad game, it will likely sink Golden State.

It’s also worth noting that the pair have the ability to pick each other up as well

Neither will likely rest much with the season on the line, but the Grizzlies need to be ready for the varied attack. They have to take away Curry’s three and keep him off the line. They also need to make sure Butler can’t get into the paint.

Memphis will undoubtedly overcommit to the pair. That’s where the bench needs to step up. The Warriors will only win if their stars play well, but they are going to need some help too.

Go Big, or Go Home

The guards are going to get most of the attention for Tuesday’s game, but the game will likely be won or lost at the rim. The Warriors do not have great inside presence, and they try to make up for that with their dynamic outside scoring.

That leaves the middle wide open

Golden State does not have great rebounders. Draymond Green and Kevon Looney both average 6.1 rebounds a game, and Jimmy Butler is the third on the team with 5.7.

That’s where the Grizzlies can win. While getting into a shootout with Curry is almost always a losing endeavor, playing big and dominating the glass are how they can come out on top.

Zach Edey is having a solid year, averaging 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds a game, and if he’s healthy for the game it’s going to be a big problem for the Warriors.

There’s no telling which way things are going to shake out

Memphis needs their stars and the Warriors need their bench. Both teams need to rebound and hit their threes. Whatever happens, it promises to be a good contest.