Are Warriors Too Experienced For Ja Morant’s Grizzlies To Handle?

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA
NBA Analysis Network

After staving off an equally young and feisty Minnesota Timberwolves, the NBA’s wunderkinds, the Memphis Grizzlies, now face one of the greatest dynasties in league history. Ja Morant and the rest of the Grizz may have gotten a wake-up call as the Dubs outperformed Memphis down the stretch, making correct play after correct play and hitting clutch shots to eke out a one-point win.

Will this trend continue? Will the Golden State Warriors’ blue-chip talent and championship pedigree be simply too much for the Grizzlies to outmatch?

It could be said that Memphis was lucky to have gotten so close at the end. Draymond Green was ejected earlier in the game due to a questionable Flagrant II foul call, although some could consider pulling an airborne player down by his jersey subject for an instant ejection.

Not only was Green unavailable, but there was another peculiar moment late in the game that brought attention to one of the league’s most recent rule changes. To speed up the contests and broadcasts this year, the NBA decided that no longer would all out-of-bounds plays go to review.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Warriors Use Draymond Green’s Ejection As Motivation vs. Grizzlies

Rather, if neither team has a challenge or elects to use one, the call will simply be determined on the floor. And if the zebras can’t come to a decision, like in Game 1 of the Grizzlies-Warriors series, it automatically becomes a jump ball at half court.

One such play — that was clearly off of Memphis with a second look using a little slow-motion — rewarded the Memphis Grizzlies possession and prevented them from having to send one of the Golden State Warriors to the foul line to potentially make it a three-point game.

Klay Thompson also uncharacteristically missed two clutch free throws in a row, and all of the Warriors aside from the aflame Jordan Poole shot poorly. And yet, the Warriors still won the game. It could be reasoned that the Grizzlies will never get that close to drawing blood again.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Warriors Use Draymond Green’s Ejection As Motivation vs. Grizzlies

On the flip side, Memphis came out with a great defensive game plan that held up through the entirety of the contest. They dueled the Warriors to basically a draw through 48 minutes, with or without Draymond Green on the court.

Just as some of Dubs struggled from the field, every Grizzly except Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. couldn’t buy a shot as Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, and Tyus Jones combined to go 7-27 from the floor.

Despite poor performances from their supporting cast and Jordan Poole going ballistic for 31 points on just 20 shots, the Memphis Grizzlies found themselves down just one as they approached the finish line. As the game clock wound down, Memphis was able to create a great look for Ja Morant going downhill. In the end, he missed a lay-in that he’s probably 10 thousand times in his career, and the Golden State Warriors took Game 1.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Warriors Use Draymond Green’s Ejection As Motivation vs. Grizzlies

Expect nearly every game to be a nail-biter — regardless of if Draymond Green can stay on the floor or not — in a series that should be a long, fun, and competitive war. Don’t expect Ja Morant to miss that shot next time, though.

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