Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To Second Round Series
4. Keep Points In The Paint Close
It’s no secret that the Warriors and Grizzlies have vastly conflicting styles of play. Golden State likes to launch a barrage of three-pointers at opponents; Memphis shields itself with a barrier of gritty defense and counters with the potent frontcourt duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. These inside-outside differences will decide this series.
So far in the playoffs, the Grizz and Dubs seem to have swapped roles when it comes to three-point shooting. Before last night’s 1-for-14 fiasco, the Grizzlies had been leading all playoff teams in three-point shooting, converting at a lights out 45.8 percent rate. The Warriors, meanwhile, were failing to deliver on their main staple, making only 37.9 percent of their attempts.
However, these are admittedly small sample sizes, and in three head-to-head games this season, the Dubs outshot Memphis from downtown 44 percent to 36 percent. The Warriors will be fine as long as they A) don’t go cold from downtown and/or B): keep the battle for points in the paint relatively close.
In those regular season meetings, the Warriors were only outscored by eight points in the paint per game, which helps explain how they were able to go 2-1 against Memphis this year. The Grizzlies have a stout interior defense, but so do the Warriors in Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green.
This series may come down to a battle of the back lines.
The Grizzlies were the highest scoring team for points in the paint during the regular season, averaging 47.1 per game. They also gave up the fifth fewest points in the paint to opponents, holding them to 39.0 per game. The Warriors were the third highest scoring team this season for points in the paint (45.3 per game), but their defense surrendered 41.6 per game (14th).
In the playoffs, the Grizzlies’ defense has been even more stifling, holding their opponent to the fewest points in the paint per game (34.8). The Dubs are only averaging 42.5 points in the lane per game during the postseason, which may have been because of the interior presence of Anthony Davis in the first round.
In a battle of contrasting styles, the Dubs have proven hot three-point shooting can trump all. But if they struggle to knock down their patented perimeter shots (as Stephen Curry did for most of the first round), this series may come down to which team can slow the other down in the paint.
Next: No. 3