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Warriors host Grizzlies in Game 5 Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 5/13/2015  at  10:33:00 AM
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (61-30)

at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (73-17)

NBA Playoffs
Western Conference - Semifinals
Tip-off: Wednesday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -9.5, Total: 195.5

The Warriors look to take a 3-2 series lead with a home victory over the Grizzlies in Game 6 Wednesday.

The Warriors were in a tough spot on Monday, as they needed a victory in Memphis to avoid going down 3-1 in the series. Golden State ended up having one of its best performances of the postseason, winning 101-84 as a 4-point favorite. The Warriors shot 47.5% from the field and 42.4% from behind the arc in the game, holding the Grizzlies to just 37.5% shooting from the field in the process. They’ll need to be that locked in on both ends on Wednesday as well. Prior to the Grizzlies’ win-and-cover over the Warriors at Oracle Arena in Game 2, Golden State had won three straight games at home against Memphis SU and two of those games ATS. Both games played at Oracle Arena in this series have gone Under the total. The Grizzlies are 27-14 ATS in road games when playing six or less games in 14 days over the past three seasons. The Warriors, however, are 31-17 ATS after a game where they covered the spread this season. Both teams come into this game relatively healthy, but PF Marreese Speights (Calf) is expected to miss the rest of the series for Golden State.

The Grizzlies had a golden opportunity to seriously take control of the series on Monday, but they were unable to win at home. They’ll now need to win at least one other game at Oracle Arena if they are going to advance. C Marc Gasol (19.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) is going to have to be at his best on Wednesday. He is averaging 20.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 4.0 APG over the past two contests, but he is just 13-for-36 from the field in those games. He is going to have to start being more efficient on the offensive end and has to finish around the basket regularly. PF Zach Randolph (16.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG in playoffs) had just 12 points in Game 4 after scoring at least 20 points in each of the three previous games. Randolph did grab 11 rebounds in the loss, but his team needs him to be better as a scorer. He has a strength advantage over most of the guys guarding him on Golden State and he has to use that to bully his way to the basket in the post. PG Mike Conley (15.2 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) is averaging just 10.5 PPG in 32.5 MPG since scoring 22 points in his Game 2 return in this series. He has not looked great on either side of the ball and the Grizzlies need him to be better. If he is badly outplayed by Steph Curry on Wednesday then his team has little to no chance of stealing a victory.

The Warriors found their game on Monday and will look to regain the lead in this series on Wednesday. PG Stephen Curry (29.0 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG) had struggled with his shot before Game 4, but he got hot on Monday. Curry finished the game with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals on 11-for-22 shooting from the field and 4-for-9 from the outside. He must continue to take advantage of Mike Conley, who is nowhere near being 100% healthy. SG Klay Thompson (20.8 PPG, 1.1 BPG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) had just 15 points on 6-for-15 shooting in Game 4 and will need to shoot a lot better moving forward. The Warriors got away with Klay not being great on the offensive end Monday, but that won’t be the case every game. PF Draymond Green (14.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 BPG in playoffs) had his best game of the series on Monday, finishing with 16 points, 10 boards, four assists, two blocks and two steals in 35 minutes. Green played excellent defense and it was perfect timing for the forward, as he was starting to shoulder a lot of the blame for the Warriors falling behind in this series. C Andrew Bogut (5.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.6 BPG. 1.1 SPG in playoffs) had nine boards, four assists, three blocks and three steals in Game 4. It was his best defensive performance in this series and he must continue to battle Marc Gasol the rest of the way.


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