Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the play-in games now!
The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors in a thrilling overtime game and take the last playoff spot.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jed Jacobsohn/AP.)
It’s probably real disappointing for the league and most of its fans that Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors didn’t make it into the postseason proper.
And that’s the thing about one-and-done games. Anything can really happen. And it so happened that the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Warriors in the last play-in game of the season. The Grizz take the last playoff berth and complete the 16-team field for the 2021 postseason.
It was easy to pick the Warriors. Sure, only Curry, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney remain from the title teams (Klay Thompson is on target to be back next season). But they’ve seen it all in terms of playoff battles. And with Curry playing some of the best ball of his career, one detonation can set off another on the way to a G. State victory.
But what I liked about this Memphis team? They were unflappable. They meant business when they went up, 18-6. They would also take a 17-point lead over the Dubs.
We knew the Warriors were going to make a run. Curry did all he could; he would end up having 39 total points. But Ja Morant was there to keep pace; he finished with 35 points. More on Ja later.
The bears would lead, 97-88, with three minutes left but the Dubs quickly erased that lead in two minutes. The game would eventually go the extra five at 99-up.
We would see the teams exchange three-pointers. Grayson Allen made two straight big ones from downtown. Green and Jordan Poole countered with their own threes. But Xavier Tillman took the lead right back for the Grizz with a three.
Ja would seal the deal with two consecutive baskets; his last one made it a 5-point game with four seconds left. Poole’s miraculous three did cut it to two but Desmond Bane made sure G. State would have any more miracles by making a quick dunk after an inbounds play. The Grizz advance to the playoffs.
Like I said, I loved that Memphis played with no fear and acted like they didn’t know any better. Morant had a star-making performance with 35-6-6 along with four steals. He’ll get to showcase some more as they face the Utah Jazz in the first round. And he’ll have his youthful deep bench with him. As I’ve said many times, the Grizz may be real young but they got a chippy bench. If you include Jaren Jackson, Jr. (he only played 11 games), they have 9 players averaging 9 or more points. So Utah has to keep an eye out on the supporting cast.
Golden State will be back, assuming Klay Thompson is good to go. We all know what Curry can do. We all know what Green brings to the table. Maybe the Warriors add another piece to help themselves get back to contention.
But right now, it’s about Memphis. It’s not grit-and-grind but, hey, the Grizzlies are officially a playoff team again.
Bullet Passes
Green would end up with a triple-double with 11-16-10. But it’s just amazing how his offense has really taken a downturn in the last few years.
The play-in games gave us both #7 seeds advancing as well as the #8 seed from the East and the #9 seed from the West. Memphis becomes an 8th seed in the tournament.
Still think that the play-in returns from the strength of the Lakers/Warriors game alone.
All 8 best-of-7 series start in the next two days. Picks upcoming!
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
May 21, 2021
Watch This Play
I like this follow jam by Juan Toscano-Anderson.
Juan Toscano-Anderson with AUTHORITY 😤 pic.twitter.com/YuV2jat5Ol
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 22, 2021
Unfortunately, we won’t see any more Warriors plays for the rest of the season in this segment.
PLAYOFFS START ON SATURDAY OFFICIALLY.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.