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Warriors destroy Grizzlies 142-112 in Game 3 to take 2-1 lead in a dramatic series

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Warriors destroy Grizzlies 142-112 in Game 3 to take 2-1 lead in a dramatic series

I TOLD YOU THERE WOULD BE VENGEANCE IN CHASE CENTER!

Daniel Hardee
May 8, 2022
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Warriors destroy Grizzlies 142-112 in Game 3 to take 2-1 lead in a dramatic series

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The NBA playoffs are bringing a sense of normalcy back to the Bay Area. For the first time in a long time I had the pleasure of kicking it with Duby Dub Dubs at the blogfather Nate P.’s lovely home. Our families caught up and watched the Golden State Warriors completely dominate the Memphis Grizzlies 142-112 in Game 3.

Twitter avatar for @statmuse
StatMuse @statmuse
The Warriors shot 63/52/91% in Game 3. They are the 2nd team in NBA history to shoot 60/50/90 in a playoff game, joining the 2001 Sixers. Their 76.1 TS% tonight is the 2nd highest in NBA history.
Image
3:11 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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Even though it had been a while since we congregated, it felt just like the days of old GSW playoff runs where we’d sit around and drink beers, engrossed in lively discussions about the finer points of hoops while the Warriors terrorized some poor foe with a third quarter run. That good ol’ type of run that turns the last hour of the game into garbage time as occasionally someone glances at the TV and goes, “Damn the other team has clawed back to being down 20!” and everyone guffaws.

Something else that hasn’t changed about the Warriors’ in the postseason: being smack dab in the middle of injury controversy. But we’ll get back to that a little later…let’s start with what a dominant performance our squad gave us at home in the Bay.

Warriors have some spicy wings

How deep are the Warriors? All-Star starter Andrew Wiggins combined forces with Otto Porter Jr. and Klay Thompson for ultra efficient scoring nights buoyed by elite defense. They were physical (Thompson led the Dubs with nine rebounds!) and made Memphis pay for leaving them open on the perimeter (combined 7-of-13 from deep).

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NBA @NBA
Extreme efficiency from the @warriors wings helped them go up 2-1 in the West Semis 🔥 Klay Thompson: 21 PTS (8-13 FGM) Andrew Wiggins: 17 PTS (7-10 FGM) Otto Porter Jr.: 13 PTS (5-7 FGM)
4:00 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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Twitter avatar for @957thegame
95.7 The Game @957thegame
Draymond Green on Andrew Wiggins being aggressive/playing bully ball: “That’s what we’ve been asking Wiggs to do all year. Two years, however long he’s been here.”
3:53 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
2,299Likes134Retweets

And then there was the rookie Jonathan Kuminga, who Grizzlies’ blogbois had coveted as potential trade target coming into the draft:

“Kuminga is a really nice fit on the Grizzlies. He’s a great wing with size and speed who can play alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., especially if he gets his shot to fall at the NBA level. Kuminga could help alleviate some of the concerns with Jaren Jackson Jr. and rebounding, while also being capable of being a microwave scorer when called upon.”

Grizzly Bear Blues were dead on as far Kuminga’s potential, something they witnessed first hand as he was chosen by coach Steve Kerr as a starter in last night’s pivotal contest. Kuminga made some head-scratching rookie mistakes initially but played some quality defense:

Twitter avatar for @stevejones20
Steve Jones Jr. @stevejones20
Dribble penetration has been the button for the Warriors defense and I thought they set a tone early, at least mindset wise. Kuminga switches on to Ja and you see he's working to contain. Every help/closeout seemed ready to catch the drive. Have to take that off the table.
12:07 PM ∙ May 8, 2022
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And the rook added 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. That made him the first teenager to score 18 points in a playoff game since CARMELO ANTHONY IN 2004.

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Jonathan Kuminga 🇨🇩 @JonathanKuming6
Learn from your mistakes 🫵
3:48 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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And I was told July 29th, 2021 that drafting Kuminga to the Warriors didn’t fit Stephen Curry’s championship window.

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Maxwell Baumbach @BaumBoards
I’d have to imagine the Warriors plan on trying to use Kuminga as a part of a trade package in the near future. Doesn’t fit the timeline at all, and is very far from being a contributor. Hard to imagine them continuing to straddle the line between winning and development.
12:48 AM ∙ Jul 30, 2021

Code Wars

When Gary Payton II was attacked by Dillon Brooks, Coach Kerr alluded to a code of brotherhood being broken by the foul play. Last night, Grizzly star Ja Morant left the game limping badly and posted on his social media a clip that to me seems like a claim that the Warriors are actually the ones playing dirty:

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SportsCenter @SportsCenter
Ja Morant reacted to Jordan Poole grabbing his knee. (via @JaMorant)
3:50 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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Molly Morrison @mollyhannahm
really worried about that ja injury……
3:08 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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Apparently Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins was upset, claiming that Jordan Poole “yanked” Morant’s knee. Reporter Marc Spears, the guy I’m hanging out with in my Twitter header, dug into Coach Jenkins’ accusation:

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warriorsworld @warriorsworld
Jenkins gets pressed about his accusations on JP… Waffles with answer..
4:15 PM ∙ May 8, 2022
2,408Likes248Retweets
Twitter avatar for @sbnGrizzlies
Grizzly Bear Blues @sbnGrizzlies
For the record - I don't think Dillon Brooks' foul was intentional in Game 2. And I do not think Poole intentionally pulled Ja Morant's knee. But intent didn't matter for Brooks. It will be interesting to see what happens - I do not think Poole meant to do it. But it happened.
3:35 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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Getting a little contentious ain’t it? Why does it feel like there’s always a controversy around Golden State and people getting injured? There was the Kawhi Leonard deal, James Harden’s eyeball, and even Kevin Durant’s Achilles! It just wouldn’t be the playoffs without a hot button moment where folks are clamoring for Golden State to be brought to justice for their dangerous tactics.

By the way, this may provide a good explanation as to how Morant’s knee was tweaked, but I’m no doctor:

Twitter avatar for @ClutchPointsApp
ClutchPoints @ClutchPointsApp
This appeared to be the play where Ja Morant actually injured his knee, bumping Klay Thompson on the shot contest.
3:41 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
2,096Likes536Retweets

Speaking of doctors and insults to injuries, we’ve even got some medical practitioners/Grizz supporters bringing their expertise to freshly slander Golden State’s honor. Thankfully we’ve got some docs of our own to combat the histrionics.

Twitter avatar for @BrianSuttererMD
Brian Sutterer MD @BrianSuttererMD
If that "pull" was enough force to sprain a ligament then I've been giving every patient I examine an MCL sprain when I stress their knee to perform an exam Sorry Grizzlies fans-even if that play was when Ja got hurt (which is questionable) there was nothing dirty about it
Twitter avatar for @DrJesseMorse
Jesse Morse, MD @DrJesseMorse
Poole made a dirty play here on #JaMorant He appears to grab inside of Morant’s knee, forcing it outward in addition to flushing pushing his hip. This could have sprained his knee & possibly his hip too. More thoughts ⬇️ @TheFantasyDRS https://t.co/AEh7ToHuhu https://t.co/n663WTGVs2
4:34 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
5,739Likes883Retweets

And considering the Grizzlies’ Brooks was suspended for Game 3 after his heinous clothesline on Payton II, Memphis players, coaches, and fans have a LOTTA nerve to be talking about dirty basketball.

Twitter avatar for @CjHolmes22
C.J. Holmes 🦹🏾‍♂️ @CjHolmes22
Ridiculously dangerous play.
1:13 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
20,205Likes1,919Retweets
Twitter avatar for @warriorsworld
warriorsworld @warriorsworld
“Broke the code”… “im curious”….
4:21 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
10,719Likes1,836Retweets

How is it that these jumpshooting Dubs who didn’t get a bruising big man in the offseason suddenly get notorious for pushing around arguably the most physical team in the league? Golden State crushed Memphis in paint points 62-44 and outrebounded them 38-29.

Twitter avatar for @957thegame
95.7 The Game @957thegame
Does Draymond think the Grizzlies are trying to “paint a picture” of the Warriors style of play? “They’re the most physical team, right? We’ve historically been viewed as a pretty soft jump-shooting team, right? Paint away.” 😂
5:09 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
3,073Likes421Retweets
Twitter avatar for @LeftSentThis
L E F T, PhD ⚫️ @LeftSentThis
Memphis Grizzlies Coach: “I gotta see the tape, but I’m 100 percent sure that Jordan Poole applied the Vulcan nerve pinch when he grabbed Ja’s knee. I haven’t seen the tape and Vulcans are not real, but that’s what I saw. And that’s what I believe.”
Spock Hand Grip GIF
4:59 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
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Splash Force Unite

Now if you had told me Morant’s knee was yanked sideways via Poole and Steph Curry unleashing ridiculously saucy dribble moves, I would have absolutely believed it. Curry scored 30 points (making all 14 of his free throw attempts) while Poole scored 27 points off the bench and vocally let Memphis know they can’t stop him.

Twitter avatar for @NBA
NBA @NBA
Handle. Shiftiness. Range. Steph 👉👈 Poole 30 for Curry, 27 for Poole in @warriors Game 3 W!
3:47 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
1,570Likes189Retweets

It is absolutely beautiful to watch the legend Curry still capable of burying a team with a scoring barrage in his 13th season (and after missing the end of the regular season with a foot injury). It’s also fantastic to see his understudy Poole carving his own spot on the squad the way great Warriors always have; by ripping an opponent’s soul out of their body in the playoffs.

Twitter avatar for @NBA
NBA @NBA
Draymond Green praises Jordan Poole's defensive effort in Game 3 and breaks down why it's so crucial to the Warriors success.
5:13 AM ∙ May 8, 2022
1,502Likes101Retweets

It’s pretty wild that Golden State is nowhere near full strength as they miss Andre Iguodala, James Wiseman, and of course Payton II. I know they’ve got plenty of work to do to get out of this series, but sheesh you gotta admit that team owner Joe Lacob’s wild vision of winning now while developing is taking serious shape.

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Warriors destroy Grizzlies 142-112 in Game 3 to take 2-1 lead in a dramatic series

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118 Comments
fzwinter
May 9, 2022·edited May 9, 2022

It may be asking a lot, but could the Dubs find a way to not fall behind big in the first few minutes tomorrow? Be nice to have a wire-to-wire win for a change.

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alv66
May 9, 2022·edited May 9, 2022

Why do I have this annoying feeling that the Warriors are going to come out flat tomorrow, especially with Ja not playing? This is not in any sense a guaranteed win.

Memphis was 6 points per 100 possessions better on defense without Ja during the season, which largely explained their 22-5 record when he was out. Obviously the playoffs is different and we've seen his impact in the first three games. But I think their defense will be much better than Game 3, especially since they're trading away their worst perimeter defender for arguably their best one in Brooks. I also wouldn't be too surprised if Memphis comes out guns ablaze and gets a big game from Desmond Bane or similar.

Warriors need to start the game focused and not turn the ball over a thousand times in the first quarter again. Draymond I'm looking at you.

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