(05-12-2022, 05:16 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: Jrue Holiday's defensive stops for Bucks in Game 5 were possibly the best I've ever seen given the circumstances. I can't imagine he was thinking anything other than blocking a shot when he initially leaped, but then he switched his mind to actually grabbing the ball with one hand, then had presence of mind and ability to control ball enough to throw it off Marcus Smart before landing out of bounds.
Brutal ending sequence for Smart. He couldn't secure the missed Giannis FT, gets his shot blocked, ball thrown off him while driving for go ahead bucket, then gets his pocket picked before he can hoist game tying shot. Ugh.
As for the Warriors.... I have a theory. They have been getting off to slow starts for the entire playoffs and having to claw their way back. Same story in this game, but they had the ball down 28-29 with about 2 minutes to go in first quarter. They missed and yielded 3 straight 3pt FGs to Memphis to go down 38-28.
I believe they got tired of having to claw their way back and subconsciously knew they could close out in Game 6 at home if they didn't get it done in Game 5 at Memphis. This let down, combined with Grizzlies fighting for survival gave them the edge, and then the Warriors really didn't want to come back so just went through the motions thereafter. They could have lost by 100 if the Grizzlies didn't get bored.
That said, you now see why I picked Memphis to win the series. If they play Steven Adams, Jaren Jackson, and Brandon Clark, they can absolutely dominate the boards. Combined with them forcing the most turnovers in the NBA and the Warriors being a high turnover team, I didn't see how the Warriors could overcome this. Memphis would get too many shots. Well, last night they had 99 to the W's 80, plus 17 more FT attempts. That's an insane disparity that no team with that deficit is ever going to win. Draymond Green vs. Jaren Jackson is a losing matchup for the Warriors.
To me, if the Warriors have the edge in experience, and are going to win close games, they need to take advantage of it on every possession. This means slowing the game down and making Memphis defend the full 24 seconds on most possessions. It also means not trying for "homerun" passes that have high chance for turnovers. Walk the ball up, pass, drive, and kick, work your backdoor cuts off Memphis defenders trying to get steals and deflections.
The Warriors are anything but a walk the ball up use clock team. You don’t change in the playoffs from what has made you successful. And you certainly don’t beat a more physical team by slowing the game down. The Warriors dropped 142 on them in Game 3. I guess they should have slowed it down then?
Warriors fell behind and lost interest. Happens at times when a team is up 3-1 on road. Home team plays desperate, they don’t want season to end on home floor. Visiting can’t match the intensity. Warriors got severely outworked, lost interest and we saw result.
So, what do you do? Throw the tape out, tell them to forget it and bring your intensity to Game 6 before your home fans.
Game 5 was indicative of nothing.