WARRIORS PRACTICE FACILITY, OAKLAND, CA — The Golden State Warriors face the Memphis Grizzlies tonight in Game 5 of the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals after making a major defensive adjustment and regaining homecourt advantage after a dominating 101-84 victory in Memphis in Game 4.
After losing at home in Game 2 and getting what assistant coach Luke Walton described as a “monstrous” performance from the Memphis frontline of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in Game 3 at “The Grindhouse” at FedEx Forum, it was as if the Warriors had figured out how to absorb the Grizzlies’ unique grind-it-out style and utilize their weaknesses to Golden State’s advantage.
Point guard and NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry said today at morning shootaround that the Warriors are “as confident as ever”, compared to the team’s last two playoff runs.
In the 2013 NBA playoffs, the Warriors upset the Nuggets in six games, then lost to the Spurs in six games. In the 2014 playoff run, the Warriors lost to the Clippers in seven games, although Andrew Bogut had a broken rib and did not play in that series.
Now, in the Warriors’ third-straight year in the playoffs, Curry thinks they are mentally focused and mentally mature.
“That doesn’t develop overnight. You go through all the tests you do in the regular season and now in the playoffs, this is where it shows. This is fun. The whole battle of grinding out playoff wins is what it’s all about.”
“You handle it correctly,” said head coach Steve Kerr yesterday of the adversity. “It elevates your game, you’re tested, you realize you have to get to another level.
“I thought we got to another level last night with our competitiveness. You want to elevate your game in the playoffs, but the only way that really happens is when you’re threatened and you have to respond.”
“(We’re) a smart team that once you figure out how you’re gonna be successful,” said Curry, “We’re pretty good at executing it. We’ve got a winning mentality in everything we do.”
Was Game 4 an inflection point for the franchise? Tonight could be a strong indicator.
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @warriors.today)
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