Dec 16, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
4. Warriors are healthier
The last reason correlates with this one perfectly. With the extra days of rest, Green can rest his ankle rather than worry about re-injuring it. David Lee has been injured to start the postseason and has yet to log a minute. He was available in Game 4, but the Warriors did not need him.
Marc Gasol has been battling knee soreness this season, but was able to power through it. Zach Randolph and Mike Conley both missed a portion of games this year. Conley severely hurt his face in Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers and will underwent surgery, but his timetable to return remains unknown. Conley is a crucial part of their team and the Grizzlies will struggle heavily if their floor general isn’t at 100 percent.
Dec 16, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) drives against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) at FedExForum. Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
3. Golden State is a better defensive team
The Grizzlies have a reputation for being one of the better defensive teams in the league and not just this year, but in the past few seasons as well. They were third in the NBA in defensive rating, the Warriors were first. They were second in the NBA in points allowed, but their differential was only a plus 3.2, the Warriors were at a plus 10.1 a game.
Golden State is 43-0 when they hold their opponents to under 100 points. Ron Adams has helped the Warriors go from a good defensive team to a great one. They can defend the pick n’ roll, the perimeter, the paint and communicate well when switching and helping on certain players. Nearly every player on the team is playing better defense than they have earlier in their careers and it shows.
They are long on the perimeter with Shaun Livingston, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and Harrison Barnes. They have great interior defense in Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green, and Festus Ezeli. Even Steph Curry and Leandro Barbosa have improved on that side of the ball to a point where Curry is above average and Barbosa is respectable.