No Steph Curry, no Klay Thompson, no Draymond Green, no Otto Porter Jr. and a longer list of problems. That’s pretty much how it went for the Warriors Monday night in Memphis with their 123-95 loss to the Grizzlies on the FedExForum.
The Warriors scored the first five points of the game and led 5-0 in the first minute. They only scored 11 points over the next 11 minutes.
With every shaky lineup Steve Kerr trotted out, nothing seemed to work. Golden State was simply boiled as it played its fifth game in seven days and finished its five-game road trip 1-4.
There are slow starts, and then there’s what the Warriors showed in the first half on Monday night. They only made 12 shots and committed 14 fouls. They shot 27.3 percent from the field, 23.5 percent from deep, handed out just seven assists, allowed 15 fast break points and 30 points in paint. A team goes into halftime 26 points behind.
Even a coach has seen enough and earns two quick technical fouls as his players jog to the tunnel, just like Kerr.
Next, only dates with the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz at the Chase Center.
Jordan Poole scored at least 20 points in his 14th straight game and had 25 points in 28 minutes. Rookies Jonathan Kuminga (15) and Moses Moody (18) combined for 33 points. Andrew Wiggins only scored 10 points while going 5-for-15 and he missed all five of his 3-point attempts.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ third straight loss and sixth-place finish in seven games, dropping them to 48-28 for the season. They are now five games behind the Grizzlies (53-23) and just a game and a half ahead of the Dallas Mavericks (46-29).
Andre Iguodala’s effect
Iguodala made his long-awaited return to the Warriors after missing the last seven weeks with a back injury. He was met with boos from the Memphis crowd and quickly calmed them down by hitting a 3-pointer just 15 seconds after checking in.
The 38-year-old played 16 minutes on his return. He made two of his three tries from the field, a 3-pointer and a dunk, and had six points remaining with three rebounds and two assists. Iguodala was a plus-2.
He and Juan Toscano-Anderson (up-1) were the only two warriors to have a positive plus-minus.
Roster hole exposed
It’s no secret at this point that the Warriors are smaller than most of their opponents. That story is told, though it doesn’t go away, and it was clear again against a big, strong, and long Grizzlies team. Another deficiency was also revealed.
Playmaking is obviously minimized as Curry and Green are sidelined, as well as Porter’s intelligence and Thompson’s goal-scoring ability. But with Poole on the starting lineup and the undermanned Warriors, their lack of ball handlers and players who can run an offense and make a play became apparent. Big time.
Blaming a two-way player at the bottom of the squad is a weak cop-out. That doesn’t mean criticism isn’t allowed. Chris Chiozza played 20 minutes, had four turnovers as a team high, committed four fouls and just looked overwhelmed most of the time.
Iguodala will bring leadership and stability to the second unit. This was also only his 27th game of the season and we’ll have to see how his body reacts to being back on the ground for longer minutes. If health continues to be an issue for the Warriors, this hole will only be further exposed.
Grizzlies are not afraid
With their resounding win over the Warriors, the Grizzlies are now 18-2 without Ja Morant. The Warriors are 3-9 without Steph this season. That should speak volumes about where these two teams are right now.
Whether they’ve got their superstar or not, these grizzlies won’t lose their confidence or swagger. From Desmond Bane dumping 3-pointers, to Dillon Brooks literally screaming every second, Steven Adams bullying his way through the pain, and De’Anthony Melton throwing a poster at Kevon Looney, the Grizzlies have in Played this game anywhere in the Golden State.
The Warriors lost three of their four games against the Grizzlies during the regular season. Curry played in two of them – a win and a loss – and averaged 41 points in those two competitions. Green played in two of the four games, and the Warriors also went with him 1-1 against the Grizzlies. Thompson only played once against Memphis, scoring 14 points in an eight-point loss.
The Grizzlies are here, and they seem poised to compete for years to come, no matter who the warriors throw their way.