The Golden State Warriors are currently facing off against the Memphis Grizzlies in a crucial game to begin their postseason. With a victory in Tuesday’s Play-In matchup, the Warriors would advance to face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. However, a loss would send them to face the winner of Wednesday’s Play-In game between the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, with that victor moving on to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
It was a slow start for the Warriors on Tuesday night as the Grizzlies came out firing away from three-point range, but that quickly changed. Golden State has been able to create a comfortable lead heading into the second quarter behind a great performance from Jimmy Butler, who always seems to turn it up in the postseason.
While the Warriors have started strong, head coach Steve Kerr has made another decisive decision regarding young forward Jonathan Kuminga. Kerr has chosen to use Gary Payton II and Quinten Post off the bench during Tuesday’s contest. According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, the word pregame was that Kerr would not use Kuminga against Memphis. If that ends up being true, it will mark Kuminga’s second consecutive missed game due to a coach’s decision, a situation to keep an eye on as the Warriors look to advance.
Kuminga also sat out of Sunday’s regular season finale, which Golden State lost in overtime to the Los Angeles Clippers. This surprising move comes despite Kuminga playing well this season, showing promise after returning from a severe ankle injury in March. It’s clear that Kerr believes the group he is currently using gives the team the best chance to win. With Kuminga being a restricted free agent in the offseason, speculation around his future in Golden State is growing.
In the lead-up to the playoffs, the Warriors faced a significant challenge as one of their best defenders, Moses Moody, was questionable for the play-in game against Memphis. Moody began suffering from back spasms during the morning shootaround, making him a game-time decision. He has played in 74 games this season and has been an every-night starter next to Jimmy Butler during the second half of the season, averaging 9.8 points while being arguably the team’s top perimeter defender.
If Moody plays, Warriors coach Steve Kerr indicated that he is expected to be the primary defender on Memphis superstar point guard Ja Morant. However, if he can’t go or is limited, the Warriors believe they still have solid options to contain Morant, who scored 36 points in the teams’ last matchup on April 1. “Gary’s healthy, so Gary (Payton II) will guard him,” Kerr stated. “Brandin Podziemski too would be the two main guys, but we’ll mix and match and go from there.”
Kerr emphasized that keeping Morant out of transition will be key, as the Grizzlies lead the NBA in pace at 103.69 possessions per game. “It’s not about playing slower, it’s about playing smarter,” Kerr remarked. “We had way too many turnovers the other night against the Clippers, and we can’t have those careless turnovers tonight and expect to get away with it given their pace.”
The Warriors had previously beaten Memphis 134-125 in early April, with Stephen Curry scoring an impressive 52 points and making a dozen three-pointers. “I think we can draw a lot from that game; for example, allowing Curry to go for 52 points is not a winning recipe,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo quipped, highlighting the need for defensive adjustments.
As the Warriors prepare for their playoff journey, the focus remains on how they will manage their roster and the decisions made by Kerr. Jonathan Kuminga’s role is particularly under scrutiny after being a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale against the Clippers. Kerr declined to comment on whether he had spoken to Kuminga about his playoff role, shaking his head when asked. When questioned about his concerns for Kuminga’s morale, Kerr kept his response brief, stating, “When you go through the 82-game season, you factor in everything. You try to help everybody along, understanding where everyone is. When you get to the playoffs, everything goes out the window.”
In a show of support for Kuminga, ex-Clippers guard Patrick Beverley recently came to his defense in a social media post, stating, “Agree but playoffs and single-game elimination is different than regular season. He needs to be on the court. He has intangibles that don’t show up on the box score. He impacts winning.” Beverley’s comments reflect the sentiment that Kuminga’s contributions, while not always visible in statistics, are vital for the team’s success.
As the Warriors embark on their postseason campaign, all eyes will be on their performance against the Grizzlies and how they navigate the complexities of player roles and injuries. With the stakes high and the pressure mounting, the Warriors will need to execute their game plan effectively if they hope to make a deep playoff run this year.
The upcoming game against Memphis promises to be a thrilling matchup as both teams vie for an early advantage in the playoffs. Fans are eager to see if the Warriors can capitalize on their strengths and overcome the challenges presented by the Grizzlies, setting the stage for an exciting postseason.
