The Grizzlies and the Warriors are antitheses of each other. Golden State boasts the fastest pace in the league, shoots the wildest three-pointers without any guilt and are led by two stellar guards. With Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph at the helm, Memphis slows things way down, barely attempts shots behind the arc and defers transition opportunities for purposeful, gritty offensive possessions designed to get a shot as close to the rim as possible.
Grizzlies vs. Warriors, NBA playoffs 2015: Time, TV schedule and live stream for Game 1
Golden State raced past Anthony Davis and the Pelicans in four, while Memphis took five games to eliminate the injury-struck Trail Blazers.
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Both teams have been successful at running their styles even while opponents try to disrupt them, so this series may be decided at which team can stay true to themselves. However, the difference between these two is that the Warriors are also the NBA’s best regular season defense, allowing 98 points per 100 possessions, which allows them to shift styles more fluidly.
The other problem Memphis will face is Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who only need a sliver of space to launch three-pointers even against good transition defense. Memphis' go-to defender, Tony Allen, is only one man. He can't lock them both down, and so the Grizzlies' team defense will have to come together with incredible cohesion to slow down the Warriors' offensive attack.
But those two big men for Memphis could cause problems for Golden State, too. Andrew Bogut can check one, but Draymond Green is just 6'7. The Defensive Player of the Year runner up has had success guarding all sorts of big men, but Randolph and Gasol are both huge. Both teams want to keep their guys in while playing their style, but inevitably, one side will have to flinch.
Here’s how to watch Sunday:
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Online: WatchESPN
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