After Game 2 and Game 3 when the Grit'N'Grind of the Memphis Grizzlies was just too much for the Golden State Warriors to respond to, it looked like the best team in the NBA was in serious trouble. They weren't in danger of having no chance at winning the series, by any means, but they were in danger of losing their identity in how they play during this series. When that happens, an upset is looming and the Warriors just didn't seem capable of going out like that. Going down 3-1 to the Grizzlies would've set a nearly impossible road to the next round.
In Game 4, the Warriors did everything they needed to as a response to the two-game losing streak and seemingly losing control of the series in the first three games. Their defensive adjustments were pretty much perfect. They were able to get Stephen Curry to light up the scoreboard. They returned to being the dominant team, even if only for a night, to help correct a lot of the issues they were having against the Grizzlies. It resulted in a 101-84 victory to even up the series at 2-2.
Here's what we learned from Warriors-Grizzlies Game 4:
1. OH YEAH, THEY GAVE STEPH CURRY MVP FOR A REASON
After failing to hit open jumpers and being stifled by the Grizzlies' great defense in Game 2 and Game 3, Steph Curry had the performance in Game 4 we had been waiting for. And I guess that's what MVP winners are supposed to do. If their team gets put in a precarious situation in a game or series, they're supposed to heroically start putting the ball in the basket in a way that breaks the spirit or at least the rhythm of the opposing team. That was Curry all season long and that was him again in Game 4.
Curry had electricity running through his veins, kind of like the villain in the movie "Shocker." He had 33 points but it may as well have felt like 50. Everything the Grizzlies did in the previous two games -- ball denial, clutching, grabbing, stalking him -- were eradicated with his quick decisions, incredible anticipation, and overall stellar shooting. He went 11-of-22 from the field and 4-of-9 from the 3-point line while even flying in for eight rebounds on the night. He even got a dunk in.
Steph Curry gets the steal and throws it down with authority! #NBARapidReplay http://t.co/kUqDDmj7KW
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2015The question becomes whether or not this can be the norm for him the rest of the series. Curry was so good in Game 4 and this is what we're used to seeing. But the Grizzlies have a way of taking that stuff away and if they adjust to keeping Zach Randolph out of pick-and-roll defense, they can start to contain him once again.
2. THE GRIZZLIES MOVED THE BALL AND WON THE INTERIORS FOR THE MOST PART
Trying to find a positive for the Grizzlies in this game is tough. They did manage to keep the game from getting embarrassingly out of hand by going from the deficit pushing 30 to keeping it under 20 in the fourth quarter. Sadly, that was a big accomplishment in the flow of tonight's game. Where you did see some real fight from the Grizzlies -- and an advantage they had -- is moving the ball and controlling the interior. The jumpers finally fell for the Warriors and they didn't fall for Memphis, but the Grizzlies did have a good effort in the paint.
They outscored the Warriors 44-34 in the paint, had 17 offensive rebounds against Golden State, and even got to the free throw line more. Memphis also had more assists (24) than the Warriors (22) did in Game 4, which is a bit of a surprise because Golden State does such a great job moving the ball. But other than that, this was a bad game for Memphis and something they'll have to forget quickly as they had to Oracle Arena.
3. REMEMBER THAT THE WARRIORS WERE THE BEST DEFENSIVE TEAM IN THE NBA
While some regard the Warriors as a soft team that only shoots jumpers, it's important to remember they had the best defense in the NBA this season. It was a gigantic part of their dominance because they could switch everything in the half court, they could stay in front of everybody, and they were great at forcing turnovers and turning those mistakes by the opponents into points. They did that again in Game 4, finally turning 16 turnovers into 18 points. But it was their two key defensive adjustments that kept the Grizzlies out of rhythm.
Steve Kerr had a lot of possessions with Klay Thompson defending Mike Conley and Steph Curry loosely defending Tony Allen. They dared Allen to shoot the ball and had no problem leaving him alone on the perimeter. Because Allen doesn't do much on offense, it was like playing 5-on-4 without Memphis doing any adjustments in-game to counter it. Thompson used his size and strength to knock Conley out of rhythm and we didn't see any of the hot shooting or easy scoring we saw from the Grizzlies in the previous two games.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Oakland and we'll see if the Grizzlies have another adjustment in them.
SERIES SCHEDULE, RESULTS
Game 1 - Sunday, May 3
Golden State 101, Memphis 86
Game 2 - Tuesday, May 5
Memphis 97, Golden State 90
Game 3 - Saturday, May 9
Memphis 99, Golden State 89
Game 4 - Monday, May 11
Golden State 101, Memphis 84 - Series tied at 2-2
Game 5 - Wednesday, May 13
Memphis at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6 - Friday, May 15
Golden State at Memphis, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) - If necessary
Game 7 * Sunday, May 17
Memphis at Golden State, TBD - If necessary
