National Basketball Association

Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies Game 24 Preview

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Golden State Warriors will are 20-3 as they visit Memphis for the second game of a four game road trip.

Tip-Off: Saturday, December 10th, 8:00 P.M ; CSBA/FSSE

Pre-Game Notes

Starting Line-ups

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors played a competitive contest against the short-handed Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Memphis will be no pushover either as they are a physical team much like the Jazz. Golden State is enjoying a four game winning streak. They are still first in the NBA in scoring (119.3 points per game), first in assisting baskets (31.8 assists per game), and the Warriors have improved to eighth in rebounding (44.7 rebounds per game). There are no current injuries or changes to their starting five.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies won a really tight contest against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers. That win marked their fifth consecutive win coming into this contest. The Grizzlies are without Mike Conley and four other key players due to injuries. They currently sit at fourth in the NBA in points allowed (97.9 points allowed) and Marc Gasol has led the team through their five game winning streak with 26.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 blocks as per game numbers. They have two starters sidelined so there will be a relatively unfamiliar starting five.

Next: Players to Watch, Keys to Game, Final Score Predictions

Dec 8, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls for a timeout during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

The Warriors and Grizzlies have changed the make-up of their respective teams, but this match-up should not be any less exciting.

Players to Watch

Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson

The Warriors will have a huge advantage at the guard positions tonight. Tony Allen will most likely be guarding Kevin Durant. The Grizzlies are playing a rookie in Troy Williams, and a second year player in Andrew Harrison at the starting guard spots.

These two players are good defenders, however experience will be factoring against them tonight as the Splash Brothers come into town. This is not to say this will be a one sided match-up, because anyone can step up on any given night.

It is the exciting nature of the NBA. The two young guards will have a chance to earn more minutes if they compete hard and execute against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. With Troy Daniels questionable to play they will definitely see the floor tonight more than ever against a tough Warriors’ team.

Marc Gasol & Zach Randolph

Memphis is one of the few teams in the NBA with a great interior presence on both ends of the floor. With elite interior scorers like Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol they will be able to slow the pace of the game down.

The Grizzlies also play stout defense, so they have a puncher’s chance of winning if Marc Gasol keeps delivering and Zach Randolph leads the second unit with success. Gasol will be especially lethal if his mid-range game doesn’t abandon him.

The versatility of these two big men will definitely have to be accounted for in Steve Kerr’s game plan coming into tonight. Even though Memphis is shorthanded, these players are definitely not going to lay down, especially not in their own building. Zaza Pachulia and Javale McGee will need to be on top of everything tonight.

Final Score Predictions

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This will be a slower game than most Warriors match-ups. The Memphis Grizzlies will muck it up to give Golden State a physical challenge. The Half-court game of the Warriors will be tested and their interior toughness will definitely be tested tomorrow night in the Fed-ex forum. I have the Warriors taking this one in a grind-it-out affair that will be closely contested.