Kyle Terada- USA Today Sports
The long-awaited second round matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors started Sunday. Without Mike Conley, Memphis is considered a notch below Golden State. That was proven in Golden State’s 101-86 victory on Sunday. The battle between Mark Gasol and Andrew Bogut will be monitored closely from the mainstream audience. Bogut was hampered with foul trouble in playing just 24 minutes. No center has proven to be more versatile than Gasol. Andrew had just four rebounds and six rebounds before fouling out. Golden State shot 50 percent in what has to be considered an incredible achievement against a stout defense like Memphis.
Conley made his return on Tuesday night and made an immediate impact with 22 points. His contributions led Memphis to a 97-90 victory. Golden State shot just 41 percent led by Stephen Curry, who shot just two for eleven from three-point range. Bogut was once again limited to just 24 minutes, but had eight points and twelve rebounds. Gasol continues to remain productive through the first two games shooting 50 percent and averaging 18 points. It’ll be essential for Golden State to force him into taking poor shots. That starts with Bogut, along with forcing Memphis into a jump shooting team.
The series continues on Saturday in Memphis. A quick return on Monday will take place for game four. Bogut’s difficult battle with Gasol will be something to monitor closely. While the box score may not show it, Andrew’s presence will be needed consistently throughout this series.
Anthony Gruppuso- USA Today Sports
It was a bitter ending to the rookie season of Bojan Bogdanovic. After an exciting five games, game six was supposed to be another intense affair. That wasn’t the case, as Brooklyn was outscored by twenty points in the third quarter and lost 111-87. After a roller coaster season, the ending of the season seemed fitting for such an inconsistent team. Bogdanovic struggled throughout the game by shooting just two of nine from the field. That contributed to Brooklyn’s poor shooting percentage, which was at 35 percent in a do-or-die game.
Brooklyn’s season ended in abysmal fashion. They’ll be transitioning through making possible decisions on Joe Johnson and Deron Williams. For such an aging roster, it’s essential for the Nets to start building young talent. Bogdanovic went through difficult stretches in his rookie season. The last month was very successful, as Bojan was relied upon for a much-needed spark on the wing. When you can end the season on a mostly positive note (from an individual perspective), it makes your overall season look better. Bojan should carry over his productive play from last month into next season. Lionel Hollins will likely keep him in the starting lineup barring a blockbuster move.
Twitter: @Allen_Strk
Andro Ustasa will be the reason the Warriors win this series.