The Grizzlies and Warriors Are More Similar Than You Think
Two of the best teams in the NBA squared off from downtown Memphis, Tennessee last night. The up-and-coming Grizzlies, riding a nine-game win streak, welcomed the juggernaut Warriors to town. The game did not disappoint, but that’s not the point of this blog.
Not that this game wasn’t exciting. I would love to talk about the high-flying Grizzlies, the Warriors’ inconsistent play, and the recent brilliance of Ja Morant. All of those would make fine talking points.
But when watching this game, it struck me how similar these two teams are. Now, two good teams are obviously going to do some things similar. That may be true, but I think the Grizzlies and Warriors are two similar teams doing great things in 2022.
Cheap Productivity
The NBA is driven by stars. A la, the NBA is driven by money. The teams that spend more usually get better players to win. It’s not an exact science, but there is a correlation between money and talent. Golden State and Memphis have two polar opposite ways of dealing with spending.
The Warriors have the highest payroll in the league, spending $175,192,205 to assemble the best team in the NBA. That $175 million dollars has given the Warriors a 31-10 record, good enough for second in the West.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have one of the lowest payrolls in the NBA. With just $99,836,970 million dollars in active cap space, the Grizzlies have the 4th lowest payroll in the NBA. Memphis is 29-14, currently 4th in the Western Conference.
That alone says a lot about both teams. The Warriors have bigger names on their roster, thus the largest payroll in the NBA. The Grizzlies, true to the identity of their city, are a smaller operation that finds success in different ways than larger markets.
But one thing about these teams is eerily similar. They are both supremely good at finding talent for cheap.
The Golden State Warriors’ Cheap Talent
Otto Porter Jr – $2.3 million
Nemanja Bjelica – $2.0 million
Andre Iguodala – $2.6 million
Jordan Poole – $2.1 million
Gary Payton II – $1.9 million
Those five guys are making a combined $10.9 million. Yet, they average 44.3 points per game. These five guys, primarily bench players, have a combined plus/minus of 660. 660! It is insane how good the Warriors bench is, how they can just dismantle other teams.
For a team with a $175+ million dollar payroll, the Warriors have found great production from cheap players. The Grizzlies are doing the same thing.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ Cheap Talent
Brandon Clarke – $2.7 million
John Konchar – $2.2 million
Desmond Bane – $2.0 million
Ziaire Williams – $4.3 million
The Grizzlies don’t have a lot of veterans on small contracts like the Warriors, but they do have a lot of cheap rookies. Guys like Dillon Brooks and De’Anthony Melton have been signed long-term. Nevertheless, these four guys are inexpensive and productive.
For just $11.2 million, this quartet averages 20.8 minutes a night for Taylor Jenkins. They combined to average 37.6 points per game. With a combined plus/minus of 191, they hold things down for the bench unit.
The Grizzlies and Warriors’ checkbooks are not similar. Joe Lacob and the Warriors have deeper pockets than anybody else in the league, highly committed to winning a title. Robert J. Pera and the Grizzlies are one of the cheaper teams in the league.
Both are great teams, in large part due to their ability to find cheap production. Most teams could use these players as their starters, but these two powerhouses have the luxury of using these pieces off the bench.
Draft Choices
Both the Grizzlies and Warriors were selecting in the lottery this past draft cycle. The Warriors grabbed two new youngsters, while the Grizzlies another rookie to their talent pool. The two players I want to highlight are Jonathan Kuminga and Ziaire Williams.
Not only are those two rookies similar, but the thought process between drafting these players was also similar. Jonathan Kuminga, fresh out of the G-League, is rawer than shellfish. He has all the physical tools to be excellent, but like most 19-year-olds, he needs some polishing around the edges.
Ziaire Williams, the lanky Stanford product, is enjoying a solid rookie season. The 10th overall pick doesn’t get as much buzz as other rookies, but he’s been solid. He was an impossible player for me to evaluate coming into the draft. His slight frame was a concern, but he was uber-athletic. Even with a disappointing season at Stanford, I thought he was a lock for the first round.
Both Kuminga and Williams are not finished products. For them to become successful, the Warriors and Grizzlies will have to continue doing their player development magic. Both players are around great teammates and coaches, so it’s unlikely they become unproductive.
What fascinates me more than the actual players is the thought process behind drafting them. Both the Grizzlies and Warriors came into 2022 with the playoffs on their mind. Teams with such aspirations aren’t likely to draft project players, much less draft a rookie at all.
The Warriors and Grizzlies understand something a lot of teams don’t. Sure, Kuminga and Williams might not play the largest of roles in their first couple of seasons. But with the right care and development, both players could become key contributors.
This would help both powerhouses remain as such for a longer time. They are reinforcing themselves in the middle of competing for the top of the Western Conference. You don’t see the Nets, Bucks, Heat, or Utah doing this. They’ve put basically all their eggs into their current basket, no matter how flawed it may be.
Meanwhile, these two teams are trying to keep the winning alive for as long as possible. And I love it.
Great Defensive Scheming
Both these teams are great on the defensive side of the ball. I know Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks, two tenacious defenders, were absent from this contest, but great defense was still played.
The Warriors have been the NBA’s top defense all season long. With a defensive rating of 102.1, they have been the most consistent defense all season long. Specializing in forcing tough turnovers, long possessions, and tough shots, the Warriors have great defenders all over the floor.
Look at how many categories the Warriors are great at;
- #1 in opponent PPG (101.3)
- #1 in opponent FG% (42.6)
- #3 in opponent 3-PT% (32.7)
- #5 in opponent OREB (9.5)
- #4 in opponent TO (15.5)
- #2 in opponent PITP (41.7)
The Warriors’ dominance again starts on defense. It’s easy to gaze at the firepower of their offense, but their ravenous defense is their biggest strength.
Similar to the Warriors, the Grizzlies have an elite defense. Unlike the Warriors, they have not been consistent. Like the rising tides, defense has been a friend and an enemy to Memphis this season.
Through October and November, the first 21 games of the year, this was the Grizzlies defense;
(meme)
It was ugly. A combined 114 defensive rating? An 11-10 record? Allowing opponents to score an average of 115 points a night on 48% shooting? The Grizzlies defense was not dissimilar from wet cardboard at the start of the year. Since the start of December, it’s been a completely different story.
With Dillon Brooks becoming healthy again, the Memphis defense has returned to being monstrous. It’s as if Gasol, Randolph, and Tony Allen never left.
A Return To Form – Memphis’s Defense Since December 1st
- #1 in defensive rating (102.6)
- #1 in rebound % (54.0%)
- #1 in opponent 2nd chance PTS (11.0)
- #1 in opponent TO% (16.5)
- #1 in points off TO (20.7)
(numbers via Kirk Goldsberry on Twitter / thanks)
With this recent stretch of 1985 Bears-like defense, Memphis has rounded themselves into being a solid defensive unit. I doubt they can keep this level of production up for the rest of the season, but it’s been trés-impressive with what they’ve been doing.
My Favorite Defensive Plays From Last Night
Enough with the numbers. Enough with my nerdy side getting a great workout. It’s time to watch some aesthetically pleasing, incredibly aggressive defense.
JJJ is averaged 3.0 combined steals and blocks this season. He’s currently one of only nine players in the NBA to content 390+ shots. When he’s not sitting on the bench with four fouls, Jackson has been a great defender.
The Warriors don’t want Ja Morant to have the ball, so they send a semi-double team to do so. From there, it’s time to scramble.
Andrew Wiggins closes off Kyle Anderson. Steph Curry runs Ziaire Williams off the 3-PT line. Gary Payton II takes a risk, leaving Morant open to meet Williams in the lane. Williams panics and throws it right into the lurking arms of Otto Porter Jr, who gets the takeaway.
Muah
After double-teaming Jordan Poole on that screen, it’s scramble mode for Memphis. Tyus Jones helps force a pass from a driving Nemanja Bjelica.
John Konchar flies across the court, making a great effort to change this shot from Otto Porter.
Thompson closes off Bane’s driving lane perfectly. Wiggins and Looney shut down Anderson’s drive into the lane. Steph Curry forces Williams off the 3-PT line, leading to a great contest from Looney.
The Warriors are so good at finding ways to be everywhere.
What Are Your Thoughts On These Two Teams? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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