When Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies went down in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, fans were terrified that the fate of their team was sealed.
Those fears may have been justified.
The following game, Game 4, saw the Grizzlies fall again to the Warriors, 101-98.
That means that Golden State is currently holding a 3-1 record over Memphis.
With just one more loss, the Grizzlies’ season is over.
Ja Morant in 3 games against the Warriors this playoffs:
38.3 PPG
8.3 APG
6.7 RPG
3.0 SPG
50.6% FG
43.3% 3P
62.3% TS— Grizzlies Analytics (@GrizzAnalytics) May 10, 2022
It’s been determined that Morant will be out for the rest of the playoffs because of a knee injury which means his team will be without him for the foreseeable future.
The impact he’s made against the Warriors is huge and he will be dreadfully missed.
Throughout three games against the Warriors this playoffs, Morant has averaged 38.2 points, 8.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 3 steals per game.
His field goal percentage is 50.6% and he is shooting 43.3% from the three-point line.
Does Memphis have any realistic chance without him?
A Historic Comeback?
Overcoming a 3-1 deficit rarely happens in the NBA.
In fact, it basically never happens.
However, it has happened one time in the NBA Finals and it happened against – you guessed it – the Warriors.
They lost a 3-1 lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the most humiliating Finals meltdown in history.
But will that happen in these semifinals?
It’s unlikely: the Cavs were able to overtake the Warriors when they had their entire squad, healthy and ready to go.
While the Grizzlies are still a great team even without Morant, he is a major producer on the floor and is a pivotal part of the team’s lineup.
And when you are playing against a team like the Warriors, you need every star player you have in premium condition ready to fight hard.
NEXT: The Grizzlies Are Done Without Ja Morant
anon says
lol this aged well
anon says
lol sorry, just joking around
Jim says
The stat you should have researched is how the grizzlies were 20-5 without morant in the regular season. And now theyve had one winnable game go down to the last basket loss, and one absolute blowout of historical proportion win in game 4-5. Its really not inconceivable that they could win the next 2 games. If anything Golden State needs a win in game 6 in the worst way Friday or it could be over.