The Golden State Warriors have their work cut out of for them.
After a crushing loss to the LA Clippers on Sunday, the Warriors will have to earn their spot in the playoffs and in their way is Ja Morant‘s Memphis Grizzlies.
The Western Conference playoff picture was decided in overtime as the Clippers edged the Warriors 124-119 at the Chase Center.
It was one of the most chaotic regular season finishes as the fourth to tenth spots were up for grabs.
In the end the Warriors finished seventh and it means they’ll have to compete in the play-ins on Tuesday to secure their spot in playoffs – and they’ll get two bites of the cherry.
James Harden and Kwahi Lenoard were in blistering form while in contrast Steph Curry played with a injured shooting thumb and Jimmy Butler cane up gimpy after a challenge late in the game.
Leonard finished with 33 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds while Harden finished with 39 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds which included two big 3-pointers at the start of overtime.
Had the Warriors won they would have an extra week to prepare for the postseason but instead they’ll have to battle Morant’s young and energetic Grizzlies to make the real tournament.
However, despite Curry and Butler not looking fully fit, the ever confident Draymond Green brushed off criticism they’ll lack the energy on Tuesday.
“We’ll be fine,” Green told reporters after Sunday’s loss.
“Playoffs you’re playing no back-to-backs or anything like that so just got to get there. We’ll be alright. We’re not senior citizens.
“We’re high-level basketball players. … We’ve been training all year for this. No disrespect to the senior citizens, by the way. We love our senior citizens.”
When asked if fatigue affected them, espcially when it came to going in for loose balls, Green slammed the question.
“Hell no,” Green retorted.
“You just gotta stick your nose in there and get the loose ball. It ain’t got nothing to do with no fatigue. If you was fatigued tonight, you should go home and stay home.”
Butler took more a calm approach to questions when asked about their chances in the playoffs, reminding everyone that they control their fate.
“We’re right where we wanna be,” Butler said when asked for his thoughts on the play-in.
“We still got an opportunity and we control our own fate. We’re going to be just fine.”
When asked about his injury, Butler dismissed concerns
“I’ll be alright,” Butler said. “Go home and play some dominoes and drink some coffee. That will help me feel better.”
The Warriors against the Grizzlies promises be a thrilling match-up.
Memphis ‘ 134-125 loss to the Warriors earlier this month made headlines after Morant’s controversial celebration reminded everyone just how much he loves the spotlight.
Ultimately, the Warriors will be confident they’ll send the Grizzlies home as their postseason experience should be too much for the likes of Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.
The winner of the Warriors-Grizzlies game will secure the seventh seed and will face the equally youthful and emerging Houston Rockets in the first round.
The loser will get a chance chance and will fave either the Dallas Mavericks or the Sacramento Kings who meet in a loser goes home contest on Wednesday.
