KEY POINTS
- The Golden State Warriors were on the receiving end of a 49-point loss in Game 5
- The Memphis Grizzlies broke the game wide open in the third quarter and even led by 55 points
- Mike Brown is fully prepared to have his team close out the series at home
The Memphis Grizzlies came out with a massive response in their 134-95 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5, and acting head coach Mike Brown was asked some tough questions by the media.
During the postgame presser, Brown was asked about how his team allowed the Grizzlies to put up such a massive lead over them.
“It’s one game. We know that they’re a good team, they’ve got their backs against the wall, they’re going to come out, fight and scrap and we know we can play better. Our guys know exactly what they did out there. They know what they can do to be better the next time they step out on the floor,” said Brown.
The Warriors certainly looked as if they were not ready to come out and close the series.
Game 5 was firmly in the hands of the Grizzlies after putting up a 27-point lead at halftime, which ballooned to 55 points sometime in the third quarter as Memphis broke the game wide open by outscoring the Warriors, 42-17.
But for Brown, it is a wake-up call to his team to not be complacent and remember what they are fighting for.
“I think everybody understands what’s at stake. Whether you lose by 25 or you lose by 50, at the end of the day it’s one game,” he glumly noted.
“We all have to feel that and understand it and, hopefully, we can channel some of that energy into this next game.”
No matter which way an observer looks at things, the Warriors performing this bad in a closeout game certainly has to be demoralizing for the squad that is missing head coach Steve Kerr due to COVID-19 protocols.
Brown, recently revealed to be the Sacramento Kings’ next head coach, will have an unenviable task to get his players back on track as they look to end the series in front of their home crowd.
When asked about whether the nearly 50-point loss has demoralized his team, Brown simply answered that the onus is on his players to execute when Game 6 happens on their home floor on Friday, May 13.
“There’s no need to overreact. We’ll come out, we’ll play better on Friday in front of our home crowd and get this win and closeout,” he ended.
Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at FedExForum on May 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
