{"id":47232,"date":"2022-05-06T13:17:26","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T17:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=47232"},"modified":"2022-05-06T13:17:26","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T17:17:26","slug":"golden-state-warriors-three-adjustments-to-make-after-game-two-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/05\/06\/golden-state-warriors-three-adjustments-to-make-after-game-two-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden State Warriors: Three Adjustments to Make After Game Two Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Golden State Warriors lost Game Two to the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. The contest was gut-wrenching for a number of reasons. <\/span>Dillon Brooks<\/b><\/a> earned an ejection after flagrantly clothes-lining <\/span>Gary Payton II<\/b><\/a> in mid-air. We know now that Payton will <\/span>miss at least the remainder of the series<\/a>, while Brooks <\/span>has been suspended<\/b><\/a> for Game Three. <\/span>Draymond Green<\/b><\/a> received a wicked elbow from <\/span>Xavier Tillman<\/b><\/a>; the ensuing wound <\/span>required stitches<\/b><\/a> and left Green <\/span>tweeting in agony<\/a>. <\/span>Stephen Curry<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Klay Thompson<\/b><\/a>\u2019s <\/span>shooting woes continued<\/b><\/a>. The Warriors lost <\/span>Game Two by five points<\/a> with the veteran backcourt combining to shoot 16-44 from the field, including 5-23 from three.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ja Morant<\/b><\/a> proved himself <\/span>one of the best players in the postseason<\/b><\/a> by pouring in 47 points, including an astounding 18 in the last 6:20 of the fourth quarter. He hit one three and three free throws in the fourth quarter. The rest of Morant\u2019s points in the period came in the paint; he made an assortment of left-handed layups, and one right-handed floater after going left. The teams are colliding towards a brutally long series as the first games were decided by six combined points. The three-day break gives each coaching staff ample opportunity to make adjustments as the setting moves to San Francisco. What changes should Steve Kerr and the coaching staff consider after the Warriors lost Game 2?<\/span><\/p>\n

Golden State Warriors: Three Adjustments to Make After Game Two Loss<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Switch Defensive Coverages on Ja Morant<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Warriors gave Ja Morant space when he had the ball in Game One, daring him to shoot threes. The Warriors wanted to avoid his paint touches, which could leave them scrambling to close out on three-point shooters. The strategy held up decently well in their one-point win; it was less effective as the Warriors lost Game Two. With Payton unavailable, the Warriors tried gapping and some switching against Morant in Game Two. Morant would call up the Grizzly being defended by his Warrior of choice, then run the pick-and-roll and feast on the defender.<\/span><\/p>\n

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