Lakers-Celtics. Bulls-Pistons. Warriors-Grizzlies?
The matchup of NBA Western Conference rivals doesn’t have the historical cachet of the first two, but it sure is fun to watch. The teams will meet next on Thursday in Memphis. Golden State leads the season series, 2-0.
“I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them,” Memphis troublemaker Dillon Brooks told ESPN’s Tim Keown. “I don’t like Draymond [Green] at all. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is.”
The Warriors and Grizzlies traded postseason knockout blows the past two seasons, including last year’s heated Western Conference semifinals, won by Golden State in six games. The series consisted of multiple ejections, flagrants, injuries, a Brooks suspension and plenty of bad blood.