The Grizzlies had now won nine straight playoff games.
Just like in the previous two seasons, they had been unstoppable in the playoffs. It was not merely that no team could crush the Grizzlies—no team had even managed to take a single win off them.
The Golden State Warriors had entered the year with high expectations, but their performance in Game 1 had been deeply disappointing.
Just as people were debating whether the Warriors were truly capable of challenging the Grizzlies, Steve Kerr's lineup adjustments in Game 2 changed the entire NBA world!
In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors remained at FedExForum. For them, this was a game they absolutely had to win.
For other teams, falling behind 0-3 was the end of the world.
But against the Grizzlies, falling behind 0-2 was already the end of the world!
Throughout the years, whenever the Grizzlies won both of their opening home games, their chance of winning the series was 100%!
In other words, the Warriors had to steal a win at FedExForum. Otherwise, the series was essentially beyond saving.
Therefore, Game 2 of the series was also seen as a do-or-die battle for the Warriors.
If they won, they could continue to contend with the Grizzlies. But if they returned to Oakland down 0-2, there would basically be no point in continuing.
Before the game, people had still been discussing how Green and Bogut would contain Link. But when the Warriors' starting lineup took the floor, everyone was stunned.
Because Bogut was not in the starting lineup at all!
"Th-This... what kind of lineup is this? Steve Kerr actually replaced Bogut with Sean Livingston! The Warriors have no center on the floor now, no interior presence at all. Draymond Green, who stands 2.01 meters