NBA feud or rivalry? Warriors, Memphis drama is must-see TV

Stephen Curryoffers a simple answer for all the back and forth between hisfour-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the upstartMemphis Grizzlies over the past two seasons.

For Curry,it’s not a feud or a bitter rivalry. The Warriors don’t have thesame history with the Grizzlies that they do with, say, theCleveland Cavaliers. Or with LeBron James in whatever uniform he’swearing.

“Just a teamthat is tough to beat,” Curry said about the Grizzlies. “They’rereally talented. ... Also a team that you’re going to need to playwell to beat, but the history isn’t there yet.”

Grizzliesforward Jaren Jackson Jr. disagrees.

“Every timewe touch the floor, it’s a rivalry,” Jackson said. “We saw thisteam many times. We feel like every single time we’re out therewith them, it’s a rivalry for sure.”

There alwaysseems to be some drama, a little something extra when the teamsmeet: hard fouls, trash-talking or some other theatrics.

Warriorsguard Jordan Poole said earlier this week: “I guess some days youcan call it a rivalry.”

Whatever itis, the Warriors and the young, brash Grizzlies are usuallymust-see TV.

The bad bloodbetween the two really began to percolate during last season’splayoffs when Gary Payton II suffered a broken left elbow in Game 2after a flagrant foul that that gotMemphis’ Dillon Brooks suspended forGame 3.

Warriorscoach Steve Kerr said Brooks crossed the line and “broke the code”of NBA conduct.

Ja Morantfired back after limping off in the fourth quarter of Game 3.Warriors guard Jordan Poole grabbed his knee while trying to stripthe ball and Morant later posted, and then deleted, video of theplay with the words “broke the code.”

And the illwill has carried over into their first three games this season:

—Klay Thompson drew a technical inthat Christmas night win for standing over and taunting DillonBrooksas he was down on the court. Thompson called it“some good old-fashioned trash talk.” Poole was ejected, and evenKerr drew one of Golden State’s six technicals in the game.

—Curry was ejected from GoldenState’s 122-120 winon Jan. 25 after tossing hismouthpiece in frustration, seemingly more with this teammates thanwith the Grizzlies.

—Brooks and Green got up close andpersonalafter a steal and bucket in Memphis’ 131-110wire-to-wire win a week ago, standing face-to-face with the 2017NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Green said after the game Brookswas trying to bait him into a technical foul but that he only drawsa tech when he wants.

“One of us(is) baitable and one of us” isn’t, said Green, who had said on hispodcast before that game that the Grizzlies’ dynasty would startonly after they get rid of Brooks.

Brooksresponded after the Grizzlies’ win: “The fact that he was trying topin my teammates against me. That was a low blow. But that’s thetype of player he is.”

So, no thehistory isn’t there and the Warriors downplay the matchup — it’sclear the Grizzlies have Golden State’s attention.

There shouldbe playoff atmosphere Saturday in the teams’ final regular-seasonmatchup, which has postseason implications.

Morant willstill be sidelined aspart of his now eight-gamesuspension by the NBAfor displaying a gun while at aColorado strip club in the early hours of March 4. Though Memphisrouted Golden State last week without Morant.

Golden Stateneeds every road win it can steal down the stretch. The Warriorsare 7-27 away from home this season. Curry, who is having anotherMVP-caliber season, understands the urgency and had50 points Wednesday night in a roadlossagainst the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Grizzlieswould like to extend the Warriors’ road woes, not that they needany extra incentives when playing Golden State.

“We have allthe motivation that we need playing this team just as is, just thehistory that we got with them,” Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones said.“It’s always a battle. It’s always an intense matchup.”

Green madeclear the standard that he uses to gauge whether or not theWarriors and Grizzlies becme a true rivalry: winning titles, not agame here or there.

“Clearly wewon four times, and I think their organization has zerochampionships, so I can’t consider that a rivalry,” Green said.

Maybe not,but their matchups have been very entertaining.