Can Grizzlies recover from Game 4 defeat?

The Memphis Grizzlies had the perfect opportunity. At FedEx Forum, leading the top-seeded Golden State Warriors 2-1 in their Western Conference semifinals, Memphis could have forced the NBA’s best team to the brink. Instead, the Warriors ran away by Stephen Curry’s 33 points, winning 101-84 to knot the affair.

Without question, Memphis is alive but teetering on the edge of a true contender after the defeat. According to Vegas Insider, the Grizzlies are being given 30/1 to win the NBA Finals. Only the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets, both at 100/1, are in tougher position.

Golden State has lost only three games at ORACLE Arena all season (including the playoffs), so beating the Warriors in their own building again is bordering on impossible. The Grizzlies are now in the spot of having to do exactly that, facing the Splash Bros. and thousands of screaming fans in Oakland on Wednesday night.

Between the trio of Mike Conley Jr., Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, Memphis always has a chance. The Grizzlies are fantastic defensively and have the best interior in the game, along with the Chicago Bulls. In Game 4, Gasol had a typically well-rounded game, scoring 19 points and collecting 10 rebounds against center Andrew Bogut. Randolph also accounted for a double-double, notching 12 point and 11 boards. Their teammates could not match their production, with Conley shooting 4-of-15 from the field and the team hitting only 4-of-18 from beyond the 3-point line.

If Memphis has any hopes of moving onto the conference finals, an unlikely hero will need to emerge. While Randolph, Conley and Gasol can score 20+ on many nights, Golden State will be able to overcome that star-power with Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Bogut. The Grizzlies have to get a great performance out of Vince Carter or Jeff Green, perhaps even Courtney Lee. Carter has a propensity for going on runs, so maybe he’s the brightest hope.

Should Memphis bow out in this series, it is fair to wonder if this team will ever reach these heights again. Gasol is slated to become an unrestricted free agent and won’t have any shortage of suitors from across the league. Considering he’s a phenomenal defensive player and an equally effective passer, Gasol is well-suited for the Triangle offense and Phil Jackson’s New York Knicks. Will Gasol be lured to the Big Apple or somewhere other than Memphis? It remains to be seen, but it’s certainly not out of the question.

Then there is Randolph, who also will be hitting the market. Randolph is 33 years old and will be 34 in July, so retaining him won’t be as difficult. Still, how many years does Randolph has let before Father Time catches up to the power forward?

Needless to say, Game 5 presents a challenge for Memphis, but also an incredible chance to go home with the series on its proverbial racket.