Klay Thompson was finally able to remind the Warriors, fans and critics that despite the pain of the first few weeks, his best self is still alive inside.
After seven ugly weeks of basketball, several rounds of harsh criticism, honest self-reflection, and potentially losing his starting spot to prove it, the longtime sharpshooter showed his true colors Thursday night in Los Angeles. demonstrated.
Thompson’s incredible stretch in the third quarter wasn’t enough to prevent a 121-113 loss to the Clippers, but it provided enough momentum for the Warriors to stay in the game until the final seconds.
Above all, Klay’s performance, which included his first 30-point game of the season, a team-high five assists, and two steals, was a welcome sight for a team that has spent an entire month in despair.
“Klay was great tonight,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And it wasn’t just the shot-making. He made six or seven passes to Loon’s (Kevon Looney) diving and Dario (Saric) pop. He hit the shots he was supposed to take, he passed. He passed when he should have. Obviously, he just looked like himself.
“He got hot and hit some crazy shots. But that’s who he was.”
Thompson scored 16 of his season-high 30 points in a heated six-minute stretch in the third quarter, cutting a 16-point deficit to just nine points and giving the Warriors reason to be confident.
Given the absence of suspended Draymond Green and the continued struggles of Andrew Wiggins, it’s imperative that Thompson still be able to explode for buckets and play great defense. His work in the third quarter, shooting 5-of-6 from the field (including 4-of-5 from deep), was reminiscent of nights in the years when he made shots that led the Warriors to victory.
It’s entirely possible that Thompson, with his lion-like pride, was motivated by Kerr’s pregame decision to make a drastic change to his starting lineup. Coach Kerr replaced Green with Kuminga and replaced Wiggins with rookie Brandin Podzemski. Thompson shot well below his career efficiency, but was saved from being benched.
That wasn’t a given for Clay. This lineup change came two days after Wiggins and Thompson were left out of the final lineup against Phoenix.
In his 12 years with the Warriors, Klay never felt the pain of such a move. However, his reaction was that given the way he was playing, it was “natural” that he should sit on the bench.
But Thompson had more sympathy for Wiggins, who had a more troubled season than his own.
“Brandon has been playing great, JK has been playing great,” Thompson said. “I feel sorry for Wiggs. I know how competitive he is. It’s not the end of the world for him. I’m sure he’ll be back there before this year is over.
“I’ve been through slumps just like him. I try to cheer him up. I’m going through that problem now, but I’m not up to my standards.”
That changed this night. Thompson was 9-of-15 from the field, including 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. In addition to wanting to avoid being left out of his starting group, returning to his teenage roots in Southern California has also refreshed him.
“I just realized how lucky I am to be able to play this game and get on the bus and go to Staples Center. I went to high school here,” Thompson said of Orange County Santa Claus.・Margarita talked about her high school days. “It was a different feeling because we were taking buses to Mater Dei and St. John’s Bosco. It always brought me back to reality and made me realize how lucky I am to be able to play the game I love. I’ll give it to you.”
There was a lot to love, and it started with an early statement. Thompson scored Golden State’s first eight points and quickly jumped out to an 8-0 lead in just over two minutes.
But it was Thompson’s third quarter that really shined. He was smart, efficient, and active in both positions.
“What really matters when you look at Klay is whether he’s hitting good shots. And is he moving the ball when people are open?” Kerr said. “And I watched that all night tonight and thought he was phenomenal.”
The Warriors are trying to find their identity. They’re trying to see what works and what doesn’t. For most of the season, Thompson has continued to perform below his own standards. This is a refreshing development and comes at a critical time.
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