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Klay Thompson’s Hot Shooting Adds to Warriors’ Arsenal

By Michael Shultz

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Throughout the season, the Golden State Warriors have been unstoppable and the primary reason why most pundits think they are undefeated is the reigning MVP, Stephen Curry. But on Tuesday night, another player stole the show.

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Klay Thompson did his best Curry impersonation, hitting 10 three-pointers in just three quarters in a victory over the Indiana Pacers.  It is easy to forget about Thompson because of all the accolades and the popularity Curry has received this season.

But Thompson, the other “Splash Brother”, was an All-Star starter last season alongside Curry and is arguably the second best shooter in the league. Remember, Thompson is the one that dropped 37 points in a quarter last season, an NBA record without missing a single shot. Not even Curry has accomplished this, yet.

Thompson got off to a slow start this season, dealing with a nagging back injury and struggling with his shot. His back injury hindered his mobility on both ends of the court, making it difficult for him to get in a rhythm. Fortunately for the Warriors, everyone else was playing their best basketball of their careers. Curry has been on a different level this season but Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli have all improved immensely and have surprised the basketball world.

With Green struggling from the field and Barnes out with an ankle injury, Thompson had to step up on this season-long seven game road trip. In the first four games, Thompson was averaging over 20 points and dropping four threes per game. But he saved his best game for the 5th game of the trip, showing everyone that the Warriors had two elite three-point shooters instead of one.

Thompson was electric on Tuesday, scoring 39 points, going 10 of 16 from three-point range, grabbing seven rebounds and even dealing out six assists. With all the Pacers’ attention on Curry, Thompson was able to get great looks from three-point range and when he knocks them down, the Warriors are nearly unguardable.

Thompson’s hot shooting only adds to the Warriors’ arsenal, opening up his game and his fellow Splash Brother’s as well. When Thompson is shooting lights out, the attention that was on Curry shifts to Thompson, which allows Curry to make even more plays for himself and his teammates. When both are shooting well, the defense has a huge problem because both players are so versatile and confident on offense. Green, Barnes, Ezeli, Andrew Bogut and the rest of the team all benefit off the added attention on the Splash Brothers, giving them easier shots and better opportunities to succeed.

The Pacers made some adjustments on Thompson by crowding him at the three-point line but when this happened, Thompson was able to drive by his defender and find teammates for open looks. Thompson even threw two lob passes to Ezeli and Bogut when the Pacers gave him the Curry treatment — meaning ten eyes on one guy — allowing for easy dunks.

In the past, running out at Thompson behind the arc and forcing him to put it on the deck, bothered him because he struggled with his handles and playmaking abilities. But this season, like Green and Barnes, his ball-handling and passing has really improved, making him the latest playmaker to help this team accomplish their goals.

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The Warriors moved to 23-0 on Tuesday night but it was not all good news for the team. After playing their best three quarters of the season, leading by 28 points, the Warriors’ bench played dreadful defense in the 4th quarter, allowing the Pacers back in the game. Coach Luke Walton had seen enough of the bench and decided to put the starters back in after the Pacers had cut the lead to 16.

At this time, Curry, Thompson and Green all thought their nights’ were over because of the massive lead they built up through three quarters so they were not their sharpest and most focused. Late in the 4th quarter, Thompson rolled his ankle, attempting to block a Chase Budinger shot and was noticeably limping after the injury. This would be a major blow to the Warriors, who are already without Barnes and their coach, Steve Kerr.

Luckily for the Warriors, the team does not play their next game till Friday in Boston and it has been reported that it is just a mild ankle sprain for Thompson, which is a huge relief for fans. Tuesday night was just a glimpse of how good this team is with both “Splash Brothers” firing on all cylinders. If Thompson can join Curry at his torrid pace, it will just open up the court for even more and will yield better shots, a scary proposition for the league to fathom.  

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