The Golden State Warriors opened up their season with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Klay Thompson performed well below expectations.
Klay Thompson is a player that the Golden State Warriors rely heavily on for consistent offense. He is one of their main scoring options and if he is shooting poorly the team suffers as a consequence.
Poor shooting was definitely the case for Thompson in his 2018-19 season debut. In 35 minutes of playing time, Thompson shot an unusual 5-20 from the floor and was just 1-8 from the 3-point line. This marked only the 11th time in his eight-year career in which he attempted 8+ 3-pointers without making more than one.
As one-half of the splash brothers, this type of performance is rare for Klay. For a majority of his career, Thompson has been incredibly efficient as a shooter. His catch and shoot ability is up there with the greatest to ever play the game.
Of course, these numbers are just from one game. Furthermore, it was the season opener. It’s completely normal for a player to struggle from time to time and especially when it’s the first game of the entire season.
However, it goes without saying that the Warriors can’t afford for him to play like this too often. The Dubs are in the midst of chasing a three-peat and will need every one of their star players to be at their best.
Another reason that Thompson needs to get back on track quickly is the fact that at some point in this season, DeMarcus Cousins will be added to the rotation. This means that there will be yet another All-Star caliber player on the court looking for touches.
With the addition of Cousins, potential shot attempts for Thompson will likely decrease. Meaning, it would be best for both Thompson and the team as a whole if he is in stride and comfortable before Cousins returns to full strength.
Luckily, Thompson will have a chance to redeem himself soon enough. The Warriors are set to take on the Utah Jazz on Friday night. This matchup will a great opportunity for Klay to get himself going.