Golden State Warriors: Game 3 proved importance of Klay Thompson

The Golden State Warriors aren’t winning the 2019 NBA Finals, maybe not even another game, if Klay Thompson doesn’t return. It’s that simple.

Stephen Curry scored 47 points and still lost. The only other person to have done that in the NBA Finals is former nemesis LeBron James. That said, the Golden State Warriors needed excellence from their role players, and they didn’t get it.

Their best non-Curry player was Quinn Cook. You could also argue it was Draymond Green, who put up 17 points. But, Green had just four assists, failing to help ignite the offense without Thompson.

Yes, on a team with DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala still in the lineup, it was the team’s backup point guard that stood out alongside two-time MVP Curry. He made timely shots and helped keep the Warriors in the game with his nine points.

However, it was both the gravity of Thompson and his scoring that Golden State missed. Oh, and let’s not forgotten his defense because it was Thompson’s usual defensive assignment, Kyle Lowry, that changed the game in the team’s third matchup.

Lowry, who has been playing well this series, made five huge threes on just nine attempts. He ended with 23 points and nine assists. It was also Danny Green’s six threes that helped negate Curry’s 47.

Both of those could’ve been a result of Thompson’s absence.

The Warriors need Kevin Durant back. But, they can win this without the four-time scoring champ. They’ve already proven that they can dominate the Raptors for a period of time during that game-changing 18-0 run to start the second half of Game 2.

Losing by 14, the lack of offensive firepower hurt the Warriors, but Stephen Curry made up for that, reigning in six threes and getting to the line for 14 free throws.

However, the Warriors had no answer for Kawhi Leonard either as he totaled 30 points as well. That’s ok though. Let Leonard score. The Warriors needed to shut down Lowry and Green. They didn’t, and they lost because of it.

Thompson’s absence can not be understated. He’s smart on the defensive end and fills the gaps where Curry sits. Without Thompson, the rotation struggled, as did the non-Curry Warriors as well.

Outside of a late-game steal, Curry wasn’t overly great on the defensive end which also hurt the Warriors. Curry guarded Green who found himself either wide open from the top or corner on more than a couple occasions.

The entire feel of the game is different without Thompson, and the Golden State Warriors need him to win Game 4.