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Where the Golden State Warriors must be when Klay Thompson returns

By Nathan Beighle

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors react in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors react in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors can’t succumb to the pressure of starting a season without All-Star Klay Thompson or they’ll lose ground before his return.

The majority of the NBA season is before the All-Star break. Well, Golden State Warriors’ starting shooting guard Klay Thompson won’t return till after the All-Star break. That could pose some problems.

Thompson has averaged over 20 points per game for five straight seasons. Including his defensive impact, Thompson has been one of the more impactful players for Golden State over the last half a decade.

He’s a dominant deep threat and an elite two-way player. Combine those and you have one of the best players in the league. That being said, the Warriors will be without him for the bulk of the upcoming season after he tore his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

After dropping 30 points in 32 minutes, Thompson’s injury rang the bell for the team’s hoping to contend. Then, this offseason took place that saw over 100 players switch teams, creating numerous title contenders.

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The Warriors instantly have seemed behind the ball when it comes to contending. With both teams in LA, Portland, Denver, Utah, Houston and other teams getting better, the Warriors did make a few moves to improve as well.

They acquired D’Angelo Russell and a plethora of other assets like Glenn Robinson III and Willey Cauley-Stein. Those two will help supplement the production lost by Kevin Durant and Thompson. However, they must do enough to help keep the Dubs afloat until Thompson’s return.

His return is slated for post-All-Star break and before the postseason begins. While that will widely vary, the storyline remains the same: The Dubs must thrive with Thompson on the sideline.

There were 57 games played prior to the All-Star break last season. If the Warriors manage to go 30-27 or something in that ballpark, the team will be fine. If they ripple of too many losing streaks and end 25-32, we could be in for some major changes.

That said, it won’t be easy going on the 10-game win streaks like the Dubs have done the past five seasons.

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Without Thompson and Durant, the playoffs aren’t a given, so the Dubs, and more specifically Stephen Curry, must take each and every seriously until his return.

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