Golden State Warriors: No Klay Thompson, no championship

The Golden State Warriors may be playing the entire 2019-20 NBA season without Klay Thompson.

Steve Kerr has told reporters that the Golden State Warriors are prepping for the event that Klay Thompson will not be returning this season. In doing so, the Warriors may see their title hopes come to an official end.

Though the Warriors have yet to open their season, the chances are slim this roster is capable of winning a championship without Klay Thompson. The addition of D’Angelo Russell was significant but a 23-year old is not going to replace the losses of both Thompson and Kevin Durant.

Thompson put everything on the line in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Scoring 31 points and keeping the Warriors afloat, it was a shock when he fell to the ground, writhing in pain. As news came out that Klay had torn his ACL, the Dubs faced an insurmountable deficit to the Toronto Raptors.

This season, the Warriors are stuck hopelessly as their shot at a championship is decreasing with recent news of Thompson’s injury.

The Dubs have a gigantic hole in their lineup now. The departure of Durant was always going to make things tough but the team had at least hoped they would receive a healthy Thompson at some point. Now, it seems as if his disastrous ACL injury will hold him for the entirety of the season.

In the last five seasons, Thompson has been the ultimate sidekick to Stephen Curry and Durant. His consistent 3-point shooting and potential to transform into a human flamethrower gave the Warriors a fighting chance in any game.

His historic performance in Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals when he scored 41 points while facing elimination will stand as a testament to how important Thompson is to this team.

Overall, Klay has averaged 21.6 points per game in his last five seasons, reaching the All-Star game each time and earning two All-NBA honors and one All-Defensive selection. His impact on both ends of the floor has always been a key part of the Warriors attack.

Unsurprisingly, Thompson’s absence is going to hinder the Dubs. Without him there to relieve defensive pressure from the undersized backcourt of Russell and Curry, the Dubs perimeter defense will struggle.

Furthermore, losing another 20+ point per game scorer is something the Warriors can’t afford in the wake of Durant’s decision. For the first time in years, the Warriors will not be a top tier offense in the league.

This news is devastating for the Warriors. Hopefully, Thompson defies all odds and manages to return before the season ends, giving the franchise a shot at the chip.