Hot Klay Thompson helps Warriors overcome injuries.
With Curry out, 11-for-13 outing shows his value
Klay Thompson’s hot start to the playoffs prompted a quip Sunday from Warriors teammate Kevin Durant. Thompson found his rhythm the day before against San Antonio, sinking 11 of his 13 shots from the field.
Durant was asked what he sees in Thompson’s eyes when he climbs into this invigorating realm, where nearly every shot ripples through the bottom of the net.
“Yeah, he just doesn’t want to pass,” Durant replied.
This sparked laughter among the assembled reporters, naturally. But Thompson’s display of Game 1 shooting efficiency carried wider meaning, because it shows the Warriors are well equipped — beyond Durant — to weather All-Star point guard Stephen Curry’s absence in their firstround series with the Spurs.
Curry’s injury created logical chatter about Durant becoming the focus of Golden State’s offense, as he was during a 9-2
stretch without Curry in December. This makes perfect sense, because Durant is a one-time NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time league scoring champion.
Still, Thompson’s skills mirror Curry’s even more closely. So Thompson at his best — running off screens, raining threes, stretching the defense — allows the Warriors to operate smoothly while Curry sits in the second row, wearing street clothes.
“It’s the gravity Klay provides,” head coach Steve Kerr said after Sunday’s practice in Oakland. “The defense has to be aware of him, even when he’s not shooting that well. There are all kinds of clips where people are running at him and he’s not even touching the ball, but it opens up space on the floor elsewhere.
“That’s why Klay is so valuable. It’s not just the defense and not just his shooting ability, but also the attention he draws off the ball.”
The Spurs paid attention to Thompson in various ways Saturday. Patty Mills (6 feet) often defended Thompson (6-7), despite their height disparity. That didn’t work especially well, even if San Antonio sent help when Thompson posted up Mills.
Dejounte Murray, at 6-5 only 2 inches shorter than Thompson, drew the assignment at times. He struggled to chase Thompson around the court, putting him in foul trouble and giving Rudy Gay (6-8) a chance at Thompson.
Thompson, to his credit, seldom forced shots and patiently picked apart the Spurs. He was 5-for-6 from threepoint land and scored a gamehigh 27 points without once stepping to the free-throw line.
Asked if he expected the Spurs to put a bigger defender on him Monday night in Game 2, Thompson said, “Possibly, but I’m ready for it. I’m prepared for that.”
Thompson, of course, is no stranger to big scoring outbursts. This is the man who once scored 37 points in a quarter against Sacramento, and another time dropped 60 in three quarters against Indiana.
He also raised his efficiency this season, posting career-best numbers from the field (48.8 percent) and on threes (44 percent). Kerr attributed this to Thompson’s comfort level in his second season playing alongside Durant and Curry, and to him being in his prime at age 28.
Thompson added another element to the equation.
“Not caring about your stats,” he said. “It’s that simple, and if you just focus and play free-minded, you’re going to knock down shots just because you don’t overthink it.”
Kerr cautioned against expecting Thompson to maintain his torrid postseason pace.
“Klay is not going to go 11for-13 again,” Kerr said.
Then he paused and added, “But he might go 12-for-13.”