Warriors know soon enough Thompson will make it rain
NEW YORK >> Stephen Curry saw Klay Thompson wide open on the other side of the court. So even if the coaches often plead to Curry to make the simple pass, the Warriors’ star could not listen to them this time. Not when he had a chance to give his Splash Brother a chance to make it rain.
So, Curry threw a crosscourt pass through two defenders. Thompson caught the ball and stood wide open along the baseline. He hoisted a shot, but it clanked off the rim.
That one snapshot in Friday’s win over New York represented an early season trend that has left the Warriors perplexed. The Warriors (5-1) enter today’s game against the Brooklyn Nets (2-3) with Thompson averaging 14.7 points while shooting 38.3 percent from the field and 12.9 percent from 3-point range. So early in Friday’s game against the Knicks, Thompson’s teammates fed him the ball in hopes his numbers go up.
“We will get Klay going a little bit more,” Curry said. “We can do things to make that happen.”
The Warriors insist that moment will come soon. Curry logged a 51-point game Wednesday against Washington. Kevin Durant added 41 points against the Knicks. If Thompson joins the high-scoring party against the Nets, the Warriors say they would not be surprised.
“It’s going to happen,” coach Steve Kerr said.” It’s a matter of finding our groove as a team. That usually helps Klay. I think searching for great shots — not just Klay, helps all of us.”
In other words, the Warriors are not questioning Thompson’s conditioning, confidence or mechanics. Why question a player’s shooting habits when he already has cemented himself with a career 41.9 percent mark from 3-point range?
Thompson did not speak to reporters after Friday’s win or after Saturday’s The Warriors’ Klay Thompson is shooting just 12.9 percent from three-point range this season.
practice. Earlier in the week, Thompson downplayed concerns because of his resume.
“I’m not really worried about my 3-point shooting. My career numbers speak for themselves,” Thompson said. “I just have to have fun out there, man. Basketball is meant to be the most fun game in the world.”
The Warriors did the same, saying it is incumbent on them to give Thompson better looks. In Friday’s game, Durant scored 25 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter. But that coincided with Thompson taking only five shots in the second half, including one 3-point attempt.
“If he gets those same shots again, we feel confident he’ll knock them down,” Durant said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
Based on recent history, that moment should come pretty soon.
Thompson opened the first seven games of the 2015-16 season shooting only 13 of 36 from 3-point range (36 percent). In the last 11 games of November, Thompson then shot
a combined 32 of 73 from beyond the arc (43.8 percent). He finished that season with 276 3-pointers, the fourth-highest total in NBA history in a season behind Curry’s 402 (201516), 324 (2016-17) and 286 (2014-15).
Thompson also opened the first six games of the 2016-17 season shooting 11 of 53 from 3-point range (20.8 percent). In the last 11 games of November, Thompson then went a combined 39 of 84 from 3-point range (46.4 percent). He finished that season with 268 3-pointers, becoming the only player along with Curry to make at least 200 3s for five consecutive seasons.
The Warriors have anticipated Thompson to offer the same trendline in 2018-19.
“You just stop and go, ‘OK, there’s 75 games left. Inevitably, the dam will break.’” Kerr said. “I know he’s frustrated. He’ll get it going, and we’ll try to help him the best we can.”
That only leads to another question. Why has Thompson opened three of the past four seasons shooting so poorly in the first place?
The Warriors mostly express uncertainty. But when Thompson opened the first six games of last season shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 46.5 percent from 3-point range, Thompson and Kerr cited his improved offseason conditioning compared to previous years.
It does not appear Thompson changed his offseason routine for the worse. He has kept his same regimen that entailed training in between and during business trips to China, the Bahamas and Qatar. Last year, Thompson also hired a chef to make him nutritious meals. He also spent preseason shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 55.2 percent from 3-point range.
“He was hot all preseason, so a start like this has been surprising, but I think he’ll get back soon.” forward Kevon Looney said.
The Warriors have already seen some signs. They praised Thompson’s defensive intensity. They like that he has driven to the basket to draw a few trips to the free-throw line (a combined 12 of 12). They have seen mixed success with Thompson depending on his mid-range game.
Most importantly, they have liked that Thompson has not complained or changed a shooting stroke that emphasizes maintaining balance and a fluid motion.
“He just hasn’t been hitting the long ball like he’s used to, but his demeanor is good,” Looney said. “He’s still shooting the ball with confidence. It’s the same shots he always shoots. I expect him to get hot one of these games.”
So to make that happen, the Warriors plan to set up Thompson for some open looks. Even it if requires Curry to throw a crosscourt pass.
“When we do that, especially early in a game, we tend to get Klay great shots,” Kerr said. “When we get Klay great shots, that’s probably when things are going to turn for him.”