5 Takeaways From the Golden State Warriors’ Epic Game 1 Collapse

2. Klay Thompson needs to play the rest of this series like he did in Game 1 in order for the Warriors to stay competitive.

Thompson is definitely the X-factor for the Warriors in this series. The game’s momentum shifted to the Spurs when Thompson fouled out with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter. The Spurs were able to lock down on Curry more offensively with Thompson out of the game, so the Warriors struggled to make shots.

May 6, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) drives to the basket as A defends Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first half in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the AT

After Thompson fouled out, Mark Jackson then went to a Curry, Jack, Harrison Barnes, Richard Jefferson, and Draymond Green lineup, which lost 13 points of the 16-point lead in two minutes and 40 seconds.

Thompson did a fantastic job throughout the game guarding Tony Parker. He was able to use his length and size to prevent Parker from penetrating to the basket and scoring easy mid-range baskets. From the time Thompson fouled out until the end of the fourth quarter, Parker took control of the game and scored eight points and had one assist. If Thompson is able to keep up his efficiency offensively and is able to defend Parker and Manu Ginobili as well as he did in Game 1, the Warriors will have a chance in this series.