Klay Thompson Must Step Up In Playoffs
Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, also known as the “Splash Brothers,” have been the driving force behind the winning machine, better known as the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State’s All-Stars have cemented themselves as arguably, the best starting backcourt in the NBA this year. And they are the primary reason the Warriors are ranked number one in offensive efficiency.
The sharpshooting duo have raised their games to new heights this year, and as a result, both have had breakthrough seasons.
Curry’s brilliant play has vaulted him up amongst the NBA’s leaders and is rightfully mentioned in all league MVP discussions. His running mate Thompson meanwhile, has established himself as one of the premiere two-way players in the game.
When Thompson was selected to his first All-Star game this year, he and Curry became the first Warriors duo to be so honored in the same season since 1993, when Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin were chosen.
Thompson has always been viewed as a deadly outside shooter by NBA insiders, and he’s proven to be just that this season.
However, the fourth year starter has added a new dimension to his game this year. No longer can defenders press Thompson and take away his outside game, and just dare him to put the ball on the floor for scoring opportunities.
It’s a strategy that has backfired as Thompson has demonstrated a willingness to take it to the rim this year, which is something that had been missing in previous seasons. That new dimension to his game, and his effectiveness at it, has really helped him blossom.
Defenders must now respect his ability to drive to the bucket, which allows him to display that near perfect shooting form — which has allowed him to show off that deadly accuracy from the outside.
Thanks to the efforts by Curry and Thompson, among others, the Warriors have accomplished a lot of “firsts” this year.
Steve Kerr broke the record for wins by a rookie head coach in a season with 63, after Saturday night’s road win over the Dallas Mavericks.
"“The ball was great, the Gatorade–not so much. It was still pretty fun”, said Kerr after the game."
The franchise has also set the record for most team wins in a season, with an emphasis on a style of play, predicated on the involvement of the entire roster.
Throughout the Warriors record-breaking season, they have become accustomed to teams formulating their defensive game plan around stopping Curry.
“They presented me with the ball, and how lucky am I to coach these guys in my first year?”
The playoffs offer opposing teams a chance to utilize every scouting report accumulated on a player like Curry. Every weakness of a player’s game will be attacked and exposed.
A balanced attack is a must for any successful playoff run.
History has shown the basketball world that a well-balanced team, working as a cohesive unit, can overcome a team driven by one dominating star.
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The San Antonio Spurs, dominated the Lebron James led Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA finals, with precise ball movement and contributions from every player on their roster.
This is the formula the Warriors must utilize to achieve postseason success.
Stopping Curry will be at the top of the list for every opponent the Warriors are going to face. And Golden State can’t put the weight of the world — or their postseason hopes — solely on the shoulders of their MVP candidate.
The Warriors will need Thompson to step to the forefront when the defense is locked in on Curry.
Thompson must continue to demonstrate his well rounded game. He can’t fall into the trap of relying on his outside proficiency alone.
Forcing defenses to cover every square foot of the court has been a Warriors’ strength all year, and when both Splash Brothers get nuclear hot, they are almost unbeatable.
Getting through the gauntlet, known as the Western Conference playoffs will be a formidable task. But if the Warriors can continue to demonstrate their floor balance and infectious team play, a lengthy postseason run, may be in the cards.