"After 941 days, Warriors 5 time All Star shooting guard Klay Thompson made his return against the Cleveland Cavaliers. " -- Rafi PonET, 6th Grade
After 941 days, Warriors 5 time All Star shooting guard Klay Thompson made his return against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The opponent was fitting as Thompson and the Warriors had spent four years battling against Lebron James and the Cavs in the NBA finals. The Warriors winning three of those matches, and the Cavs winning one in a year all Warriors fans want to forget.
But since then, James left for the Los Angeles Lakers, recruited Anthony Davis, and won an NBA championship. This time around, the Cavs were a young up-and coming team led by the duo of Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen.
The Cavaliers have surprised everyone this season, and were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs were hot, but playing the Warriors, who at the time were tied for the best record in the NBA, and who were energized because of Thompson’s presence, stood no chance.
Warriors star, Stephen Curry was obviously excited that Klay Thompson was returning, tweeting: “My brother returning to the court has me going down memory lane... let me hear your favorite @KlayThompson memories! #KlayDay.”
The Warriors won 96 to 82, and Thompson would score 17 points on 7 for 18 from the field, and 3 for 8 from three, ESPN reports. Not great efficiency, but for someone that hasn’t played in an NBA game in over two and a half years, pretty good. In Thompson’s second game back, a loss against the Memphis Grizzlies, he scored 14 points, had three rebounds, and three assists. The eye-opening stat for Thompson that game was he had a plus-minus of +17, meaning that in the time he was on the court the Warriors were much better. Watchingthe Warriors, you can just tell that Thompson’s return has had a positive impact.
Thompson’s recovery, however, was not easy. First in game six of the 2019 NBA finals, while going up for a dunk, Thompson was fouled by formerRaptors’ guard Danny Green. Thompson came down awkwardly. It was obvious that he was in pain.The injury was later confirmed as a left ACL tear.
Then, after months of recovery, Thompson tore his right Achilles tendon. He talked about it on Talk Basket, saying: “For me, when it happened[The Achilles tear] , it was hard to digest for a few months,” Thompson said. “It was hard, man. I can’t even lie to you, it was really really hard. Especially the second time around. The first time, I accepted it. Championship game, five-straight finals, stuff happens. The second time was just so unexpected. It was a week before the season. I was training so hard for like a year, year and a half actually.”
Before his return, Thompson practised with the Warriors G-league affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors to get into game shape. Coach Seth Cooper said “[at practice]I think he[Klay Thompson] made his first 18 shots."
Although Thompson’s percentages are sub-par to his usual splits, he seems unfazed saying:
"I don't care if I miss 100 shots in a row. I'm never going to stop shooting the ball. I love it too much & I work too hard not to." after a 21 point performance in 22 minutes in a win against the Pistons.
Now, Thompson is averaging 14.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as of January 24th. The unexpected thing, however, now that Thompson is back, is that the Warriors are losing. They are not looking as good, including anovertime thriller against the Indiana Pacers (who were without Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Malcom Brogdon, and Caris LeVert), an embarrassing 19 point game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a eight point loss in Memphis V.S. the Grizzlies, and (they didn’t have Steph Curry) a 20 point collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thompson’s play wasn’t the reason they lost these games, but still they lost them.
The thing that still hangs in the air is that the Warriors have never been fully healthy this season. First Thompson, and then the number two overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, James Wiseman is out. Now Thompson is back but Draymond Green is injured and Wiseman is still yet to return. Stephen Curry has also played terribly for his standards, averaging only 20.8 points in the month of January as of January 24th.
The Warriors have had some recent games where they look almost unbeatable such as a A 38 point win against the Dallas Mavericks. And a 124 to 115 win against the Timberwolves were four players all had 19 or more points.
Thompson’s connection with Wiggins has been good so far, and Thompson’s chemistry with Jordan Poole is growing, and once Draymond Green is back, don’t be surprised if the Warriors are holding up the Larry O'brien trophy in July.
But since then, James left for the Los Angeles Lakers, recruited Anthony Davis, and won an NBA championship. This time around, the Cavs were a young up-and coming team led by the duo of Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen.
The Cavaliers have surprised everyone this season, and were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs were hot, but playing the Warriors, who at the time were tied for the best record in the NBA, and who were energized because of Thompson’s presence, stood no chance.
Warriors star, Stephen Curry was obviously excited that Klay Thompson was returning, tweeting: “My brother returning to the court has me going down memory lane... let me hear your favorite @KlayThompson memories! #KlayDay.”
The Warriors won 96 to 82, and Thompson would score 17 points on 7 for 18 from the field, and 3 for 8 from three, ESPN reports. Not great efficiency, but for someone that hasn’t played in an NBA game in over two and a half years, pretty good. In Thompson’s second game back, a loss against the Memphis Grizzlies, he scored 14 points, had three rebounds, and three assists. The eye-opening stat for Thompson that game was he had a plus-minus of +17, meaning that in the time he was on the court the Warriors were much better. Watchingthe Warriors, you can just tell that Thompson’s return has had a positive impact.
Thompson’s recovery, however, was not easy. First in game six of the 2019 NBA finals, while going up for a dunk, Thompson was fouled by formerRaptors’ guard Danny Green. Thompson came down awkwardly. It was obvious that he was in pain.The injury was later confirmed as a left ACL tear.
Then, after months of recovery, Thompson tore his right Achilles tendon. He talked about it on Talk Basket, saying: “For me, when it happened[The Achilles tear] , it was hard to digest for a few months,” Thompson said. “It was hard, man. I can’t even lie to you, it was really really hard. Especially the second time around. The first time, I accepted it. Championship game, five-straight finals, stuff happens. The second time was just so unexpected. It was a week before the season. I was training so hard for like a year, year and a half actually.”
Before his return, Thompson practised with the Warriors G-league affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors to get into game shape. Coach Seth Cooper said “[at practice]I think he[Klay Thompson] made his first 18 shots."
Although Thompson’s percentages are sub-par to his usual splits, he seems unfazed saying:
"I don't care if I miss 100 shots in a row. I'm never going to stop shooting the ball. I love it too much & I work too hard not to." after a 21 point performance in 22 minutes in a win against the Pistons.
Now, Thompson is averaging 14.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as of January 24th. The unexpected thing, however, now that Thompson is back, is that the Warriors are losing. They are not looking as good, including anovertime thriller against the Indiana Pacers (who were without Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Malcom Brogdon, and Caris LeVert), an embarrassing 19 point game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a eight point loss in Memphis V.S. the Grizzlies, and (they didn’t have Steph Curry) a 20 point collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thompson’s play wasn’t the reason they lost these games, but still they lost them.
The thing that still hangs in the air is that the Warriors have never been fully healthy this season. First Thompson, and then the number two overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, James Wiseman is out. Now Thompson is back but Draymond Green is injured and Wiseman is still yet to return. Stephen Curry has also played terribly for his standards, averaging only 20.8 points in the month of January as of January 24th.
The Warriors have had some recent games where they look almost unbeatable such as a A 38 point win against the Dallas Mavericks. And a 124 to 115 win against the Timberwolves were four players all had 19 or more points.
Thompson’s connection with Wiggins has been good so far, and Thompson’s chemistry with Jordan Poole is growing, and once Draymond Green is back, don’t be surprised if the Warriors are holding up the Larry O'brien trophy in July.