There was no doubt it would take Klay Thompson some time to rediscover his consistent form upon returning to the Warriors. You take 941 days off of anything and the rust will be evident.
The five-time NBA All-Star oscillated between good performances and duds and had some (bandwagon) Warriors fans calling for him to be benched. Coach Steve Kerr has never waivered in his belief that Thompson would settle in, and the star shooting guard responded over the final six games of the regular season by averaging 30.8 points per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from 3-point range.
Thompson found his rhythm, and as was always the case, has the full backing of his head coach with the playoff lights set to shine on Golden State.
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“How can I not?” Kerr told 95.7 The Game's "Damon and Ratto" on Tuesday when asked if he would ride or die with Thompson in the playoffs. “Everything he’s done for the franchise. As skilled as he is. As powerful as he is. Two-and-a-half years off, you don’t think it’s going to take time to find his rhythm? Like, he’s had a few bad games, let’s bench him? What are we even talking about here?”
Thompson finished off the regular season with a 41-point outburst against the New Orleans Pelicans -- a clear statement as the Warriors enter the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
"I feel like I've been back," Thompson told reporters Sunday after the win vs. the Pelicans. "Just, the consistency in these big nights hasn't been there like I wanted it to be. But, yeah, I'm back, and I'm so ready for next weekend. It's going to be a dog fight, but man, we're ready."
Throughout Thompson's return, Kerr has said the sharpshooter was forcing the issue and not trusting the Warriors' offense to get the ball back to him in a good spot. Over the last few weeks, Kerr sees a more settled Thompson.
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“Klay’s got so much more to give,” Kerr told "Damon and Ratto." “He’s so young, he’s so skilled that he’s got a lot of good years left in him. I think the last couple weeks have been the most consistent stretch. Most of it has come with patience. He looks like he’s just taking better shots over and over again. Whereas early on, he was trying to get it all back at once and taking a lot of off-balance shots. He just looks like he’s got his feet underneath him now and things are slowing down for him in a good way.”
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Thompson has found himself at the perfect time for the Warriors. Golden State opens their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at Chase Center, but might be without Steph Curry whose status is uncertain as he recovers from a bone bruise and sprain in his left foot.
The Warriors very well might have to play one or more games without Curry as he ramps back up to full health. With Thompson looking like the Klay of old, the Warriors have the talent, depth and formula to beat the Nuggets, even with Curry on the sidelines.
And a patient, confident Thompson spells bad news for the rest of the NBA.