With Klay Thompson Returning...

[Dom801e]

My guess is the 18th against Det. That’s the begging of a two week home stand.

[ShootersShoot]

Not all 3 point shooting % numbers are the same. Payton only takes the uncontested ones, when the defense is just daring him to shoot. Wiggins and Porter have normal releases and most of their shots are at least a little bit open (like standard 3-point shooters). Klay's release allows him to get off shots that wouldn't be considered open for standard shooters (and generally not attempted by them) while still making them at a solid rate. This, combined with the amount that he moves around the floor makes defenses give him extra attention even (or especially) when he doesn't have the ball. That just makes life easier for the rest of the offense.

Never hurts to add an elite shooter to the mix. There's definitely a chance guys like wiggins and payton will go through a cold stretch from three. Klay is a better shooter than all of them which is the crazy thing. We are talking one of the better three point shooters in nba history. He's going to make a difference. Also, we don't know if health protocols or injury will occur and Klay being available would help to keep the train rolling if/when those things happen. Defensively with him is where I'm concerned.

For the short run, I don't see Klay actually helping GS for the first 20-30 games he's back for. It just takes a while for a guy to really get back after missing that much time.

For shooting/spacing issues, my main point is that 3p% isn't directly that important. What's most important is how much opposing defenses fear you taking 3's. While somewhat related to 3p% it certainly isn't identical. No opposing defense fears Payton's 3-point shooting. Meanwhile even after missing 2+ seasons teams will heavily fear Klay.

Yea I wasn't disagreeing with you. Guys will be going out of their way trying to stop klay from shooting and he's still going to get it off. Just his mere presence being on the floor will help the team when he is in. he will put a ton of pressure on defenses like he has his whole career. Of course there's the question of how much better he is than say, having GP or poole in there while he is getting into game shape, but that is something we probably all realize must happen to get to where they want as a team going into the postseason.

[Scoots1994]

Klay will realistically bring the number of Warriors shooters over the Mendoza line from 3 to a very healthy 9.

[Rudruff]

Sick of scaling back expectations. I want to see him break his 3pt record in his first 15 shots.

[ILOVEIT]

There will be a few moments where Warriors go small and move Klay to SF, Wiggins to PF and Draymond to Center.
Curry, Poole, Klay, Wiggins, Draymond.

Wholly crap that will be a fun lineup.

[Samurai]

Sick of scaling back expectations. I want to see him break his 3pt record in his first 15 shots.

Well, Klay said he'll be restricted to about 18 minutes or so. 15 threes in 18 minutes could be juuuust a tad ambitious...(done in my best Bob Ueker 'juuuust a tad outside' voice!). But I like the idea of thinking big!

[GunnerWRX]

GP2 gets the start. Poole adjusting to his bench role for Klay's imminent return.

[RoyceDa59]

Poole isn’t going anywhere.

And I’m a Raps fan.

But Klays health is far from guaranteed, and there’s plenty of room for all 3 of them. In all fairness I’d love to see Klay start very low minutes and build it up for the playoffs. Also worth shaving a few minutes off Curry and preserving him for the playoffs, too. Which you can afford to do with all the talent on that roster.

Poole production will drop but not substantially IMO. It’s the further bench guys like Lee who will see their minutes cut the most.

[DevinVassell]

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It's the Cavs. Book it!

[wco81]

They keep showing him taking practice jumpers.

You would hope he's working on other things, like whatever agility drills they may use to work on defense. Defense will stress his surgically repaired knee and Achilles, not jump shooting.

Will also need conditioning for defending more than shooting.

He's got to get back to not just on-ball defense but also rotations and chemistry with all the new players he's never played with before.

[Scoots1994]

They keep showing him taking practice jumpers.

You would hope he's working on other things, like whatever agility drills they may use to work on defense. Defense will stress his surgically repaired knee and Achilles, not jump shooting.

Will also need conditioning for defending more than shooting.

He's got to get back to not just on-ball defense but also rotations and chemistry with all the new players he's never played with before.

He's been working on all of that too, it's just what he does in warmups that are being seen.

[oaktownwarriors87]

They keep showing him taking practice jumpers.

You would hope he's working on other things, like whatever agility drills they may use to work on defense. Defense will stress his surgically repaired knee and Achilles, not jump shooting.

Will also need conditioning for defending more than shooting.

He's got to get back to not just on-ball defense but also rotations and chemistry with all the new players he's never played with before.

I'm pretty sure he played 5 on 5 with the team when they canceled the Denver game.

[watch1958]

They keep showing him taking practice jumpers.

You would hope he's working on other things, like whatever agility drills they may use to work on defense. Defense will stress his surgically repaired knee and Achilles, not jump shooting.

Will also need conditioning for defending more than shooting.

He's got to get back to not just on-ball defense but also rotations and chemistry with all the new players he's never played with before.

I'm pretty sure he played 5 on 5 with the team when they canceled the Denver game.

Yep, and I'd guess not a lot of highlight videos focused on team defense during the scrimmage.

[watch1958]

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It's the Cavs. Book it!

Is that Kerith Burke in the leopard print?

[ShootersShoot]

There will be a few moments where Warriors go small and move Klay to SF, Wiggins to PF and Draymond to Center.
Curry, Poole, Klay, Wiggins, Draymond.

Wholly crap that will be a fun lineup.

Would be crazy if they put OPJ at center instead of draymond for a stretch..someone might have to coin the phrase clogged three point line.

[Crazy-Canuck]

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[Impuniti]

JP is going to have the 5th highest MPG this year once Klay is back to his original minutes, even if he's not a starter. Scoring will matter, and he is needed along with GPII who can be played in non-guard positions as well. Once the playoffs start, you have Steph, Klay, JP, GPII taking the minutes and giving the Warriors some crazy depth and good productivity at all times on the court.

[and1GS]

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LFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KevinMcreynolds]

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It's the Cavs. Book it!

Is that Kerith Burke in the leopard print?

yuuuuuup

[HiRez]

Game is still scheduled to be on NBA TV? I can't believe TNT or ESPN wouldn't muscle their way in on that game.