is Klay done?

[DonaldSanders]

Go Klay

[Hoopstar23]

Fluke

[DAWill1128]

I watched the game and noticed a number of things.

1.) He's not running off endless screens, he's strictly used as a safety valve lining up in the open spot on the 3 point line for Luka and Kyrie. A lot of times with the way Luka goes downhill I noticed Klay line up behind him so if Luka picked up his dribble in the paint he had a guy to get it to for a shot.
2.) He's of course still face guarded. Percentages are one thing, the context of how a team guards you is another. Every defender face guards him, they aren't really considering the ball and that's on a team with Luka and Kyrie. The need to be face guarded is what West coveted and clutched onto with Klay here.
3.) They aren't forcing him to be an undersized power forward with mileage, injury history, a limited motor on the boards, and no vertical. Most lineups they are playing a center, a power forward, and Luka who's a big strong guy. With us Kerr had him playing like the 2nd biggest guy on the floor at times, with the Mavs he's like 4th.
4.) The Mavs are able to play Gafford and Lively two big 7 footers who are athletic, get to the spot to contest, and have high motors for 48 minutes. The centers clean up a lot for the other four guys on the floor.
5.) Kidd starts him to keep him engaged but doesn't run these long extended minutes where he gets gassed like Kerr had. Seemed like Kidd was strategic in keeping him fresh, engaged, and positive. Kerr would have him out for extended minutes trying to shoot his way into a rythmn.
6.) The Mavs aren't running endless plays for him. When you have the injuries and the mileage Klay has when you lose a step and you are running full speed off screens it's just a different quality of shot post injuries. Losing that step just visually makes shots different in terms of the open quality. That's why guys like Steph, Reggie, Ray these guys all stayed so crazy lean so they could run endlessly to get open. Towards the end we were hearing the Warriors wanted Klay to bulk up and play power forward like he was Kevin Love without the size or interior fundamentals. I always thought if Klay was gonna get half a step back he needed to lose maybe 10 pounds, people are just faster when they are lighter.
7.) The Mavs had a stretch where Luka, Kyrie, and Klay were all running hot and it was a god damn moment as an NBA fan. If those three guys are all rolling at once they'll be so hard to beat. It's like when we had KD, Steph, and Klay where if they were all shooting well it was just impossible for the opponent.

[Onus]

Happy for Klay. I do think he'll be better for them since he doesn't have to move nearly as much and has a rim protector behind him. So he'll be saved in some matchups.

[whatisacenter]

I got the feeling Klay didn’t love CP last year and he seemed to enjoy guarding him last night.

[thunderdunk]

Didn't watch the game, but on the highlights I saw, it was like the Spurs just left him wide open and dared him to shoot. Not a good strategy against most NBA shooters. Glad for Klay. Hope he plays great against everyone but the Dubs.

[floppymoose]

Yahoo Sports article: https://sports.yahoo.com/victor-wembanyama-was-the-big-attraction-but-west-champs-remind-us-they-might-be-even-better-with-klay-thompson-052004391.html

[vvoland]

I watched the game and noticed a number of things.

1.) He's not running off endless screens, he's strictly used as a safety valve lining up in the open spot on the 3 point line for Luka and Kyrie. A lot of times with the way Luka goes downhill I noticed Klay line up behind him so if Luka picked up his dribble in the paint he had a guy to get it to for a shot.
2.) He's of course still face guarded. Percentages are one thing, the context of how a team guards you is another. Every defender face guards him, they aren't really considering the ball and that's on a team with Luka and Kyrie. The need to be face guarded is what West coveted and clutched onto with Klay here.
3.) They aren't forcing him to be an undersized power forward with mileage, injury history, a limited motor on the boards, and no vertical. Most lineups they are playing a center, a power forward, and Luka who's a big strong guy. With us Kerr had him playing like the 2nd biggest guy on the floor at times, with the Mavs he's like 4th.
4.) The Mavs are able to play Gafford and Lively two big 7 footers who are athletic, get to the spot to contest, and have high motors for 48 minutes. The centers clean up a lot for the other four guys on the floor.
5.) Kidd starts him to keep him engaged but doesn't run these long extended minutes where he gets gassed like Kerr had. Seemed like Kidd was strategic in keeping him fresh, engaged, and positive. Kerr would have him out for extended minutes trying to shoot his way into a rythmn.
6.) The Mavs aren't running endless plays for him. When you have the injuries and the mileage Klay has when you lose a step and you are running full speed off screens it's just a different quality of shot post injuries. Losing that step just visually makes shots different in terms of the open quality. That's why guys like Steph, Reggie, Ray these guys all stayed so crazy lean so they could run endlessly to get open. Towards the end we were hearing the Warriors wanted Klay to bulk up and play power forward like he was Kevin Love without the size or interior fundamentals. I always thought if Klay was gonna get half a step back he needed to lose maybe 10 pounds, people are just faster when they are lighter.
7.) The Mavs had a stretch where Luka, Kyrie, and Klay were all running hot and it was a god damn moment as an NBA fan. If those three guys are all rolling at once they'll be so hard to beat. It's like when we had KD, Steph, and Klay where if they were all shooting well it was just impossible for the opponent.

Thanks for the breakdown. I watched a bit of that game and I would just add that the spurs looked absolutely f---ing lost out there. Multiple wiiiiiiiide open shots for Klay where the defenders were so scrambled no one even bothered to get out to Klay. Even worse, their guards were atrocious (vassel is hurt, but still) that they couldn't/didn't challenge klay/luka whatsoever and neither had to defend much. I didn't look at Klay's defense that closely because the was such a bad offensive opponent. I've been a big fan of Pop since day 1 but I am not sure what he's doing the last few seasons and it's not just the sochan minutes and weird rotations.

[BeiBeau]

I watched the game and noticed a number of things.

1.) He's not running off endless screens, he's strictly used as a safety valve lining up in the open spot on the 3 point line for Luka and Kyrie. A lot of times with the way Luka goes downhill I noticed Klay line up behind him so if Luka picked up his dribble in the paint he had a guy to get it to for a shot.
2.) He's of course still face guarded. Percentages are one thing, the context of how a team guards you is another. Every defender face guards him, they aren't really considering the ball and that's on a team with Luka and Kyrie. The need to be face guarded is what West coveted and clutched onto with Klay here.
3.) They aren't forcing him to be an undersized power forward with mileage, injury history, a limited motor on the boards, and no vertical. Most lineups they are playing a center, a power forward, and Luka who's a big strong guy. With us Kerr had him playing like the 2nd biggest guy on the floor at times, with the Mavs he's like 4th.
4.) The Mavs are able to play Gafford and Lively two big 7 footers who are athletic, get to the spot to contest, and have high motors for 48 minutes. The centers clean up a lot for the other four guys on the floor.
5.) Kidd starts him to keep him engaged but doesn't run these long extended minutes where he gets gassed like Kerr had. Seemed like Kidd was strategic in keeping him fresh, engaged, and positive. Kerr would have him out for extended minutes trying to shoot his way into a rythmn.
6.) The Mavs aren't running endless plays for him. When you have the injuries and the mileage Klay has when you lose a step and you are running full speed off screens it's just a different quality of shot post injuries. Losing that step just visually makes shots different in terms of the open quality. That's why guys like Steph, Reggie, Ray these guys all stayed so crazy lean so they could run endlessly to get open. Towards the end we were hearing the Warriors wanted Klay to bulk up and play power forward like he was Kevin Love without the size or interior fundamentals. I always thought if Klay was gonna get half a step back he needed to lose maybe 10 pounds, people are just faster when they are lighter.
7.) The Mavs had a stretch where Luka, Kyrie, and Klay were all running hot and it was a god damn moment as an NBA fan. If those three guys are all rolling at once they'll be so hard to beat. It's like when we had KD, Steph, and Klay where if they were all shooting well it was just impossible for the opponent.

Ant Edwards who is currently the best athlete in the league called out Kyrie before the WCF finals last year and he was completely gassed for the entire series trying to be the number 1 offensive creator and a full time defender. If Dallas wants Klay to be serviceable enough on defense that they can get away with playing Luka-Kyrie-Klay in big moments they’re are going to have to lighten his offensive load, so letting him spot up and just float to empty space instead of the constant offball movement doesn’t waste to much of his legs on the wrong side of the ball. Now we will need Klay to use his off ball movement to get the offense back on track when our offense gets stagnant which does happen.

And yeah Gafford-Lively combine for 18 points - 13 points and 48 minutes of very good rim protection. Luka was dog piled for his defense in the finals and he was pretty bad, but for the other 3 playoff series he was actually really good and the entire strategy for the Mavs is funnel into lively and a Gafford and then have well coached switches and recoveries.

[Crazy-Canuck]

I don't think this start could have gone better for both sides.

Win win for klay and the dubs.

[floppymoose]

10 games in and the Mavs fans honeymoon is over.

[SpreeS]

Whole career when Klay hits couple 3P's whole team tried to feed him on every possesion to keep going. I dont see this coming in Dallas. He stands in the corner like Korver and looking at Doncic/Irving show.

[Impuniti]

I watched the game and noticed a number of things.

1.) He's not running off endless screens, he's strictly used as a safety valve lining up in the open spot on the 3 point line for Luka and Kyrie. A lot of times with the way Luka goes downhill I noticed Klay line up behind him so if Luka picked up his dribble in the paint he had a guy to get it to for a shot.
2.) He's of course still face guarded. Percentages are one thing, the context of how a team guards you is another. Every defender face guards him, they aren't really considering the ball and that's on a team with Luka and Kyrie. The need to be face guarded is what West coveted and clutched onto with Klay here.
3.) They aren't forcing him to be an undersized power forward with mileage, injury history, a limited motor on the boards, and no vertical. Most lineups they are playing a center, a power forward, and Luka who's a big strong guy. With us Kerr had him playing like the 2nd biggest guy on the floor at times, with the Mavs he's like 4th.
4.) The Mavs are able to play Gafford and Lively two big 7 footers who are athletic, get to the spot to contest, and have high motors for 48 minutes. The centers clean up a lot for the other four guys on the floor.
5.) Kidd starts him to keep him engaged but doesn't run these long extended minutes where he gets gassed like Kerr had. Seemed like Kidd was strategic in keeping him fresh, engaged, and positive. Kerr would have him out for extended minutes trying to shoot his way into a rythmn.
6.) The Mavs aren't running endless plays for him. When you have the injuries and the mileage Klay has when you lose a step and you are running full speed off screens it's just a different quality of shot post injuries. Losing that step just visually makes shots different in terms of the open quality. That's why guys like Steph, Reggie, Ray these guys all stayed so crazy lean so they could run endlessly to get open. Towards the end we were hearing the Warriors wanted Klay to bulk up and play power forward like he was Kevin Love without the size or interior fundamentals. I always thought if Klay was gonna get half a step back he needed to lose maybe 10 pounds, people are just faster when they are lighter.
7.) The Mavs had a stretch where Luka, Kyrie, and Klay were all running hot and it was a god damn moment as an NBA fan. If those three guys are all rolling at once they'll be so hard to beat. It's like when we had KD, Steph, and Klay where if they were all shooting well it was just impossible for the opponent.

Ant Edwards who is currently the best athlete in the league called out Kyrie before the WCF finals last year and he was completely gassed for the entire series trying to be the number 1 offensive creator and a full time defender. If Dallas wants Klay to be serviceable enough on defense that they can get away with playing Luka-Kyrie-Klay in big moments they’re are going to have to lighten his offensive load, so letting him spot up and just float to empty space instead of the constant offball movement doesn’t waste to much of his legs on the wrong side of the ball. Now we will need Klay to use his off ball movement to get the offense back on track when our offense gets stagnant which does happen.

And yeah Gafford-Lively combine for 18 points - 13 points and 48 minutes of very good rim protection. Luka was dog piled for his defense in the finals and he was pretty bad, but for the other 3 playoff series he was actually really good and the entire strategy for the Mavs is funnel into lively and a Gafford and then have well coached switches and recoveries.

The surprising aspect for me last PS was Kyrie. He's never played that level of defense in his entire career. Not sure if Kidd took him to a flat earth museum before the playoffs to get him in the mood, but props to him.

[GunnerWRX]

Mavs Klay is basically used like when Dorrell Wright was with us.

Klay disliked a reduced role with us. With the Mavs he is doing exactly what we asked of him in 23-24.

[GunnerWRX]

I have always wanted Klay to only wear the Warriors uniform. I loved our greats this much. I was prepared for the Warriors to suck in the final years of our greats' careers.

We offered him more money which he passed on, in order to stand in the corner and watch Luka and Kyrie.

Oh well... had he stayed, we wouldn't be 8-2 and have beaten Boston and OKC on the road.

It will be great if we beat Dallas next game.

[Old_Blue]

I watched the game and noticed a number of things.

1.) He's not running off endless screens, he's strictly used as a safety valve lining up in the open spot on the 3 point line for Luka and Kyrie. A lot of times with the way Luka goes downhill I noticed Klay line up behind him so if Luka picked up his dribble in the paint he had a guy to get it to for a shot.
2.) He's of course still face guarded. Percentages are one thing, the context of how a team guards you is another. Every defender face guards him, they aren't really considering the ball and that's on a team with Luka and Kyrie. The need to be face guarded is what West coveted and clutched onto with Klay here.
3.) They aren't forcing him to be an undersized power forward with mileage, injury history, a limited motor on the boards, and no vertical. Most lineups they are playing a center, a power forward, and Luka who's a big strong guy. With us Kerr had him playing like the 2nd biggest guy on the floor at times, with the Mavs he's like 4th.
4.) The Mavs are able to play Gafford and Lively two big 7 footers who are athletic, get to the spot to contest, and have high motors for 48 minutes. The centers clean up a lot for the other four guys on the floor.
5.) Kidd starts him to keep him engaged but doesn't run these long extended minutes where he gets gassed like Kerr had. Seemed like Kidd was strategic in keeping him fresh, engaged, and positive. Kerr would have him out for extended minutes trying to shoot his way into a rythmn.
6.) The Mavs aren't running endless plays for him. When you have the injuries and the mileage Klay has when you lose a step and you are running full speed off screens it's just a different quality of shot post injuries. Losing that step just visually makes shots different in terms of the open quality. That's why guys like Steph, Reggie, Ray these guys all stayed so crazy lean so they could run endlessly to get open. Towards the end we were hearing the Warriors wanted Klay to bulk up and play power forward like he was Kevin Love without the size or interior fundamentals. I always thought if Klay was gonna get half a step back he needed to lose maybe 10 pounds, people are just faster when they are lighter.
7.) The Mavs had a stretch where Luka, Kyrie, and Klay were all running hot and it was a god damn moment as an NBA fan. If those three guys are all rolling at once they'll be so hard to beat. It's like when we had KD, Steph, and Klay where if they were all shooting well it was just impossible for the opponent.

Thanks for this post. It's refreshing to hear from someone who actually watched a game and drew their own conclusions.

[Scoots1994]

It's a shame Klay couldn't finish his career with the Warriors. It's sad to think he may not like the team anymore. I hope that's just the media projecting what they want onto him.

[Old_Blue]

It's a shame Klay couldn't finish his career with the Warriors. It's sad to think he may not like the team anymore. I hope that's just the media projecting what they want onto him.

Well, Draymond going on a podcast and saying the following probably didn't help matters...

“I’m happy as hell he (Klay) gone. The reason I’m happy he’s gone is because he wasn’t happy no more. As a brother, I only want what’s best for you, not what’s best for me, not what’s best for this team."

Typical Draymond. No empathy for how his words may be received. What if we substitute a few words to read...

"I'm happy as hell he (Draymond) got a lobotomy. The reason I'm happy he's lobotomized is because he wasn't using his brain no more. As a brother, I only want what's best for you, not what's best for me, not what's best for this team."

[Nvnervous45]

Anyone who kicks someone in the nuts intentionally probably lacks empathy.

[DonaldSanders]

Anyone who kicks someone in the nuts intentionally probably lacks empathy.

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