If the Warriors without Stephen Curry are to “tread water,” as coach Steve Kerr phrased it before tipoff Friday night in Philadelphia, they’re going to need the best of Klay Thompson.
The Klay who consistently locks in on defense, takes intelligent shots and scores with efficiency. He has in the past used these factors to rally the team. Even at times carry it.
That Klay was not present in an otherwise encouraging 118-106 loss to the 76ers on Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.
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Thompson scored 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting from the field, including 3-of-8 from distance. He committed four turnovers and had zero assists. A microscopic look at his inefficiency reveals eight of nine misses inside the arc.
Most troubling, though, is that Thompson’s surgically repaired left knee might have been a factor in his forgettable performance.
“A tough night for Klay,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Just the fact that he played . . . his knee was bothering him at shootaround and he was questionable before the game. He’s just a guy who fights through everything.
“His effort was there, but the shots weren’t going. He had some good ones. He maybe rushed a couple. But it just wasn’t his night. He’ll bounce back.”
Golden State Warriors
Thompson knows his value, particularly on a night when he was the team’s only long-term thirtysomething on the floor. Curry was unavailable and is expected to remain so for at least two weeks. Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins also were on the sideline, but both are likely to return Sunday at Toronto.
Even if his fellow veterans are back in uniform, Klay needs to be better – assuming he is physically able to perform at his customary level.
And it’s not just the shooting accuracy. He committed a couple glaring sins on defense, most notably failing to get back in transition after missing a 3-pointer that would have pulled the Warriors within five with 5:49. His defender, Sixers forward Danuel House, turned the missed triple into a dunk.
That left the Warriors trailing by 10 and prompted Kerr to hop off the bench and signal for a timeout.
That play was indicative of Klay not being fully engaged in the moment, and it’s something the Warriors can’t comfortably tolerate from anyone, much less the most decorated vet on the floor.
Most of Golden State’s youngsters held up well in the first of many games without Curry. Jordan Poole, who inherits Curry’s role in the offense shook off a drowsy first-half to pour in 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, after halftime.
“The game turned for him, and he obviously carried us offensively for much of the game,” Kerr said.
Donte DiVincenzo scored 15 points in a strong first quarter for the Warriors and finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
“He did his usual great job of bringing energy and life to the game,” Kerr said. “. . . I thought Donte was great tonight.”
Getting a combined 46 points, with efficiency, and 10 assists from the Poole-DiVincenzo backcourt was a spirited attempt to offset the absence of Curry – particularly considering the Curry-Thompson backcourt is averaging a combined 47.9 points per game.
Even some of Golden State’s less-celebrated players did their part to fill the gap with three All-Stars not in uniform. Kevon Looney scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while grabbing 11 rebounds and recording a career-high nine assists, seem to realize he needed to dig a bit deeper.
If eight shots from Loon is enough for him to outscore Klay, the offense simply is not operating as designed.
Thompson’s frustrations were visible on several occasions, whether it was a single hand clap of displeasure or knuckles to the side of his head after a mental miscue. At the end, as his teammates filed into the locker room, Thompson took a moment to sit alone on the bench.
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Klay is a prideful man. He hates looking into a mirror and knowing he didn't, or couldn’t, deliver the goods in a time of need.
There will be many more such times ahead, and on most of those occasions he will deliver. For the Warriors to overcome their current state, this is essential. Assuming his tender knee will allow it.