The NBA Finals are nearly upon us. It is a narrative that has been beaten to death as the Cavaliers and Warriors will duke it out for a third consecutive season. But this year there are several storylines that make this confrontation seem new again. Can LeBron cement his legacy? Is Kyrie Irving more than just a really good second banana? Can Stephen Curry and company erase the spectre of their 2016 collapse? Is Kevin Durant the person to help them do so? These are all valid quandaries, but none address the seemingly overnight disappearance of Klay Thompson in the 2017 postseason. It would be very easy amongst all this series’ star power to forget about Thompson. It would also be very unwise.
The Warriors and Cavaliers have been on a collision course since this postseason started. While both teams had their supposed opposition, neither seemed anything but destined for another Finals showdown. Along the way, each team has had their superstars cement themselves in those roles. The two teams have combined to lose just one game thus far in 2017’s second season. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant have shined in various instances during Golden State’s so-far perfect run. LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving have done the same in their once blemished sojourn to yet another Finals. The odd All-Star out is Klay Thompson.
Thompson is averaging just 14.4 points per game during these playoffs. That is the lowest output of his career and nearly 10 points shy of his production from a season ago. But it isn’t just that part of the scoresheet plummeting for Klay. His entire stat line from last year is down across the board. History tells us that a return date with Cleveland may not be the tonic to help him either.
However, those early series jitters during last year’s Finals come with a caveat. During those games, Thompson routinely had to deal with LeBron James on both ends of the floor. By the time Golden State adjusted their offensive attack accordingly, the series famously slipped away. This year the Warriors have another wing presence to absorb the King’s undivided attention. Kevin Durant’s presence should make for a Finals rebirth for the forgotten Splash Brother.
The two regular season contests between Golden State and Cleveland saw two different Durant showings. In Cleveland on Christmas Day, Durant posted a double-double (36 pts., 15 reb.) and controlled the flow of the offense. Nevertheless, the defending champs defended their home court with a one point win. Despite Durant’s impressive night, he was regularly isolated. That took Klay and Steph Curry out of their flow. It was a classic case of letting one man get his in order to nullify the effectiveness of others.
The game in Northern California was an entirely different tale. The Dubs bombarded the Cavs by 35 points. Even that scoreline isn’t truly indicative of how lopsided the two sides were in the contest. The key difference between the two affairs was Thompson’s increased inclusion in the offensive flow. Although he scored just two more points than the game in Ohio, Thompson proved his worth in the blowout. Thompson’s motion off the ball, as well as his work with it, forced Cleveland to pick their poison. Would they sic LeBron entirely on Durant, or would they split his defensive responsibilities? They chose Durant that night, much to their detriment. A similar choice over the coming weeks could spell similar disaster.
Thompson has yet to reach his potential in the 2017 Playoffs. He’s getting plenty of shots during this run, but more often than not those shots are poor looks late in the shot clock. Golden State’s Western Conference sojourn had no deviation from that standard. But I’m here to tell you the Finals will be a different beast.
Where the likes of the Blazers, Jazz, and Kawhi-less Spurs threw the book at Thompson, Cleveland picks their defensive battles. They let Paul George get his. Same for DeMar DeRozan. Boston was easy pickings with Isaiah Thomas out injured. Stephen Curry will get his in this series. But while Cleveland could contain Klay Thompson a year ago, the presence of Durant no longer affords them that opportunity.
Everybody is looking for that secret x-factor to swing this close series in either direction. You needn’t look farther than Klay Thompson. The deposed Prince of Splash will make whomever Cleveland throws at him, be it J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, or Richard Jefferson, pay in full. He alone will be what swings the series more in Golden State’s favor than the oddsmakers already believe it to be.