The Warriors didn’t look great over the last two games without Klay Thompson in the lineup. In their three-point win over the 76ers, the Warriors looked decent on the offensive end of the floor, but really struggled to defend, giving up 117 points without Joel Embiid in the lineup.
Against the Celtics, things were abysmal in every way. It was the worst home loss in the Steve Kerr era. The Celtics shot 50/40/90 as a team while the Warriors shot just under 23 percent from deep.
Thompson’s shooting and ability to defend the other team’s best perimeter player is one of the reasons why the Warriors have been so good over the last five seasons. He does so much for the team on both ends of the floor that he’s nearly irreplaceable — so much so that the Warriors have an awful record without him in the lineup over his career.
Here’s numerical proof: The Warriors are 5-11 without Thompson the past three seasons, and 10-14 in his career.
This fact has brought up depth concerns for the Warriors as the team doesn’t have anyone reliable to replicate what Thompson brings to the team off the bench. For this year’s team, what they’re missing the most when Thompson is out is his defensive prowess.
“Klay puts pressure on the ball, moves without the ball on offense, creates space, his shooting,” Kerr said after Thursday’s practice in Oakland. “All the stuff he’s been doing for us for years at an All-Star level. That’s what we’re looking for tomorrow.”
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“I think his absence affects our defense a lot,” center Kevon Looney said. “He’s probably one of the best on-ball defenders, and he usually gets one of the tougher matchups. We definitely miss him.”
The timing for his return couldn’t be more perfect, though. The Warriors hold a one-game lead over the Nuggets for the top spot in the Western Conference, and the Nuggets have the NBA’s third most efficient offense. Considering the struggles that the Warriors have had on the defensive end all season long, this is a game they definitely want Thompson on the court for.
