Jannelle Moore on the Warriors: The change in Klay Thompson’s game

What’s in Klay Thompson’s ‘bag’?

If you let the five-time NBA All-Star tell it, he has the handles and the touch around the rim to go along with his range, his ability to get hot from three within a minute, and his defense. Seeing Thompson slash through the paint, and soar above Cleveland Cavalier defenders for an emphatic dunk in his season debut on Jan. 9 and his newfound penchant to drive to the basket is a surprise to everyone but him.

“I always had that in my bag,” Thompson said last week. “I’ve been able to put the ball on the floor since high school. My strength is obviously catching, shooting, and cutting, but now I am getting older. I try to use my strength, try to get to the free-throw line  a little more. It gets me in rhythm.”

Thompson, 32, insists that he has always had the ability to drive to the basket, but it’s not his forte like coming off of pin downs and screens to catch and shoot. On the other hand, after coming off of Achilles and ACL injuries in consecutive seasons, should he lean into this particular “tool” in his bag?

The Warriors’ motion offense is predicated on screens, cuts, and pin-downs and since Thompson is coming off injuries that affect cutting and planting, it would make sense to lean into driving.

Plus, it’s not such a bad thing for the Warriors’ offense, especially if Curry, Andrew Wiggins or Otto Porter Jr. are on the floor.

“We have a lot of spacing. This team has a lot of shooting and if he’s out there with Steph and Otto and Wiggs there’s a lot of room to drive.” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said.  “Klay is doing a really good job of attacking the rim, getting into the paint and moving the ball along. He and Wiggs have a good connection already. It’s been fun to watch Klay back for obvious reasons, but great to see him clicking with everybody”

In the six games he has played this season, Thompson is averaging 5.8 drives. In the two seasons before the injuries, his average was 4.4 and 3.5.

Driving to the basket might be best for Thompson at this early stage of his comeback because he’s struggling with his shot. In his six games, Thompson is making barely 30 percent of his three-point tries. Against Indiana on Thursday night, he missed all seven of his three-point attempts. He contributed 12 points despite 6-for-17 shooting because of his willingness to drive.

Curry is supremely confident that Thompson will become the shooter he always has been. Referencing a recent quote in which Thompson said he’d keep shooting even if he missed 100 shots in a row, Curry said:  “I keep telling him 101. The 101st (shot) is going in. I’m going to keep telling him that message. It’s going to come.”

Until it comes,  the Warriors and Thompson could take advantage of what the defense gives him. Getting to the basket and drawing fouls in addition to adding more space since defenses will have to eventually keep Thompson out the paint can only diversify the Warriors offensively.

The trend of Thompson at the rim could also be a byproduct of the absence of Draymond Green. When healthy, the Warriors lean on Green to facilitate the bulk of the offense. With him out for a while due to his calf and lower back injury, it’s a collective effort to keep a semblance of normalcy.

“I think with Draymond being out, the ball is going to be distributed more,” Kerr said. “Draymond is our main facilitator, leading assist guy. So with him out, a lot of guys will have to share those responsibilities including Klay.”

Thompson has proven in his career that he’s a flame thrower from deep. His 60-point game on 11 dribbles and his 37-point quarter are testaments to that. He also has proven to be one of the Warriors’ best defenders. He has an NBA-All Defensive Second Team is a testament to that.

So what else is in Thompson’s bag? Multiple assists? Pick-and-rolls? With the chemistry that he and Wiggins are developing, that pairing wouldn’t be surprising in the least.

“I love playing with Klay,” Wiggins said this week. “I love playing with Steph, all the guys. But Klay’s a competitor. He’s out there. He wants to win. He makes the guys around him better and he’s great defensively. He can do it all. I love Klay.”