"I was waiting frantically for a night like this": Clay Thompson enters the rhythm, and Golden State warns

Clay shelled out 38 points in good percentages, and Golden State looked great precisely when Steph Kerry recorded a surprising low, before the return of Drymond Green: "Our game opens"

Walla!

sport

13/03/2022

Sunday, 13 March 2022, 10:40 Updated: 10:44

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Clay Thompson is training with Golden State ahead of returning to the pitches (from YouTube)

Clay Thompson has been waiting for this for a long time.

Since returning to action, the Golden State star has been waiting for one game where he will explode and star, and that his shot will start coming in smoothly and consistently, and tonight (Saturday through Sunday) it has finally happened.

Thompson finished with 38 points, leading the Warriors to a 109-122 victory over champion Milwaukee, in an encouraging game for him and his teammates, multiple exams.

Clay claims that while he is waiting for a 40-point game "simply because it sounds better", 38 is also excellent.

"I've been frantically waiting for a night like this," Thompson said, "but even a few sputtering nights in archery in mid-season games are not going to hurt my ego. I'm still going to get on the field and compete."

Thompson scored 15 of 24 from the field with eight threes, making a total of a second appearance of 30 points or more since returning on Jan. 9 after an absence of two and a half years following injuries and knee and Achilles surgery.

"I'm sure it's a relief for him," coach Steve Kerr said.

"

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Clay Thompson exploded with a season-high, defeating Milwaukee despite Kerry's weak day

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Why would he doubt himself?

Clay (Photo: Reuters)

In the previous four games Thompson averaged 34% from the field and 23.3% from the three.

"Everyone makes a big deal out of my shooting, man," Thompson said with a crooked smile, "I mean I'm not happy with how I've shot lately, but I know those nights are inside me. I just know. I've done too many great things in the past that players did not, myself".

Just two days ago Steve Kerr claimed Thompson was forcing shots because of his decline.

According to the coach, "This time he just let the game come to him early. He did not chase shots. During the last few games, he took hard shots early, and that prevented him from getting into the rhythm. Tonight he took better shots early ... you know, Clay "Once two come in, the harder ones also become much easier for him."

Thompson's improvement is part of Steve Kerr's overall effort to upgrade Golden State's offense, take better shots and manage the offense in a more balanced and efficient manner, even before Raymond Green returns, without expecting him to do magic.

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Steph attracts attention, Thompson knows how to appreciate it (Photo: Reuters)

Tonight Golden State scored 48.4 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three.

Decision-making began with Stephen Kerry, who had to deal with double and triple guards.

Steph finished with eight assists, scoring just 8 points with 3 of 7 from the field.

This is the first time he has taken less than 10 attempts since April 9, 2019, so he left the game after only 10 minutes.

"If they are going to put a double guard on Steph, and Thompson and Jordan Paul are getting into the rhythm, it will be hard to defend against us," Kerr said.

Paul finished the night with 30 points, Andrew Wiggins added 21.

"I don't think there is a player who has had as many double and triple saves as Steph," Thompson said.

"It opened up my game a lot. And I appreciate him for the attention he gets when he's on the field. It just allows for so many good shots for the other guys."

The Bucks Bakri's focus provided Thompson with the perfect opportunity to bring out the best in himself, and put the Warriors in a good position before Green's return on Monday.

"I was eager for a night like this," Thompson said.

"It was a big boost to our confidence, to my confidence. I really wanted 40 points. 38 is great, but 40 just sounds better. Whatever it is - it was a fun evening at the office."

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