The '19 Playoff Warriors made it to the Finals for five straight years, but it was an extremely dark year for them. Because Durant suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon injury + parted ways with the Warriors in the playoffs this year, Thompson also suffered a season reimbursement due to a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee, coupled with cousins' departure, which made the famous "five-star Warriors" have to disintegrate.
In the 19-20 season, after Durant left, Thompson was reimbursed for the season, and Curry could not play for a long time due to injury, the Warriors, who had been invincible and set off a storm of small balls in the league, instantly fell from five years of triple crowns to the bottom team of the league...
Two consecutive serious injuries made the outside world dare not expect Thompson anymore
When Thompson tore the ligament in his left knee in the 19th Finals, with his technical characteristics and physical talent, in fact, the outside world is still very optimistic that he can return to the top after recovering from injury. This is also the main reason why the Warriors management at that time, knowing that Thompson was likely to be reimbursed for the season, was still willing to give a large contract of 5 years and 190 million.
But as the saying goes, when people are unlucky, they will even plug their teeth when they drink water. Just when the outside world is looking forward to Thompson's return, teaming up with Curry, Green, wiggins to help the Warriors return to the top four in the West; Thompson was reimbursed for another season season due to a torn Achilles tendon in a training game before the start of the 20-21 season...
After two consecutive major injuries that led to season reimbursement, the outside world did not dare to expect Thompson to return to the top, because one of these two injuries was enough to destroy the career of an athlete at the peak.
Before the start of the new season, when the Warriors could not play in the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, it was widely believed that before Thompson's return, the Warriors' best record was only stable in the eighth place in the West. Unexpectedly, under the power of Wiggins, Poole and others, the Warriors even occupied the top position in the league's record list.
The main contributors who helped the Warriors play the league's top record, in addition to Curry, Green, and Wiggins, in fact, the most important thing is the rise of Poole, which replaced Thompson's offensive role to a certain extent and shared the pressure on Curry.
And before Thompson's return, Poole averaged 17.6 points, 3.0 boards, 3.3 assists per game, and 44.5% shooting. But even if Pooler's personal performance is excellent, but when Thompson is close to coming back, Kerr still said to the outside world: "When he comes back, he will start the debut, I will not make a fool of myself, first let Thompson play as a substitute for a period of time to adapt to something, I will not do this." ”
After Thompson's comeback, Kerr did not break his word, and he insisted on letting Thompson start. However, in fact, the first seven games of Thompson's comeback played relatively "crotch".
Defensively, due to two consecutive years of not playing + injury leading to a decline in physical fitness, Thompson appeared weak and was often stepped over. On the offensive end, he averaged only 14.7 points, 2.7 boards and 2.5 assists, 38.8% shooting rate + 34.4% three-point shooting rate, and the scoring efficiency dropped sharply.
Judging from Thompson's performance in the first seven games of his return, his performance on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends is not even as good as Poole's. So during that time, there were also many media or fans calling: let Thompson play as a substitute to find the state, and then put Poole back in the starting lineup, give him enough tactical status, let him continue the outstanding performance at the beginning of the season.
Although Thompson's first seven games after his comeback, the personal performance was not very good, and it could even be said to be very bad. But that didn't shake Kerr's confidence in the slightest — he still put Thompson in the starting lineup, still giving him enough shots and tactical positions.
Warriors vs Lakers: Scoring three three-pointers in a row, Thompson saved the game with one effort
In the recent Game of warriors vs Lakers, it was thought that with the state and strength of the Lakers in the new season, it is likely that in the second or third quarter, the Warriors will forcibly take away the game in a wave.
However, the Lakers bench played a pretty good personal performance: Tucker 17 points, 7 boards and 3 assists, Reeves 13 points, 3 boards and 2 assists, Munch 12 points, 3 boards and 1 assist, they used their outstanding performance to help the Lakers bite the score and stalemate to the final moment.
With 5 minutes and 51 seconds left in the game, the Warriors and Lakers drew 103, but with James, Westbrook, and Reeves hitting two consecutive points, the gap between the two teams was quickly widened to 6 points, and even the gap between the two sides had a tendency to be further expanded. At this time, the Warriors did not stand up to Curry, Nor Wiggins or Poole, but Thompson, who had just returned.
Thompson perfectly demonstrated his value in the Warriors system in this game, hitting three consecutive three-pointers to help the Warriors complete the reversal from a six-point lead of two points. In the end, Thompson shot 12-of-22 from the field and exploded with 33 points and 5 boards, helping the Warriors win the Lakers 117-115.
It was also after this game that the outside world realized why Thompson did not perform well, And Kerr insisted on letting him start; because even after successive serious injuries, Thompson's strength was still not comparable to Poole, especially the "big heart" at key moments...
Despite two major injuries, Thompson is still the best title puzzle
Since Thompson's comeback, the lack of defensive intensity due to the decline in physical fitness is visible to the naked eye. But in fact, Thompson's defense is also slowly getting better with the deepening of the season, although it will not be able to return to the peak, but with his defensive experience + physical fitness, it will not become a defensive loophole for the team. Without becoming a hole in the team's defense, Thompson is still the league's best championship puzzle.
1. Have super three-point ability + scoring explosive power, but do not occupy the ball. Now when it comes to three-pointers in the league, everyone's first reaction must be to think of Curry, but in fact, Thompson's three-point performance is also the top existence in the league. Even his three-point shooting rate and stability after running without the ball are much stronger than Curry's.
And once the feel is hot, whether it is the playoffs or the defensive intensity of the regular season, it can't stop Thompson's three-point performance in a row of shots, which also creates his unusual scoring explosion.
If it comes to scoring explosive power, Durant, Curry, Harden, etc. are also extremely terrifying once they are picked up. It's just that they can't do almost no possession of the ball like Thompson, and they can shoot 60+ points in a short period of time just by using the skill of catching the ball.
2. Have a super giant level of "big heart". As early as the Warriors' five-year triple crown period, there was a saying in the outside world: "Look at Curry in good times, look at Thompson in adversity, and look at a brother in a desperate situation." Now that Iguodala is old and no longer brave, Curry, as the absolute core of the team, also needs to face the most intense defense. Therefore, Thompson's key games and key moments can often determine the height of the Warriors...
In the sixth game of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, the Warriors, who were 2-3 behind in the big score, were suppressed by the Thunder from the beginning, and finally Thompson stood up, shooting 11 three-pointers (11 of 18) in a single game, and bombarding 41 points and 4 boards, which helped the Warriors survive the disaster.
The 2019 Finals, in the absence of Durant and Curry's "encirclement", is also Thompson's efficient and stable score, giving the Warriors "forced to continue life" again and again at key moments, otherwise, the series between the Warriors and the Raptors will not be able to play the sixth game.
Although Thompson's comprehensive strength, compared with Durant, Curry and others, is indeed not up to the super giant level, his psychological quality is not lost to anyone.
And this may also be the main reason why Kerr insists on Thompson starting, don't look at the Warriors' current record is good, but once they enter the playoffs, Poole, Wiggins, Porter, Damien Lee and others can still maintain a little strength. If they "pull their crotch" in the playoffs, even if the Warriors' regular season record is beautiful, it doesn't mean much to them.
Therefore, taking advantage of the high ranking of the record, quickly helping Thompson get back to his former state is indeed the most correct way for the current Warriors. After all, although Thompson's defensive ability is not as good as before, from his performance in key moments and the overall performance of the past seven games, at least he can return to the past offensive state, and still has a super-giant "big heart".
In summary, although Thompson's overall strength cannot become the boss of the team, he has super offensive firepower + super-giant "big heart", but he has become the best championship puzzle in the league, and has become a fragrant feast in the eyes of the championship team...