Daily MVP Film Breakdown: Klay Thompson’s 43 on 4 Dribbles
Klay Thompson put up 43 points while hardly putting the ball on the floor. He dribbled just four times before 18 made baskets, working hard without the ball and playing pure off guard better than anyone else can.
Is Klay Thompson the best true off guard in the game?
43 points, 18 buckets, 4 dribbles.
The Catch and Shoot King.pic.twitter.com/ThIRWxFvPe— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Complimenting playmakers like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green necessitates effectiveness without the ball, and few players cut more dangerously than Thompson. This isn’t the first time he’s put up a silly number of points on single minimal dribbles, and it’s because he operates so perfectly as a finisher in this Warriors offense.
The key to Thompson’s game is his shooting, and it’s been a down year by his standards. He’s shooting 36% from deep this season, and he’s never had a season under 40%. In this game, he shot 7/16 from deep and hit a few shots with his foot on the line for good measure. So many of his cuts are simple, fundamental actions, but he does it better than anybody.
Klay started off with a pin down from Steph and a simple assist from Draymond.
He stepped on the line, but the shot was wet. pic.twitter.com/pBYs3SYtee— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Steph hits the pick and roll to his right as soon as Klay flares to the right wing off a pindown from Draymond. Beautiful. pic.twitter.com/dlMRgD2cPD
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
All Klay needs is an okay screen and a decent pass. pic.twitter.com/UEhIJPOFid
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
As the game went on and Thompson got hot, Golden State ran more plays for their shooter. Against a hapless Knicks team, that seems pretty mean.
Setting two off-ball screens for Klay Thompson against the Knicks should be against the rules. pic.twitter.com/RPUNkhSNWo
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
A good portion of Thompson’s open shots came because he calmly jogged to the right place on the floor in transition, or off an offensive rebound by a teammate.
The Warriors run to the corner on offensive rebounds better than anyone pic.twitter.com/c7JYBoa5e9
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Foot on the line, but how do you lose this dude in transition? pic.twitter.com/M0aMV0P8FP
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Right place, right time, right in the throat. pic.twitter.com/OVsbner3Xg
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Playing alongside Steph Curry, Thompson often finds himself wide open with a perfect dime landing in his lap. In those situations, he rises up for one of the most technically perfect jumpers the game has ever seen.
Steph knows his cut is gonna open Klay up in the corner before he catches the ball. As soon as it hits his hands he’s whipping the pass. pic.twitter.com/Jte2stWiBt
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Klay is literally just standing there and Steph hit him right in his shooting pocket with a sick dime, his 14th assist. pic.twitter.com/VePzDpTTPn
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
If Thompson isn’t flaring to the arc, he’s cutting to the basket. He often uses the threat of his deep shot to create a wide open lane to the rack, and all he needs to do is throw a tiny shoulder fake to move the defender. Both of these passes from Draymond are perfectly disguised and timed.
Klay with a quick fake like he’s going to take a DHO freezes his defender for just long enough to cut for the layup. pic.twitter.com/XYEzKQBXbF
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Little fake at the DHO, backdoor cut. Subtle but lethal. pic.twitter.com/7sdIT7nwxG
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
It’s not like Thompson had to work too hard for all of his buckets though. Against an abysmal defense, even the least enthusiastic scoring actions are rewarded.
Lazy screen, lazy cut, lazier defense by the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/E8FIoG9GVU
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Klay cut the Knicks apart last night. He had a ver easy time getting layups. pic.twitter.com/MAhPPPaTSc
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Backdoor Cuts 9 pic.twitter.com/hfHKpnAyqo
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Thompson did put the ball on the floor a few times, but only briefly. Like most of his game, it came off of his ability to shoot. When the defense closed out on the catch too aggressively, he pumped and dribbled into an easier jumper.
Pump, one dribble, bang pic.twitter.com/huRELdGGBp
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
One dribble, pull up, bang pic.twitter.com/l7J1nLof2X
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Thompson’s least fundamentally sound play was also one of his most beautiful, a whimsical one-legged fader.
He could’ve probably gone straight up for a layup, but he dribbled into a wonky fadeaway for the giggles. pic.twitter.com/mMKY2ZqV8b
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Klay Thompson dribbled a total of four times to set up 18 made baskets, and he also dribbled four times in a row to set up his only turnover of the night.
Klay dribbled 4 times before 18 made baskets and decided to dribble 4 times on one play lol pic.twitter.com/GbUJCrqY40
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) January 9, 2019
Klay Thompson is one of the few superstars in the league who plays better without the ball. He doesn’t even need to put it on the floor, in fact, he’s better when he doesn’t.
