After Stephen Curry spoiled Klay Thompson’s comeback with a 120-117 victory on November 12, fortunes have been starkly contrasting between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Warriors have since gone 3-5, which additionally coincided with the interval following De’Anthony Melton’s season-ending ACL damage. The Mavericks, however, have gained seven of their final eight video games, with the one loss coming in additional time at Miami.
Dallas’ final three wins have include Thompson out of the lineup, with the veteran sharpshooter coping with a foot situation. His absence allowed Naji Marshall, one other offseason acquisition, to thrive, with the 26-year-old posting 4 straight 20-point video games earlier than Saturday’s win over the Utah Jazz.
Marshall’s kind and that of the staff may result in an uncomfortable dialog between Jason Kidd and Thompson, with Jaren Boslow from The Smoking Cuban suggesting on Saturday that it is smart for the 5x All-Star to maneuver to a bench function.
“With Thompson struggling to make an affect on each ends of the courtroom, it is smart for Jason Kidd to doubtlessly bench the four-time champion in hopes that he finds extra manufacturing off the bench,” Boslow wrote.
Thompson made six threes and 22 factors in his return to Chase Middle, nevertheless it was his solely 20-plus level sport because the season opener towards the San Antonio Spurs on October 24. He is at present averaging 13.2 factors on 38.3% capturing from the ground and 36.8% from 3-point vary – these capturing percentages are by far the worst of his profession, and the scoring common is the very best low since his rookie yr.
Thompson was controversially benched by Steve Kerr simply earlier than the All-Star break final season, responding with seven threes and 35 factors in simply 28 minutes. It was the primary of 14 video games he performed off the bench earlier than returning to his longtime spot within the backcourt alongside Curry.
Though Thompson carried out properly off the bench, the uncertainty surrounding his function undoubtedly performed a task in his determination to go away Golden State for Dallas through the offseason. After signing a three-year, $48 million contract with the Mavericks, will probably be fascinating to see how issues play out if he’s pushed to a bench so early in his tenure with the franchise.
The Warriors will not see Thompson and the Mavericks once more till Feb. 12 on the American Airways Middle.
