How Warriors can repeat their offensive success with Klay Thompson
Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins have proven they can score; now, they need
to learn how to coexist with Klay
>Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole, left, drives against Chicago
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu during the first half of an NBA basketball game
in Chicago, Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
>Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole, left, drives against Chicago
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu during the first half of an NBA basketball game
in Chicago, Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
By EVAN WEBECK | ewebeck@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: January 15, 2022 at 8:52 a.m. | UPDATED: January 15, 2022 at
8:55 a.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/01/15/how-warriors-can-repeat-their-offensive-success-with-klay-thompson-2/

CHICAGO — In a strange turn of events, the Warriors’ worst offensive
funk of the season has coincided with Klay Thompson’s first games back
in more than two years. And, even stranger, they broke out of it with
Thompson on the bench.

So, what went right in a 138-96 win Friday against the Chicago Bulls?
“Well,” coach Steve Kerr said, cheekily, “That orange ball that we play
with, it went into the orange ring and stayed in through the net that’s
hanging.”

In some ways, it was that simple. Even against the Bucks, Golden State’s
internal analytics showed that by expected field goal percentage, the
Warriors should have won by six points in what was a 19-point defeat.
Upon reviewing the film, Kerr said the offense had performed better than
he originally thought, despite a season-worst shooting game (34.7% from
the field).

It’s no secret the Warriors offense, which was once humming along like
their NBA-best defense, has experienced some hiccups, even prior to
getting Thompson back. They had gone four of the past five games without
breaking 100 points (and lost all four).

But against the Bulls, with Thompson watching from the bench, Golden
State made its shots from the field at its highest clip of the season
(56.4%), scored a season-high in points and turned the ball over only
seven times, tied for a season-low.

The Warriors’ primary challenge for the second half of the season is to
find a way to replicate that success with all four of their scoring
threats operating in unison. By the time the postseason rolls around,
Golden State will need to be able to play with Thompson, Steph Curry,
Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole together, without detracting from any
one of them.

Forget, for a moment, the show-stealing performance from Jonathan
Kuminga in the second half of Friday’s win.

The Warriors offense got rolling because Wiggins and Poole found their
stroke. With 21 and 22 points, respectively, both players found their
most offensive success since Thompson was cleared to play. They also
outscored Curry, who somewhat broke out of his slump (19 points, 7-of-15
from the field, 4-of-10 from 3) but wasn’t the catalyst to Golden
State’s offensive success.

>Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, right, goes up for a
shot against Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu and center Nikola Vucevic
during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Friday, Jan.
14, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

With Thompson back in the mix, Kerr has emphasized the need for Golden
State’s secondary scorers to stay aggressive as ever on offense. But, in
three games with him, that hasn’t really happened.

Wiggins had contributed at least 20 points in five of his past six
contests prior to Thompson’s return and, ever since a breakout game
early this season against Minnesota, established himself as a consistent
threat on the offensive end. Poole had just dropped 32. Yet, neither
attempted more than 12 shots or scored more than 16 points in any of the
past three games with Thompson.

The difference against the Bulls was immediately noticeable.

The Warriors drew up plays to get open looks on the first three
possessions for Otto Porter Jr., then Wiggins, then Poole. Each play
ended with the ball falling true from 3-point land. You know, the orange
ball fell through that orange ring, and it just kept happening.

“They just have to stay aggressive, that’s all. There’s nothing that
we’re doing differently,” Kerr said. “We just want both guys to be super
aggressive. The ball went in for both of them at the beginning of the
game. That helped them build some momentum and they both had great
nights. … But some nights the ball doesn’t go in and you just have to
stay aggressive and attacking and that’s the only thing we’re emphasizing.”

The challenge for Poole is keeping up his aggression despite sliding
into a bench role. Wiggins must maintain the confidence he’s displayed
as a second scoring option even while sharing the court, now, with Curry
and Thompson.

Playing with Thompson, Poole said, was “different” but not difficult.

>RELATED ARTICLES
Warriors’ slump sunk? Curry, Thompson light up from 3-point range in win
Warriors’ GM gives update on Draymond Green’s injury
Warriors rookie Kuminga will keep starting in place of injured
Draymond Green
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson splash again in Warriors’ big win vs. Pistons
‘Say Uyghurs!’ Warriors slammed for omitting group’s name in
statement on Chamath Palihapitya

“It’s a change. I think we all were expecting it,” Poole said. “We’re a
good team; we know that. Klay’s a really, really good player. … He’s
been out for two years. We have a little bit different of a team than
when he left, so we’re just trying to put all the pieces together.”

In theory, Thompson’s presence should create more open looks for everyone.

In practice, it’s going to take some time for everyone to get acclimated.

--
Evan Webeck | Reporter
Evan Webeck covers high-school sports on the field and beyond — and a
little bit of everything else — for the Bay Area News Group. A Pacific
Northwest native and graduate of Arizona State, Evan has previously
worked for The Seattle Times, MLB.com and Sports Illustrated.