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The Klay Thompson comeback has been an amazing story to watch this NBA season. The three-time NBA champion has missed the previous two seasons with a torn ACL and torn Achilles. Thompson made his debut midway through this season playing 32 total games in the regular season He has been able to quickly kick off the rust averaging 20.4 points and shooting 38.5% on 9.3 three-point attempts per game this season.
Even with the two years off, it is clear what a vital part of the Warriors' offense the sniper is. Golden State's offense is built around movement and three-point shooting and few players do this at the level of Klay Thompson. He has seen a slight dip in his scoring as he has averaged 19.8 points per game this postseason. Thompson's shot attempts have taken a slight dip but his three-point percentage has increased to 39.9% in the playoffs.
2022 NBA Finals Odds: Klay Thompson series points average
Click here for FanDuel odds on Klay Thompson scoring average for NBA Finals
Klay Thompson scoring: Over 20.5 (+102)
Klay Thompson scoring: Under 20.5 (-130)
The Warriors' shooting guard has had an impressive postseason thus far. While he has failed to score over 20.5 points in 10 of the 16 playoff matchups, Thompson has scored 30 points on three separate occasions. The Warriors array of dangerous weapons is what makes their offense so dangerous. Thompson is more than capable of providing scoring when his name is called. The lethal trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole have established themselves as a dynamic offense and is a massive reason the team is in these finals.
The biggest matchup that most people have circled is between Marcus Smart and Steph Curry. Smart has proven to be the most effective defender of the superstar in recent seasons. According to Second Spectrum, Curry is shooting just 29% when Marcus Smart is his primary defender. The Warriors also only have an offensive rating of 85 during these possessions. This is the second lowest rating among all players qualified.
If this type of impressive effort is set to continue, the Warriors are going to need someone else to step up. Thompson is sure to be second in line for these looks. The gravity that Steph Curry demands opens up everything for the Warriors offense. While his scoring is certainly necessary, the defensive attention he requires is arguably more impactful.
The Celtics have several high-quality defenders that are capable of having a large impact. It seems pretty clear the Defensive Player of the Year will be tasked with guarding the Warriors leading scorer. The two-time MVP is clearly the center of the scouting report and for good reason. Expect Golden State to be creative in using this level of attention to their own advantage.
The Warriors have been unable to make the playoffs in either of the seasons without Klay Thompson. While this is by no means the only reason, the return of the five-time All-Star brings a feeling of completeness with this team. The emergence of Jordan Poole has been valuable, but the 22-year-old still has a great deal of upside to tap into. Thompson has proven to be the sidekick Steph Curry needed before the Kevin Durant era. Look for Thompson to prove this once again and be counted on as the Warriors reliable second scoring option in the series.
