The Golden State Warriors bounced back from a dispiriting fourth quarter collapse in the opener of the NBA Finals to take Game 2, evening the championship series against the Boston Celtics with an utterly dominant third quarter. Steph Curry was the best player on the floor, by far, Draymond Green set a brash, aggressive tone from the opening tip and the Warriors locked down defensively to rattle the Celtics.
Based on Game 2 alone, Golden State seems well on its way to an incredible fifth NBA title in eight seasons.
Making the Warriors' enviable current position all the more impressive? They've managed it despite the objectively poor play of Klay Thompson, whose shooting struggles continued in Golden State's pivotal victory on Sunday at Chase Center.
He shot 4-of-19 from the field in Game 2, including 1-of-8 from beyond the arc, sometimes forcing up contested jumpers early in the shot clock. The Warriors' much-improved defense hinged on changing the primary assignment of guarding Jaylen Brown from Thompson to Green, too.
Don't expect Thompson's labors to continue, though. Why? After Game 2, the Warriors star intentionally burnished his confidence by seeking out footage of his most legendary postseason moments.
“Game 6 Klay” most recently appeared in Golden State's second-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, when Thompson dropped 30 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and made eight triples during his team's hard-fought close-out victory.
Thompson first earned that moniker in 2016, when his Game 6 flame-throwing on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder helped the 73-win Warriors stave off elimination.
Golden State probably can't count on Thompson draining double-digit triples as the Finals shift back to Boston tied at 1-1.
Confidence fueled by memories of his most epic playoff performances, though, don't be surprised if Thompson breaks out of his mini slump in a big way come Wednesday's Game 3.
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