Klay Thompson had the worst postseason of his NBA career last season, ironically during a dominant 15-1 postseason run for the Golden State Warriors.
Yet this time around, the sharpshooter has done everything in his power to erase those memories with a couple of dominant games to start the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.
Thompson has been firing on all cylinders, shooting above the league average in 10 of 12 zones on the court, efficiently making at least one field goal in 11 of 13 zones, including a blistering 5-of-5 from the left wing three and totaling a mind-blowing 8-of-11 from long two-pointers.
Klay Thompson's shot plot through two games
-Only 1 of his 23 makes at the rim
-Hit a shot from 11 of the 13 zones
-He's 5/5 on left wing 3s
-He's 8/11 on long 2shttps://t.co/1vIi0q0fHU pic.twitter.com/16iwQDCRYF— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2018
Thompson finished the postseason averaging only 15 points per game on less than 40 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from deep, but he had his worst series against the Spurs, putting up only 11 per game and shooting a ghastly 32.7 percent from the floor despite a clean sweep of San Antonio.
This time around, Thompson has been a complete grim reaper, making 23 of his 33 field goals, including 10-of-14 from deep, burning the Spurs for five threes in each game.
What's more incredible is that the 28-year-old has done this by only attempting two shots in the paint and going to the free-throw line twice — leaving the middle of the floor free for Kevin Durant to do his damage, as he has repeatedly throughout the series.
Thompson's perimeter assassination has been clinical, making all 11 of his 13 attempts from the perimeter, all while handling different defensive tasks — from taking on small, agile point guards in Dejounte Murray and Patty Mills to switching onto a 260-pound stud like LaMarcus Aldridge.
If there is a reason Thompson got a pass during last season's playoffs besides the Warriors obtaining a second ring in three years is his undying commitment to defense. Whether that was a great or a ghastly shooting night, Thompson defended in each and every game — a testament to his mental fortitude — one that many two-way stars wouldn't match.
Thompson's defense has remained consistent even through two stellar games this postseason, bringing the flamethrower and the riot shield with him to the court.
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