SAN FRANCISCO – After the first day of training camp, the Golden State Warriors saw what they wanted to see from Klay Thompson. It's a good sign for the organization and Dubs fans. Head coach Steve Kerr talked about watching Thompson get on the floor and do his thing.
“He basically did everything single thing in practice today. We didn't scrimmage. We didn't have any live contact, but Klay is so happy to be playing, and we're so happy to see him be part of it,” Kerr told ClutchPoints about a crucial and positive moment for the Warriors.
The Warriors have a daily team shooting contest after each practice. The winners of the competition are allowed to take home the championship belt for the day. Can you guess the group that won Tuesday? Yep, Klay Thompson's group, and Avery Bradley smoked the competition. It's not as though any far-reaching conclusions can or should be arrived at in light of these small-scale developments in a series of initial practices held a few weeks before a long season begins. However, if the needle is moving in a given direction, it's certainly positive. The team will take any small positive steps, as long as they continue to accumulate and lead to enhanced stability for an essential piece to the puzzle.
Thompson is right on schedule with everything, and the team isn't rushing anything with the three-time champion. Letting him get stronger every day, little by little, is the plan they are executing. The team will have their first scrimmage tomorrow, and Steve Kerr informed media that Thompson wouldn't be participating. Thompson isn't allowed to scrimmage or do contact drills yet.
Having Thompson back in practice with the Warriors is a huge morale boost, and it can carry the team some. But the Dubs will have to put in the work and make things happen on the court without him a bit longer.
The Warriors have missed the postseason two consecutive years mainly because of the injuries Thompson has suffered. If he returns to his usual self, the Dubs are pretty much guaranteed a postseason appearance.