The Warriors took a big blow behind the head Friday losing at home in Game 6 to a Sacramento team on cloud nine (99-1118), wasting their first match point to advance to the semifinals of conference.
Among the disappointments of the evening, Klay Thompson took his responsibilities in front of the media, while punctuating his speech with a resolutely ambitious speech for Game 7 this Sunday in the lair of the Kings. The rear has confidence in the ability of his group to bounce back, including him, Golden State and his hard core having the advantage of having a great experience of these ax matches, with an NBA championship title to defend as a bonus.
“I said Game 5 was the best game of our season. Well this Game 6 is probably the worst defeat. But we don’t have time to worry. I didn’t really play well, with three loose balls, a +/- of -28 which is horrible. Fortunately for us, we still have a chance, and I have absolute confidence in this team in our ability to go and finish the job on the outside. It’s going to be a difficult task but we’re ready for it.”, he confided. “I know we will respond. I know this team and I know these guys. I know what we are capable of and this Sunday, we will respond like the champions that we are”.
Drawing inspiration from failures… and victories
While the theme of failure in the NBA has not finished talking since Giannis Antetokounmpo’s release on the subject, Klay Thompson has highlighted the Warriors’ entire journey since the first title of 2015 to justify his great confidence for Game 7 tonight, especially the defeats.
“We have to realize that we are defending our throne. You know, we’re human. We had so many defeats during this dynasty. But we haven’t lost the fourth game of the series yet, only the third, and it’s the first of four losses to come out. So we’re very close, we know we can go for an away win. And then as an NBA player, we cherish moments like the one that will arise, a Game 7 in the playoffs. It does for me, and I know it does for the rest of the guys as well.”he added.
The memory of 2014
As for victories, on a Game 7 in particular, Klay Thompson and several of his teammates will be able to rely on that won in the conference final on the floor of the Rockets in 2018, when the Warriors had been able to finish strong for the take away 101-92.
“We also had a Game 7 which we lost against the Clippers in 2014”, remarked KT before recalling the victory of 2018 which then guided Steve Kerr’s troops to the title. “I remember the performance of Stephen, of Kevin (Durant), of Draymond Green. Nick Young had put in a big basket when I was worried about fouls, but I stayed ready, and I had put in some big shots at the end. I remember how hostile the environment was. The fans wanted to see their team in the finals for the first time since 1994. It will be the same kind of environment, but we have experienced that, we know what to expect, and we hope to end up winning.
| Klay Thompson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | GOS | 66 | 24 | 44.3 | 41.4 | 86.8 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 12.5 |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 82 | 36 | 42.2 | 40.1 | 84.1 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 16.6 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 81 | 35 | 44.4 | 41.7 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 18.4 |
| 2014-15 | GOS | 77 | 32 | 46.3 | 43.9 | 87.9 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 21.7 |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 80 | 33 | 47.0 | 42.5 | 87.3 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 22.1 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 78 | 34 | 46.8 | 41.4 | 85.3 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 22.3 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 73 | 34 | 48.8 | 44.0 | 83.7 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 20.0 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 78 | 34 | 46.7 | 40.2 | 81.6 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 32 | 29 | 42.9 | 38.5 | 90.2 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 20.4 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 69 | 33 | 43.6 | 41.2 | 87.9 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 21.9 |
| Total | 716 | 33 | 45.5 | 41.6 | 85.2 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 19.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
