ESPN speaking head Stephen A. Smith believes the Golden State Warriors are one piece away from championship rivalry, and that one piece is already on their roster.
Whereas discussing predictions for the upcoming NBA season, Smith and Co. turned their consideration to the opening night time matchup between the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers (7 p.m. PT on TNT). Because the panel waxed poetic on whether or not Los Angeles would make one other title run, Smith jumped on late to carry up a daring prediction for Golden State: if Klay Thompson is again by February, the Dubs and Lakers can be assembly once more within the Western Convention Finals.
On the very floor, it would not appear to be that daring of a declare to say {that a} group can be extra profitable after getting a former All-NBA and All-Defensive star again into its lineup. Nevertheless, Smith’s take does require a lot of issues to fall completely into place.
Thompson has missed the final two seasons because of a torn ACL and an Achilles tendon damage, two of probably the most devastating accidents a basketball participant, or actually any athlete for that matter, can take care of throughout their profession. Although he is had a superb period of time to get better, there isn’t any telling whether or not the Warriors guard would be the identical sort of participant upon his return.
Thompson was greater than only a lights-out shooter, already a excessive benchmark to copy in its personal proper; he was additionally a lockdown defender usually tasked with guarding the opposing group’s finest wing.
The lingering results of those accidents disrupting the defensive a part of Thompson’s sport are particularly regarding. Thompson’s most vital, underrated position has been maintaining Steph Curry out of high-pressure defensive matchups in order that he isn’t worn down by finish of sport. Even a fraction of Thompson’s defensive expertise being on the ground is a complete lot higher than a replacement-level participant — however is that actually sufficient, in tandem with the remainder of the roster, to get the Dubs all the way in which to the Western Convention Finals once more? We will see.
