Explain: Steph Curry rewards Klay Thompson's new patience and shot selection, blows open Knicks game
Explain: Steph Curry rewards Klay Thompson's new patience and shot selection, blows open Knicks game
Promising signs
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The Warriors had a heart-to-heart team meeting, partly about Klay Thompson’s greedy shot selection, and Klay came into the game with a new patience and better shot selection on 2022.11.19.NYK-GSW.
Steph Curry rewarded this discipline by assisting on a bunch of Klay scores and generally trying to get Klay open shots in the opening and deciding part of the game. Co-starring Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. With Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and Cam Reddish.
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Well, there were a few moments that were just a little bit nerve-wracking, but the start of the game was not one of them. Klay and Poole both looked good in the first quarter, and to some extent all game long. Definitely saw the same thing with Klay being better at using his opportunities to pass into a bigger advantage rather than forcing up a shot; I didn't see the stuff highlighted here with Steph directing the offense. That's cool!
More generally, I think Poole's off-ball defense is coming along: he's getting better at knowing when to help and when to stick to his guy, and getting hands in the passing lanes. Actually the defense in general seems to be doing more and better including bringing back some zone looks.
Room for improvement: Lamb was over-helping off shooters in the corner a little during the stretch where New York threatened to come back, and I'm still not all that impressed with JMG's rebounding or much else really. I didn't think I'd so desperately wish for Bjelica back but here we are. Once again in the 4th I was wishing for us to bring Looney back for J. Green and this time Kerr did it... just in time for Loon to get called for some and-1 fouls under the basket. Oops.
I'm not looking forward to Fitz and Buike saying "defend without fouling" every game this season...
On that break where Steph pointed for Klay to spot up, four Knicks followed Steph anyway. As of this writing, none were fired for doing so.