SAN FRANCISCO, CA — First of all, hope everyone is hanging in there and doing #StayAtHome and #SocialDistancing as we get through the coronavirus pandemic. As for me, I’ve been out-of-pocket ever since skipping out on the Sixers and Clippers games — after heavily researching the virus and, back then, the threat of a pandemic — and I have a long-overdue DubNation Diary coming for the whole ordeal (🙋🏻♂️ my bad on the delays).
But tonight, everyone gets to take a two-hour escape back to December 5, 2016, when Klay Thompson erupted for 60 points in three quarters of play. NBC Thirst, I mean, Sports Bay Area 😁 (sorry, have you seen the headlines they tweet, though?!?!) will broadcast that epic game tonight at 8:00PM PDT. GAME THREAD BELOW!
I had trouble trying to dig up our livetweet that night, as Twitter advanced search can only barf up so much, but I did manage to find this little behind-the-scenes nugget from our good friends at Sports In The Bay aka Felicia Purcell. Enjoy the reminiscing and I might just add some clips from Golden State Warriors practice that happened the day after — they did come up in search results and should be fun to re-hash.
Klay goes out with 1.5 min left. Now that the Klay 60 concept game is over, Steph & Dray moves on to trying to get massive alleyoop dunks for JaVale and 3s for Ian Clark.
Zaza with the make-up dunk. Kinda would like to see a compilation of Zaza highlights? The goofy dance, the take down of Westbrick, the bag of other teams’ heads...oh, wait.
ANOTHER backdoor for Klay. And... YOOOOOOO, oh man I completely forgot this was the game with the jump ball to Dray to bomb to Steph mid-air flip alley-oop to KD.
I don't know if Steve Kerr is trying to teach the team a lesson to not force-feed Klay, but the first play after halftime is clearly not for Klay. Motion Zipper cut for KD, Klay passively spacing in corner.
"Inside the N.B.A., where eight entire teams have been tested, there are differing views. Bob Myers, the president of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors, said his team thought it would be unfair for its players to seek special access.
“We’ve been told that the testing is in short supply,” Mr. Myers said in a conference call on Tuesday, explaining that no Warriors coach, player or staff member would test until symptomatic — and only then in accord with government guidelines. “We’re not better than anybody, not worse. Just a basketball team.”
Sweet set play, Klay & looney looney set a high double screen for Steph. Klay pops out, Loon screens for Klay, Steph kicks back. Open 3. The force feeding is real, but subtle.
I know this is crazy, but the thing I'm enjoying the most is watching the old players. David West. Ian Clark. JaVale. Even Zaza. Also possibly the greatest of all time -- figuring themselves out. Steph was still awkward w KD, Klay learning that one ball, how we'll put it in the hoop.
It's great to see David West playing again. That top of key jumper. The rock solid post defense. Knowing he gave up millions and millions from this Pacers team for a chance at a ring, knowing YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
Honestly, it doesn't seem that big a game from Klay yet. A kind of quiet 17 in Q1. A lot of his big games start slow, because once he gets going, GSW gets addicted to force-feeding him.
Weird. Al Jeff completely schools JaVale on a post move, then next time down, Steph actually comes and doubles Al against JaVale. I think they were messing around with different defensive looks.
Definitely two more dribbles on another missed three but Klay racking points up on cuts and layups. 17 points with 3 minutes to go after a made basket 🏈 touchdown. JaVale hustling, tipping, Iguodala and-one. What a team!
Oops, was gonna keep track of Klay’s dribbles but may have looked away. Possibly two there: the miss on the three then not sure if he dribbled on the cut and pass/assist by Zaza.
Anybody else gonna come to the thread? Lol. Anyways, miss you KD (fade-away off one leg in the post over PG). Not too long after is Klay’s first trey.
Overall, this was probably my favorite regular season game, just for the sheer joy of it (even over the quarter record game. Maybe if the Warriors had won the Curry Garden party game in 2013 . . .)
Everyone knew it anyway, but the fact that the "3rd-best" (if you can even say that about a 1st-ballot HOF'er) was on pace for 80+ points - that was just ridiculous. And of course, this was the 16-1 "made that old" season, too.
Ugh! Missed it. I didn't know about it. Looks like YouTube TV DVR didn't either. **shakes his fist at Google overlords**
Welp, that was fun. Stay safe everybody! I gotta go out there and essential-work tomorrow 😬 hopefully not #famouslastwords 🙏
Clark probably didn’t hit enough threes to be kept around, but he sure was good on those #KerrSystem cuts to the hoop.
Q4.4.30. Ian Clark actually threw a lob that was too high for JaVale to catch. That is HARD.
JaVale-Looney-McAdoo in the game. FIVE CENTER ARMY STILL IN PLAY. Put in Zaza and West, you coward. Forget McCaw, he is just going to ghost us anyway
So Looney shot a 3 in this game actually. From up top, back-rimmed up high, bounced back in and out.
James Michael McAdoo in the game!!
Klay goes out with 1.5 min left. Now that the Klay 60 concept game is over, Steph & Dray moves on to trying to get massive alleyoop dunks for JaVale and 3s for Ian Clark.
I forget just how many Centers we used to have on roster
Curry-Clark
Klay-Livingston-McCaw
Durant-Iguodala
Green-Barnes
Zaza-West-McGee-Looney-Jones-McAdoo
So...are they going to show the 4th quarter at all?
Zaza with the make-up dunk. Kinda would like to see a compilation of Zaza highlights? The goofy dance, the take down of Westbrick, the bag of other teams’ heads...oh, wait.
Sheesh. That inbound steal, left sling pass cross-court to Klay for his 55th, 56th and 57th points.
One running drama this season is great Klay-Zaza dunk-off. Zaza gets rejected by the rim, so the season dunk counts remain unchanged.
Oh next play, Zaza with the real dunk! I spoke too soon! NOTHING EASY BABY.
Spoiler: Zaza actually wins the contest.
Whoa, Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks coming to town. That's three teams ago for Melo.
Q3.7.43. Elevator doors to the corner for and open 3 from Klay. Rattles it in and out.
Timeout for Zaza infectious disease control 😬 gimme a time machine!
ANOTHER backdoor for Klay. And... YOOOOOOO, oh man I completely forgot this was the game with the jump ball to Dray to bomb to Steph mid-air flip alley-oop to KD.
Q3.11.00. Yep, Klay dribbled about 7 times on that play, so they definitely are not counting non-scoring dribbles. Another two the next play.
There’s the Zaza tip to Draymond touchdown but wait assist Steph to KD yam!
That Zaza jump ball to Dray to Steph to KD was perhaps the moment I felt that team jelled. Perfection!
I don't know if Steve Kerr is trying to teach the team a lesson to not force-feed Klay, but the first play after halftime is clearly not for Klay. Motion Zipper cut for KD, Klay passively spacing in corner.
Are they going to replay the halftime show, or skip ahead?
Klay's face is all beat up at the halftime interview. Physical game out there.
NYT:
"Inside the N.B.A., where eight entire teams have been tested, there are differing views. Bob Myers, the president of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors, said his team thought it would be unfair for its players to seek special access.
“We’ve been told that the testing is in short supply,” Mr. Myers said in a conference call on Tuesday, explaining that no Warriors coach, player or staff member would test until symptomatic — and only then in accord with government guidelines. “We’re not better than anybody, not worse. Just a basketball team.”
https://twitter.com/SteveEder/status/1240458550905896962
Sweet set play, Klay & looney looney set a high double screen for Steph. Klay pops out, Loon screens for Klay, Steph kicks back. Open 3. The force feeding is real, but subtle.
Man, 4 years ago Klay and Steph didnt have enough reps with the fly-by. Now it’s second-nature.
Fitz reminds us Klay started out the season 3-for-28 on threes.
I know this is crazy, but the thing I'm enjoying the most is watching the old players. David West. Ian Clark. JaVale. Even Zaza. Also possibly the greatest of all time -- figuring themselves out. Steph was still awkward w KD, Klay learning that one ball, how we'll put it in the hoop.
Klay with his season-high 32 at Q2.4.28.
Wow, Zaza laid a serious hammer blow to the shoulder of Thaddeus Young.
32 points with 4:41 to go in Q2.
Q2.6.06. The ancient scribes record that THIS was the moment the Klay heat check and force feed began. That turnaround corner 3. He has 30.
Ok it’s definitely scoring dribbles. To the line!
It's great to see David West playing again. That top of key jumper. The rock solid post defense. Knowing he gave up millions and millions from this Pacers team for a chance at a ring, knowing YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
McCaw with the missed corner J, foreshadowing.
I counted 3 dribbles in Q1 plus 7 dribbles in recent sequences in Q2 after he subbed in with 9 mins to go. Correct?
ooooh, Q2.8.25 Klay dribbled four times on that play before passing. DRIBBLING? PASSING?
Honestly, it doesn't seem that big a game from Klay yet. A kind of quiet 17 in Q1. A lot of his big games start slow, because once he gets going, GSW gets addicted to force-feeding him.
GR3 is #40 on the Pacers... before he joined the side of the angels
Q1 end: God bless Steph for ALWAYS taking the heave. He gave up a second 50-40-90 for the love of the heave.
So I count three dribbles for Klay. Correct?
Weird. Al Jeff completely schools JaVale on a post move, then next time down, Steph actually comes and doubles Al against JaVale. I think they were messing around with different defensive looks.
Definitely two more dribbles on another missed three but Klay racking points up on cuts and layups. 17 points with 3 minutes to go after a made basket 🏈 touchdown. JaVale hustling, tipping, Iguodala and-one. What a team!
3.25. Klay with ANOTHER backdoor cut, missed the bunny layup. Could have had 62. Now beats Monta again running down court after made basket.
Steph with a gorgeous long pass to Klay who Euro steps (no dribble) to a layup
Oops, was gonna keep track of Klay’s dribbles but may have looked away. Possibly two there: the miss on the three then not sure if he dribbled on the cut and pass/assist by Zaza.
Oooooh, THAT time Klay burned Monta with the backdoor cut, layup from Zaza.
Q1.7.25. Sweet classic play. Post entry to Zaza, baseline cut draws attention, Steph pops out for 3.
Then Klay with one of his ten dribbles tonight, layup.
As I recall, most of Klay’s points were scored torching Monta
Anybody else gonna come to the thread? Lol. Anyways, miss you KD (fade-away off one leg in the post over PG). Not too long after is Klay’s first trey.
Overall, this was probably my favorite regular season game, just for the sheer joy of it (even over the quarter record game. Maybe if the Warriors had won the Curry Garden party game in 2013 . . .)
Everyone knew it anyway, but the fact that the "3rd-best" (if you can even say that about a 1st-ballot HOF'er) was on pace for 80+ points - that was just ridiculous. And of course, this was the 16-1 "made that old" season, too.