The Golden State Warriors have been together for a decade and have sent numerous messages to each other over the years. These messages have been delivered in many ways, from funny video clips to veteran players speaking up. Although there have been many messages, some stand out. Klay Thompson recalled a time in 2016 when coach Steve Kerr showed the team a video of FC Barcelona playing a style called “tiki taka,” which emphasizes pace, ball movement, and making simple passes. Despite being surprised that Thompson remembered the video, Kerr noted that the message is in there, and it still resonates years later.
Pillars of the Warriors
Thompson and forward Draymond Green are the two pillars of the team who have been under the most weight, given their ages, salaries, and lack of recognition compared to Stephen Curry. The team has been asked about the future all season, but they have tried to stay present. Thompson and Green finally found an answer for the team’s struggles on the road in their 123-116 win against the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors went an abysmal 11-30 away from home this season, allowing 10.8 more points per game, the largest home-road discrepancy since 2008-09.
Transforming into What the Warriors Need
In Game 5, Thompson scored 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting, and Green scored 21 points, which was unexpected. Green had been removed from the starting lineup to create better spacing after his suspension in Game 3, but he transformed himself into what the Warriors needed in this series. He offered to come off the bench in Game 4, then attacked the basket to keep the Kings’ defense honest in Game 5. The Warriors have an opportunity to close out this dangerous, young Kings team on Friday in San Francisco. Thompson said, “I think when we know what the stakes are, we’re competitors and we play to that level.”
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