On February 16, the NBA regular season was in full swing, and the Warriors continued to consolidate their position in the Western Conference with a thrilling 140-137 victory over the Jazz on the road. However, the biggest highlight of the game was not the victory itself, but the bold changes made by Warriors coach Kerr to the starting lineup and Klay Thompson's stunning performance as a substitute.
Before the game, Kerr made a decision that surprised everyone: to remove Klay Thompson from the starting line-up and replace him with young player Podzemski. This change of formation is undoubtedly a huge challenge to the Warriors' traditional starting five, after all, Klay's starting position as the team's all-time leading scorer is almost unshakable. Cole, however, has his own considerations.
Curry, Wiggins, Podzemski, Kuminga and Dream are the best starting five at the moment," Kerr explained in a post-game interview. Kerr's remarks are undoubtedly a very high evaluation of Podemski, and it is also an affirmation of his own adjustment of the lineup.
However, it wasn't easy to get Clay to accept the role as a substitute. As a player who has been a starter for 11 years, Klay has a strong sense of self-esteem and competitiveness. But admirably, Clay did not have negative emotions because of this adjustment, but responded to Cole's trust with a more positive attitude.
I talked to Klay in the morning about getting him off the bench," Kerr revealed, "and he handled it well, he was decisive and competitive on the court. As it turned out, Klay not only did not disappoint Kerr, but repaid the manager's trust with a stunning performance.
Klay played 27 minutes off the bench, shooting 13-of-22, including 7-of-13 three-pointers and 2-of-2 free throws, scoring a team-high 35 points and grabbing six rebounds and diching out two assists. Not only did it drive fans crazy, but it also made Kerr's tweaks look like a stroke of genius.
Clay's outburst was not accidental. As an all-time scorer, he has excellent scoring ability and a strong ability to read the game. Off the bench, Klay gets more rest and less defensive pressure, which allows him to get into the groove quickly once he gets on the court, tearing apart the Jazz's defense time and time again with accurate shots and sharp breakaways.
Of course, the Warriors' victory is also inseparable from the contributions of other players. The consistent performance of starters such as Curry and Wiggins has laid a solid foundation for the team, and the players on the bench have also performed well. Regardless, Clay's stunning performance was one of the biggest highlights of the game.
This win means a lot for the Warriors. Not only did it allow the team to continue to solidify its position in the Western Conference, but it also gave fans a glimpse of the endless possibilities of the Warriors in the playoffs. And Klay's amazing performance as a substitute player adds a sense of expectation and hope for the team's future.
Overall, Kerr's bold changes to the starting lineup and Klay's stunning performance as a substitute were among the biggest highlights of the game. The Warriors proved their strength and resilience with a thrilling victory, while Klay proved his worth and ability with a stunning performance. In future games, we have reason to believe that the Warriors will continue to maintain this form and performance, and bring more exciting games and memories to fans.
But one thing has to be said, the better Klay performs on the bench, the more likely he is to sit on the bench, and there is no possibility of starting in the Warriors again!