OAKLAND — Klay Thompson will have another shooting like this again in his career.
Well, we can all hope and pray, at least. Because Monday night against the Pacers was one of the most mesmerizing accomplishments from one of the league’s most unique superstars.
Nobody has ever scored 60 points in 29 minutes, and nobody will again, Steph Curry said emphatically after the game.The next closest point total in 29 minutes was 30 years ago, when Celtics legend Larry Bird scored 43 back in 1986, per ESPN. It was one of the rarest feats we’ve seen in NBA history.
Why are we all so in awe of Thompson? Because it looks so different when he goes on a scoring frenzy, the exact opposite of Kobe Bryant’s one-on-one isolation game, in fact. Weaving in and around screens, Thompson dribbled just 11 times on his 21 made field goals. The ball was in his hands around one minute and thirty seconds.
Could it have been 80 points, Klay?
“I think I could’ve,” Thompson said. “Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity. But 60 in 29 minutes is not too bad. I’m satisfied with that.”
Up 33 points entering the fourth quarter, Steve Kerr said he gave no consideration to playing any starter in the final 12 minutes.
And if you haven’t figured it out by now, Kerr is directing a tunnel vision path for the Warriors this season. There is only one accomplishment that matters this season: win a championship and preserve his players along the way.
A year of going full throttle, chasing 73 wins and every record in their path, Kerr has sent a message to the Warriors and the rest of the league: We no longer don’t give a damn about regular season accomplishments. Every strategic decision is about getting to the playoffs healthy, not trivial regular season moments that will have no impact on the legacy this team is trying to create.
Still, was it really too risky to have him run and around banging home threes with the garbage time unit?Maybe he doesn’t want guys so wrapped up in individual accolades. Kerr made it a point to say nobody was even celebrating in the locker room, everyone was on their phones.
Thompson wasn’t the first to have greatness snatched from his hands. Earlier in the season, Kerr had no problem pulling Kevin Durant with five minutes left in the game. Durant had a streak of 72 consecutive games with scoring 20-points or more — tied with Michael Jordan.
It felt like Kerr pulled a pitcher with a no-hitter in the seventh inning on Monday. Kerr from a year ago? He might’ve let Thompson ride it out. Doesn’t this feel like Kerr has changed some?
Well, he probably has. This is only his third year coaching professional basketball, and as hard as it is to believe, the 51-year-old had to make changes this season to improve. Kerr is playing the conservative card, really the first time he ever really has with the Warriors. He’ll be the first to admit it’s not as fun.
But the regular season isn’t about fun. It’s about staying healthy and focused on a Larry O’Brien trophy and a June parade in Oakland.
Thompson heats up like microwave popcorn. He’ll will get his crack at 80 points one day.
It probably won’t be this season. Not while Kerr is focused on what really matters in the end.