BOSTON — Klay Thompson would possibly as nicely have spent Sport 2 of the N.B.A. finals on Sunday launching the ball straight into swirling winds. His field-goal makes an attempt veered left and proper, fell quick and carried lengthy.
Afterward, understanding Golden State would wish him to be extra productive as its sequence with the Celtics continued, Thompson sought to remind himself that he was good at basketball. So he fired up a laptop computer and watched previous clips of a well-recognized determine: himself.
“I keep in mind being in faculty,” he mentioned, “and once you’d undergo a capturing hunch, the video guys would pull up an excellent sport when every part appeared in unison, and your physique was working so nicely that the ball was simply flowing off your fingertips.”
All Thompson wanted to do, he mentioned, was seek for “Game 6 Klay” on YouTube, and numerous high-profile reminders of his long-range acumen had been available to him. Most lately, he scored 30 factors and made 8 of 14 3-point makes an attempt in Golden State’s Sport 6 win over the Memphis Grizzlies final month to shut out their Western Convention semifinal sequence. He additionally famously scored 41 factors, in a efficiency that included making 11 of his 18 3-pointers, in 2016 in Sport 6 of the Western Convention finals in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
“There have been some very high-pressurized conditions I used to be in, and I ended up capturing the ball nicely,” he mentioned. “When you are able to do it when your again is in opposition to the wall, you are able to do it at any given second. It’s nearly holding that psychological sturdy.”
If nothing else, Thompson is acquainted with holding, as he put it, that psychological sturdy. His celebrated comeback after lacking two full seasons due to accidents has culminated in one other journey to the finals, his sixth with Golden State. However he was clearly upset along with his effort in Sport 2 in opposition to Boston, as he shot 4 of 19 from the sector and completed with 11 factors. On the intense facet, he mentioned, the Warriors drubbed the Celtics to tie the sequence forward of Sport 3 on Wednesday evening in Boston.
“It feels good going 4 for 19 and profitable by 20,” mentioned Thompson, referring to Golden State’s 107-88 win. “I’d slightly try this than go 13 for 19 and lose by 10. Been there, and that’s by no means enjoyable.”
On Tuesday, Thompson arrived for his information convention sporting one sneaker whereas he labored to suit the opposite with an insole. He was, in his personal approach, a piece in progress, and that has been the case since January, when he was lastly again in uniform after a 941-day absence. In 32 regular-season video games, he shot a career-low 38.5 p.c from 3-point vary, however he supplied flashes of his acquainted greatness, and his mere presence on the perimeter helped create extra space for teammates like Stephen Curry.
It has been extra of the identical for Thompson within the playoffs: some good, some nice, some unhealthy. His inconsistency shouldn’t be stunning given how lengthy he was gone. His left knee and his proper Achilles’ tendon are surgically repaired, so there have been all the time going to be ups and downs as he sought to regain his rhythm and his conditioning. His teammates don’t appear involved.
“When you noticed him now, you’d assume he’s averaging 50 on this sequence,” Curry mentioned. “He’s obtained a really assured look about him. That’s the very best factor about him. It’s all concerning the work you place in. It’s concerning the mind-set.”
On Sunday, Thompson had a little bit of a distinct look. He missed 9 of his first 10 field-goal makes an attempt earlier than he made a 3-pointer early within the third quarter that put Golden State forward, 59-52. He pumped his fists, however was quickly muttering to himself and shaking his head.
“Once I watched the movie, I most likely appeared a bit rushed,” he mentioned. “I wasn’t beneath my shot.”
Even because the rating grew extra lopsided, Golden State Coach Steve Kerr left Thompson within the sport in opposition to Boston’s reserves. However slightly than unearth some confidence, Thompson missed his closing 4 pictures.
“I feel he’s simply urgent a bit bit,” Kerr mentioned. “He simply desires so badly to do nicely that he’s taking some unhealthy ones. I’m not notably involved about it as a result of this isn’t the primary time it’s occurred. Klay has a approach of responding to mini-slumps or no matter you need to name them.”
Thompson thought again to this 12 months’s Western Convention finals in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks. Over the primary 4 video games of the sequence, he shot simply 29.2 p.c from 3-point vary. In Sport 5, he scored 32 factors and shot 8 of 16 from 3-point vary to assist eradicate Dallas.
“I caught to the method,” he mentioned, “and finally I blew the lid off.”
Forward of Wednesday’s sport in opposition to Boston, Kerr mentioned a degree of emphasis could be to make it possible for Thompson obtained some beauty early that had been in rhythm.
As for Thompson’s movie examine — which he apparently tries to be discreet about — Golden State’s Draymond Inexperienced mentioned he had not caught Thompson watching previous clips of himself on YouTube.
“The truth is, if I did, we’d most likely make enjoyable of him,” Inexperienced mentioned. “So it’s most likely good that I haven’t.”
To be truthful, Thompson doesn’t have a lot hassle staying grounded on his personal. On Tuesday, he recalled the place he was a couple of 12 months in the past: understanding in an empty area with Rick Celebrini, the staff’s director of sports activities drugs and efficiency.
“To be again right here on this stage,” Thompson mentioned, “you’ve simply obtained to remind your self to maintain working as a result of it’s a blessing and actually an honor to be right here.”
