WARRIORS PRACTICE FACILITY, OAKLAND, CA — In Game 2’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson shot just 6-for-15 from the field, 1-for-6 from beyond the arc, and committed a game-high 5 turnovers while being guarded by two-time First-Team All-Defensive player Tony Allen.
“He’s always getting locked in on dudes,” said Allen’s coach, Dave Joerger. “(He) spends a lot of time studying film and studying tendencies, studying sets. He’s locked and focused on a guy and he’s been doing a great job.”
“Tony always takes any matchup with one of the elite guys in the league personal,” said Grizzlies floor leader, point guard Mike Conley, after their team practiced in Memphis yesterday. “Almost too personal. Sometimes we get on him about not helping on defense. Sometimes he gets so locked in and just locking up his guy, but he’s everywhere on the court and we need that kind of energy from him if we’re gonna win.”
Allen, mic’d up during the game by TNT, was heard yelling, “First-Team All-Defense” to the Oracle crowd.
“I didn’t hear it,” Thompson told Damon Bruce of 95.7 The Game in an interview a few hours after practice yesterday. “That’s fine, man. That’s not gonna bother us, man.”
BasketballBreakdown’s Coach Nick analyzed Allen’s defensive tendencies on film and suggested that Allen’s gambling could lead disastrous outcomes for the Grizzlies. The video also revealed Thompson’s bad play from Game 2.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QwjYVOaNL8&w=560&h=315]Still, the Memphis small forward always seemed to give full effort and dedication, something that is obviously greatly valued by all coaches.
“He’s smart and he’s quick with what he’s doing with those angles and quick hands,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr of Allen, “so we probably tried to dribble too much in his space. The way to beat any good defender is with good screening, good cutting, basics, keep moving the ball.”
Thompson himself agreed that he had played a bad game.
“Just too many turnovers. (I) can’t be giving the ball away against this team, (they are) too disciplined,” said Thompson after practice yesterday. “Instead of trying to finish over three guys, maybe just try to make the easy play. That’s what I saw today watching film. In the future, just make the simple play, like get two feet in the paint and move it around on the perimeter, and trust your teammates.”
Kerr does not seem phased about the Thompson-Allen matchup for Game 3.
“Klay’s fine,” Kerr said. “He’s a guy who can go nuts the next game after a night like that. His effort was good. We showed him a lot of things on tape, just like we showed everybody, but i’m not worried about it.”
When a reporter asked for Thompson’s response to members of the media possibly thinking Allen was in Thompson’s head, Klay tilted his head, gave a chuckle, and said, “They know what I think now? That’s all I’ve got to say. In my head? C’mon, man.”
Perhaps the media took this funny tweet by @CBSSports too literally?
Tony Allen has not stopped guarding Klay Thompson. pic.twitter.com/oXzkl4Hgsf
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 6, 2015
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(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @CBSSports)
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