The Los Angeles Lakers were one of six teams to open up the season on Tuesday night and they did so in surprising fashion. Upsetting the Clippers in a 116-103 upset which no one expected setting their season off on a high note. That all changed Wednesday as the Lakers made their way up north to Roaracle Arena for the Warriors opener on Wednesday night. What followed once the game got underway was nothing short of what every Warriors fan had dreamed of, a complete onslaught of 3’s and a suffocating defense that didn’t allow the Lakers any chance to keep themselves in this one.
Warriors 31-point win over the Lakers is their largest ever on opening night and their largest over the Lakers since 1994
— GSWStats (@gswstats) October 31, 2013
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The Lakers aren’t the threat they once were, but this rout was still a statement by the Warriors who face off against the reigning elite of the Pacific Division, the Los Angeles Clippers later tonight. The Warriors opener didn’t say much about the team as a whole because there isn’t much on can gain from such an onslaught, but one thing we did learn is that Klay Thompson exhumes a new confidence this season that provided impressive results. So impressive were the career-high 38 points (15-19 from the field and 5-7 from 3) that Thompson himself was stunned.
From Marcus Thompson II:
“It felt great,” Thompson said. “That’s what we live for. It’s crazy. I never imagined I’d have 38 points in three quarters. But, you know what, you can surprise yourself sometimes.”
Former teammate Brandon Rush, now a member of the Utah Jazz watched on equally stunned at the jaw-dropping performance
Killa Klay
— Brandon Rush (@BRush_25) October 31, 2013
Tim Kawakami got Mark Jackson‘s thoughts on Thompsons stellar performance,
On Klay Thompson: “There’s no secret that Klay Thompson is a phenomenal shooter. (And) I don’t think enough credit is given that he’s a heck of a basketball player. Not only did he shoot the lights out, but he defended–first line of defense on Steve Blake…
and later
“He’s thirsty to score. He wants to shoot. So there’s no secret about that.”
The game was so one sided that little was needed of the Warriors superstar, Stephen Curry. No one could guess the Warriors crushed the Lakers in a 116-95 routing if you were to look and see Curry only provided 10 points and 6 assists, but Curry noticed Thompson had the hot hand and was more than willing to defer as Jackson pointed out
“Our guys did a great job of reading who is hot and finding the mismatch. I thought Steph (Curry) did an outstanding job of running the basketball team…”
Kawakami specifically asked Curry about getting the ball to the hot hand, in this instance that hand was Klay Thompson’s and it was scorching
-Q: When did you first tell yourself, ‘Get it to Klay, he’s on fire’?
-CURRY: Right away, the way he started out the first six minutes, you knew it was going to be one of those nights.
In transition and some of the play-calling we did to highlight him was definitely useful tonight. And he definitely made them pay for some of the match-ups. It was fun to watch.
Fun to watch it was, but we still don’t know how this team will react or play when tested. They still don’t know how their full bench will look until Harrison Barnes returns. The ironic thing about Thompson’s performance is there was a chance Barnes, who started the first preseason game against the Lakers would have started and Thompson would have been the first player of the bench as Marcus Thompson II pointed out in his recap:
And to think, if you believe Warriors coach Mark Jackson, Klay Thompson was close to being a reserve.
With Barnes out of the lineup for at least the team’s first two games, Thompson was able to have the game of his career.
Thompson wasn’t the only player to stand out in last night’s trounce. David Lee was equally impressive adding 24 points (8-13 from the field and 8-9 from the FT line), 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut put in an unimpressive stat sheet, but there smothering defense and Iguodala’s attack in transition were equally important to the final score. The two combined for 9 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. Iguodala looked as effective as everyone imagined he’d be with his most memorable play coming on a behind the back pass in transition to David Lee who then fed the ball back to Iguodala on a touch pass which resulted in a layup.
Here’s Mark Jackson’s thoughts on Iguodala’s firt offical game as a member of the Warriors:
* On Andre Iguodala’s overall game: “When you look at him as a basketball player and you appreciate everything he does on the floor–rebounding, play-making… Doesn’t care if he shoots, doesn’t care if he gets touches. He’s a guy with a high IQ and he impacts the game without scoring.
“I don’t think you look at his numbers in trying to justify why we got him or how much he’s making. It doesn’t do him any justice to look at him that way. He impacts the game, we’re happy to have him.”
Iguodala and a healthy Bogut (who looked as good if not better than he did in the playoffs) are as much if not more of a key to this team’s success as Stephen Curry. The real test comes later tonight as the Warriors face a Clippers team looking not only for their first win, but to bounce back and make a statement after their embarassing loss to the Lakers on Opening Night.
Tune into TNT at 7:30 PM to watch the Warriors battle the Clippers and see if the team can build off of last night’s resounding victory
Our own Maggie Pilloton gave here thought’s and predictions in a preview for tonight’s game which can be read here: Preview: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
Related Recaps
Tim Kawakami: Read here
Marcus Thompson II: Golden State Warriors Roll Over The Lakers
Monte Poole: Instant Replay: Thompson sets career high, W’s throttle Lakers
Rusty Simmons: Game 1 Recap
USA Today: Recap
CBS Sports: Thompson scores career high 38 as Warriors whip Lakers
GSOM: Warriors send message to the league with sacrificial Lakers, “We’re ready for you”
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