Klay Thompson’s frustration clear as Warriors shooting struggles persist – NBC

SAN FRANCISCO – With the Warriors down 10 in the fourth quarter Saturday night, Klay Thompson was subbed out. Not unusual. With 8:28 remaining, he’d probably return for the final minutes, particularly if the Warriors made a late surge.

They did. A steal and 3-pointer by Chris Paul put them within five of the Dallas Mavericks with 2:47 left.

Here’s what’s unusual: Thompson never returned. He watched the final eight-plus minutes of a 132-122 loss from the bench. His frustration was visible, even as Golden State cut the deficit in half.

Thompson played 26 minutes, scoring a season-low three points. He was 1-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-6 from deep, with two rebounds and one assist. He committed only one turnover, but it triggered a 13-0 Dallas run that hiked its lead from three to 16 in less than three minutes during the second quarter.

The Warriors never again got within three.

As Klay sat on the bench, it was evident he was beyond unhappy with a performance that ranks as one of the worst of his career. Displeasure showed on his face and through his body language. He seemed distraught, lost in thought. The scene was a tough watch, considering he has been a rock for most of a career that began in 2011.

Such optics, especially from one of the team’s veteran leaders, are disappointing. It was a bad look in what was another low moment, perhaps the lowest, in a season of too many lows and too few highs for someone with Hall of Fame credentials.

Thompson found his shot, always a profound spirit-lifter, earlier this month. And now he is again wondering where it went. After averaging 22.9 points on 50.4/45.8 percent splits over the eight games before Christmas – as the Warriors went 5-3 – he is down to 8.3 points on 23.5/27.3 percent splits over the last three games, each of which ended in defeat.

Thompson is a ferocious competitor who despises submitting a showing that he believes, with good reason, is beneath him. If he’s suffering, so is the team, and that combination is a lot to bear.

The weight of the team’s anguish is felt throughout the roster and among the coaching staff. When Stephen Curry, Thompson’s longtime backcourt mate, was asked about the team’s latest round of strife, there was a dash of torment in his voice.

“When you’re not playing well, and it’s a human nature default, you start to look at it like, ‘I need to play better. I need to shoot the ball better,’” he said. “I know everybody (on the Warriors) could probably speak to something that they can do better to help us win. That’s the situation we’re in.”

“We,” is the operative word, though Klay seemed caught in the grip of his individual performance.

Only Curry’s Golden State tenure is longer than that of Thompson. And while Steph’s frustration rarely bobs to the surface, Klay’s maddening moments sometimes do. Like Saturday night.

It’s understandable. A lot of clouds are circling…