The Golden State Warriors have an 0-8 road record early this season. It is their worst start away from home since a 0-9 performance in 1989. The main problem for the defending champion is that Klay Thompson, known as a sharpshooter, has been struggling to hit jump shots.
Klay Thompson is shooting a pitiful 35.1% from the field and averaging 14.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He has not hit half his shots in a game this NBA season and shot under 40% for a fourth straight game against the Phoenix Suns, scoring 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
For the Warriors to resolve their troubles, Klay Thompson needs to go back to his former self-a sniper from beyond the arc. He is well aware of those expectations, as per Clutch Points.
In an Instagram story, Klay Thompson addressed his skeptics, noting that he is close to returning to his "Splash Brother" form.
The star forward posted the following caption on his IG story: "My belief is stronger than your doubt. I PROMISE you it's coming. And when it does, the floodgates will open."
Klay Thompson just posted this message on his Instagram story: “My belief is stronger than your doubt 🙃 I PROMISE you it’s coming. And when it does the flood gates will open ☔️”
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) November 14, 2022
😤😤😤 #dubnation pic.twitter.com/L4D3gMEbLk
Steve Kerr: Klay's Struggle Is a Mental Issue
Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, has indicated that Klay Thompson's current slump, the worst of his professional basketball career, is entirely mental.
Before the Warriors got beaten by the Suns on Wednesday, Coach Kerr remarked that Klay "just has to get out of his own way, free himself up, and just play, enjoy the game" rather than tangle himself up in each attempt, as per a story from Bleacher Report.
In an interview with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Klay Thompson said that his peak condition was in 2019. He acknowledged that he cannot return to that form but for him to "get to 90 percent of that," Klay Thompson believes that he'll still be "a heck of a player" and the Golden State Warriors remains a championship-caliber squad.
Reigning Champs at Risk of Being Dethroned
Klay Thompson was a reliable supporting player with bright spots here and there, but his night-to-night inconsistency and decline have continued since he got seriously injured.
Moreover, he has been a total disaster on defense and has been swishing jumpers this season that fans have never seen him miss. Although Kerr is probably right that Thompson's shooting woes are largely mental, it's improbable that Klay Thompson will ever again defend at the All-Defensive Team level as he did three years ago.
The Warriors no longer go on road rampages to punish their opponents and silence their haters. Instead, last season's NBA champs are being pushed around as they make their way to the bus with their heads down.
On Wednesday at Footprint Center in Phoenix, the Warriors, looking for payback after getting blown out there a month earlier, got humiliated by the Suns. Final score: 130-119, according to NBC Sports.
Even though Stephen Curry scored 50 points, his team's poor offense and defense ultimately led to another loss on the road. In the NBA standings, the Golden State Warriors currently hold 6 wins and 9 losses.
