Strengths and Weaknesses: Klay Thompson

Each sophomore has strengths and weaknesses. They learned stuff as rookies, and now they're becoming more skilled and mature. They are, however, still young and ambitious, which could be costly at some time. Thompson's weaknesses aren't apparent, but nevertheless, we shall do a breakdown.

Strengths:

1. Shooting Skill: When I watch Thompson shoot, it is the most spectacular form I have ever seen. usually is splashes straight through the net. Defenders have trouble guarding him because nothing they can do will ever cause him to miss too many shots. Once, he had a matchup with Blake Griffin, but instead of driving to the basket, he shot a 27 Foot Three point basket. Swish.

2. IQ: Klay Thompson has a very high IQ. He knows what he's doing defensively, and how to help his teammates out if they get beat to the basket. On offense, he makes wise decisions and passes that end up benefiting his team. A smart player with a good touch? A great steal!

Weaknesses:

1. Driving: Thompson does, however, have difficulty driving to the basket. This isn't something your average sharpshooter can do. He's been working on his efficiency going to the basket: his assists, and points. He needs to create for others as well.

2. Assists: Ellis averaged around 5-6 Assists per game last season with the dubs. It'll be hard for Klay Thompson to do this because he is mainly the go-to sharpshooter who gets the quick basket. If he proves capable of driving, defenders will give him space, and he can either shoot, drive, or dish it off to other teammates. With his high basketball IQ, he'll probably do that. 

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Warriors' Most Deadly Combo's

With a roster like the Warriors' it's impossible to not have some deadly combinations that will end up working out in the end. I've already described a couple of them, but there's many reasons as to why these dynamic duos will work.

The Obvious:

1. Stephen Curry/Klay Thompson: 6'3 PG, controls the offense, has court vision. 6'7 Sharpshooter who almost never misses, and then works for everything he wants. This is a perfect combo. Curry will be easily able to find Thompson spotting up for three. They won't fight for control of the ball, and now they can actually guard a two guard who used to have a height advantage vs. the Warriors.

2. Jarrett Jack/Stephen Curry: Jack is likely to be the one who averages the most Assists per game with the Warriors. There are so many pure shooter on the team. When he plays with Curry, it spreads the floor, and gives Curry a chance to play where he really shines. At the two guard. Jack was a great pickup from Dorell Wright. Not to mention, Jack can also score at an alarming rate if necessary.

The Subtle:

3. Harrison Barnes/Klay Thompson: After the NBA draft, I envisioned Barnes and Thompson fighting for position and playing time. After watching the Warriors summer league game vs the Lakers, I realized that's not going to be a problem at all. Here's why: Endless range, and drives to the basket. Barnes can shoot, Thompson can shoot, and they both have worked on their driving skill. With these two on the floor, the offensive plan doesn't need to be in affect.

4. Andrew Bogut/Any Guard: This one is very easy to explain:
- Bogut Posts Up
- He is stronger than his defender
- Help comes
- He is smart enough to pass it out
- A Guard's three point attempt hits the bottom of the net 

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Harrison Barnes Could Be the Warriors' Future Star

Harrison Barnes... Will he be the future star? Right now, in the off-season, as I say literally everyday, it is so hard to predict. Who's to say whether Perry Jones III won't be the best player, or Anthony Davis won't a bust.

Post-draft reports indicated the Warriors did outstandingly in the NBA draft, selecting 3 valuable players that will make an immediate impact, positive of course.

In the summer league, Barnes proved that he and Thompson can make a good combination. Their three pointers were endless, in rows. Defenders had their heads spinning deciding which side of the floor to run to. Barnes and Thompson really will form a key duo that no one has forseen. Barnes may not be the best rookie out there this year, but he will certainly develop into a great player.

Maybe in a few year, Barnes will really know the game. If he's not afraid to drive to the basket by that time, then maybe, just maybe, he will be the all-star. What do you think? Comment Below.

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How Klay Thompson Can Fit Into Monta's Shoes

Thompson's scoring output nearly matched Monta Ellis after Ellis was traded. In drafting Thompson, I knew that Monta's reign in Golden State would come to an abrupt end.
Klay Thompson is nowhere near as skilled, athletic, or experienced as Ellis, but he can become more like him. In being able to drive the ball and handle the ball more, Thompson will be taken seriously as a shooter, and a finisher at the basket.

Defenders won't know what to do when closing out on him. With Jarrett Jack and Curry tossing him the ball, Thompson shouldn't have any problem scoring adequate numbers compared to Monta Ellis.

If Ellis was 6'7 and still was able to play with the same intensity, he would end up scoring even more. He was regarded, in my books, as one of the best post-up guards in the NBA. It would have been even better if he was taller.
Klay should have the ability to easily take guards that are smaller than him. Thompson knows what he's doing in the post.

If Klay plays hard, practices, and helps Curry take the Warriors to the playoffs, his hard work will pay off and he will be regarded as a threat, and potential all-star.

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Ranking Warriors' Back Court

The best backcourts in the NBA include the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Golden State Warriors?
Yes it's true. Since the unpopular, but good trade of Monta Ellis, the Warriors' backcourt looks promising. With Stephen Curry being able to handle the basketball, Klay Thompson is the sharpshooter and go to guy, with unlimited range. The backcourt forms a perfect combo because they know how to handle the situation, and no one is fighting over control of the offense. Thompson also stands at 6'7. Enough said?

Vs. Lakers: Against the Lakers, the Warriors don't really have a good chance of beating them with these lineups. Again, it's veteranship vs skill and talent, and Kobe has both of those. You can't put a price on fundamentals and skill. The clear winner here are the Lakers.

Vs. Heat: While Wade is a great player, Mario Chalmers is a selfish, wanting-all-the-credit ball-hog, who's just classless. He's a good player at times, but Curry can easily knock him off, without getting into an altercation. Thompson and Wade would be a fun matchup to watch. They're both young and explosive, and Thompson has height on Wade, but he knows how to get to the basket. In the end, the all-star veteran wins it, but the Warriors have the Heat beat in the backcourt. 

Vs. Celtics: The Celtics are very underrated this season. I don't analyzers realize how good they're going to be. Yes, they've lost Ray Allen, but they signed Jason Terry to come off the bench, and they have Avery Bradley waiting on the sidelines. Can Thompson, Jack, Rush, and Curry handle Rondo, Bradley, and Terry? Or is it too much for them. This one is an interesting matchup. Comment Below.

Vs. Bobcats: Come on, now.

Technically, the Warriors wouldn't beat any of these teams easily, except the Cats, but if you think about it, if the Warriors backcourt can keep it close and put up a run for the other team's money.. Then it shouldn't be hard to be crushing the other teams scoring wise. By this logic, the Warriors are another tough team to beat in the backcourt.

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Warriors, Thunder Early Comparisons

Yes, Folks! It's fun to compare a team that most NBA fans would classify as "Trash" to title contending teams. The Warriors do, however, have a lot in common with the Thunder. Although they are crushed in nearly every position they lose, they still would put up a good battle. Like Bob Fitzgerald always says, "The Warriors WILL NOT go away!!" Hopefully they won't go away this season, when they're creeping behind the Nuggets to steal their spot in the playoffs.. hopefully..

PG: Russell Westbrook: Stephen Curry: This one is tough. Westbrook receives a lot of criticism, but he the most explosive player in the game, as well as athletic, and acrobatic. Curry, on the other hand is a true PG. This matchup will have to be classified into different categories:
-All-around Talent: Winner: OKC
-PG Talent: Winner: Warriors

SG: Klay Thompson: Thabo Sefoloshia: While Sefo is an outstanding perimeter shooter, a great defender, and his basketball IQ, rookie sensation, Klay Thompson's skill level is too high for him to guard. Thompson will end up crushing him in the matchup. Winner: Warriors

SF: Harrison Barnes: Kevin Durant: Well, Durant clearly has the height, skill, explosiveness, length, and shooting advantage, but Harrison Barnes gets hot quickly. Barnes won't have any problem scoring double digits, but the Warriors don't have any guy who can move his feet like a guy that's Durant's size. He's tough to stop. Winner: OKC

PF: David Lee: Serge Ibaka: Lee and Ibaka hae completely different playing styles. Lee is a static player, who only plays within the perimeters of his game. Ibaka is courageous. He will take the three pointer if he wants to. Ibaka is a blocking sensation, Lee has a high basketball IQ. They're two incomparable PF's. Winner: Nobody

C: Kendrick Perkins: Andrew Bogut: Come on everyone. While Perkins is a tough guy who doesn't smile, Bogut delivers in more ways, and gets it done with a smile on his face. There is a clear winner here. Winner: Warriors

Bench Productivity: The Warriors have an overall good bench, but the shining brilliance of Harden just cancels all of that out. Maybe next season, it'll be different..Winner: OKC

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Can Klay Thompson Match NBA's Elite?

The NBA has many elite players that can hit clutch shots, take you off the dribble, and can flat out shoot. I know the Warriors' Klay Thompson is going to prove to be able to do that, but first he needs to prove that he can guard these guys.

Does Thompson have what it takes?

The Warriors vs Lakers, and Warriors vs Heat games are going to be big for the Warriors. Thompson will have trouble guarding Kobe Bryant, or Dwyane Wade, but it'll be a learning experience for him. He'll likely end up in the post, angering the superstars.

If Klay Thompson is able to go head-to-head with NBA's better players, it'll be a momentous season for the Warriors. They finally have a guy who won't let you down, will produce consistence numbers, is of average height, and isn't injury prone. He is a hard worker and a brilliant player, who's already garnered praise from NBA's finest players. He should be able to matchup with elite players. His range is limitless, and he's working on taking the ball to the basket. Those are both areas that guards SHOULD excel in. Thompson has proved that he's a force to be reckoned with.

The Warriors really stole Thompson in the draft, and now, with a reloaded roster, they're hungry:
After the years of horrible management, Curry, Thompson, Lee, and Bogut are hungry for more than 82 games this season. They're bound to be hyped up and make it to the playoffs. If they want to do this, Thompson is going to have to put up some pretty big numbers on the season. If LeBron scores 38, he should score 31. 

A big moment will be the first Warriors, Lakers game. That game means a lot for the Warriors, seeing if they can make it to the post season, lead by the young stud. Can they do it? Comment below.

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Lakers, Warriors: Early Comparisons

The Lakers and Warriors have the simplest and most explanatory rivalry in the NBA. All though the Lakers don't think of the Warriors as much, probably, you can be assured that you're in for a treat when you have tickets to this game. The Lakers underestimate the Warriors, and the Warriors play with shining brilliance: until of course the end, when forget what basketball is.


The Lakers have successfully assembled a superteam, but what does that mean? The Warriors' big three is arguably not that far away from the Lakers, skill wise. Let's have a quick comparison.


1. PG: Steve Nash, Steph Curry: Both excellent free throw shooters, smart players, three point god's, and PG's. Last time Curry and Nash matched up, Nash was forced into 5 TO's. That's pretty good for a youngster playing with the big boy. The Warriors lost that game to the Suns, unfortunately. I think that with the skill level these two have, the matchup is about equal. That's why it comes down to veteran ship. Winner: Lakers


2. SG: Really? I wonder who the winner is here. The Black Mamba strikes at the perfect time, deadly and unexpected. He can hit 3 threes in a row, easily. In every game, there are times where he shows glimpses of himself in his prime. That's tough to matchup against, but he's getting older. Young star Klay Thompson is going to get burned a few times when matching up with Kobe. All he has on Kobe is height advantage, which could lead to a few interior victories. Most likely, Metta World Peace will guard Klay Thompson. Winner: Lakers


3. SF: My hypothesis is that the hot shooting of Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson are going to really anger Peace. He'll be running all over the place. Although Peace can deliver a clutch shot, or make a clutch play, his skill level isn't equal to that of Harrison Barnes. Barnes is a smarter player, and he can get the job done without throwing a punch. Sorry, Metta! Winner: Warriors


4. PF: Oh, yes. This is the only matchup that's actually hard to pick a winner. Gasol is always rated as one of the best PF's in the league, but many forget that he has Kobe to make him look good. Gasol is a good, smart player, but Lee isn't any worse than he is. Lee has high efficiency, and a similar arsenal of scoring as Gasol. The only thing Gasol has on Lee is height. Otherwise, they're pretty much equal. Hate me if you must, but I'm not overlooking the fact that Gasol is no better than Lee. Winner: Nobody


5. C: Don't worry, Magic fans, you're not the only one out there who hates Dwight Howard! Howard's everlasting drama about which team he would 'take his talents to' really angered a lot of fans. It was classless and embarrassing for the NBA. That doesn't, however, effect his playing style. Although Andrew Bogut is one of the top 5 Centers in the NBA, Howard is just a little better. They're both strong, tough, and aggressive, and post up well. The difference is that Howard knows how to score on the inside a little better. This'll be another interesting matchup. Winner: Lakers


Bench Productivity: Winner: Warriors
You cant win an NBA title without bench play. The Warriors' whole second unit looks like they could take on the Lakers. The Warriors definitely have the Lakers down in this area.

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Why One Warrior Will Be in Three Point Contest

The Warriors have one of the best rosters in the NBA for three point shooting. It's like they're the new Orlando Magic. They have so many players that can easily get it going and score 20 points in one half. It's not far-fetched to say that the Warriors will have at least one player in the three point contest this year.

Let's take a look at it.

1. Klay Thompson: He is by far the Warriors most ideal option to be in the Three Point Contest. That's not up to the Warriors of course. Thompson lives for the three point shot. Every time he's open, it's almost a surprise when he misses. I recall one even where Thompson had Blake Griffin on a switch- Usually guards drive the center's to the basket. Klay pulled up for a 30 foot three pointer. Bottom of the net - effortless. I think that that says enough for my argument.

2. Stephen Curry: Curry is the purest shooter I've ever seen. He has a quick release as well. This is why he's also ideal for the contest. He should be able to finish with abundant time. Curry did very well in his rookie season in the Three Point Contest. Unfortunately he was edged by veteran Paul Pierce for the award. Curry should definitely be in the contest again.

3. Brandon Rush: Rush is the least ideal out of these three player, mainly because his shot doesn't go off too quickly. At one point in the season, 4 games in, Brandon Rush was shooting 100% on three pointers. He kept his hot streak alive and finished slightly below 50%. Rush of course is a serious threat from the outside. He just makes the shot at the right time. In the Three Point Contest, every time is the right time.  

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Stats Analysis: Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is that rookie that we all loved. Now, he's a more mature sophomore player. Many say that fans are expecting too much out of the youngling, but I think he is more than capable of filling most of the gap in scoring that Monta Ellis left. The Warriors are lucky to have drafted him with the 11th pick. His sophomore year is only going to be better.

Points: Klay Thompson is a pure scorer and an incredible shooter. He knows where his place is. I think that he will be creating more this year on his way to the basket. Because of this, his offensive game will open up more, and defenders will not only have to honor him at the 3 point line, but also heading to the basket. I predict Thompson will average around 17.3 PPG.

Assists: Klay wasn't known as much of an assist guy last season, but often, he did end up having 7 or 8 assists. That could easily be an average with the shooting skill of players on the Warriors' roster, but it's not likely. He will only average around 2.6 Assists per game.

Rebounds: Standing at 6'7, Thompson is more than adequate to play the SG position. He's a tough player, and should be getting a lot of rebounds. Other shooting guards in the league like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant are shorter than Klay. He doesn't have incredible hops, but he should still be active on the glass. I predict he will average around 4.6 Rebounds per game.

Steals: Thompson is a good perimeter defender, as well as on the post. He doesn't have quick hands, but he plays smartly on the defensive end. That's probably going to get him some steals. I project his averages to be at about 0.8 or 0.9.

Turnovers: A catch and shoot player like Thompson doesn't turn the ball over a lot. He may, however, begin to turn the ball over more on the inside if he begins driving. It'll be a good thing that he gets to the basket and scores, but also a bad thing as he could turn the ball over a lot. Because of this, and rookie mistakes, I think he'll be at about 3 TO's per game, which is terrible.

On an unrelated note, the Warriors will be able to rely on Thompson for 48 minutes. Although he's only a rookie, LeBron and Kobe have both developed respect for him. That proves something. After a Vegas match between Team USA, and the Rookie Team, Klay Thompson was covered in welts and sweat. That's what a guy who never gives up looks like.

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Predictions for Warriors' First Month Games

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Will the Warriors start off strong? We know that Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, and Jarrett Jack are going to make immediate impacts, of course positive. Can they get it done in this 82 game season? Let's see!

1. Season Opener: Phoenix Suns: 10/31
No explanation necessary: If I took a poll, every Warrior fan, and maybe even some Suns' fans would agree that the Warriors are most likely going to win this game, but the Suns do have Scola and Dragic: Who knows? Comment Below. Season Openers haven't gone so well in recent years..

2. Home Opener: Memphis Grizzlies: 11/2
The Grizzlies are a tough beat. Last season, however, the Warriors did go head-to-head with them and steadily... lost. Each game ended up in a heartbreak. Maybe this time, the Warriors will know how to maintain their lead, so when their hot shooting goes cold, they will still be able to play defense.
Prediction: Warriors win in by more than 5

3. Warriors @ Kings: 11/5
Ah, a classic North Cal rivalry. While I'm sure that there's going to be enough Warrior fans at this game, they may have a tough time. Of course, the Kings are still in a stage of rebuilding, and the Warriors usually play an entertaining game against them. It'll probably be a close one. The Dubs may top them, but not by many.
Prediction: Warriors take it by 4 or less

4. Cavaliers @ Warriors: 11/7
The Cavs are looking really good this season. With a strong center piece in Kyrie Irving, they may just be able to make the playoffs this year. This will be a good game, as both teams are young and ambitious.
Prediction: Cavs take it by 5

5. Warriors @ Lakers: 11/9
The Warriors are looking at a reloaded team that was already good before this offseason. With the addition of Dwight Howard, the best center in the NBA, the Lakers could easily be crushing teams one by one. Then again they are old: unfortunately not old enough.
Prediction: Lakers win by 10+

6. Nuggets @ Warriors: 11/10
The Nuggets are also reloaded with the addition of all star, and olympian, Andre Iquadala. That's great and all, but the Nuggets are missing many crucial pieces. They need more length and size. The Manimal, although amazing, can't do it by himself.
Prediction: Warriors win by 10

7. Hawks @ Warriors: 11/14:
The Hawks aren't bad. They have many shooters, and Josh Smith is at his prime right now. Losing Joe Johnson, however, is a huge whole that Lou Williams can't fill. He does score a lot of points, but he's not that type of pure scorer who can lead his team to the playoffs. The Hawks would be lucky to win this game: Bogut will dominate on the inside, Thompson and Curry on the perimeter.
Prediction: Warriors win by 8+

8. Warriors @ Timberwolves: 11/16
This will be a fun game to watch. The Wolves came from right under the Dubs and took Kirilenko, as well as Brandon Roy. Both teams have good strong cores, and depth. Each player has another to match up to. This one is going to be close. Any Thoughts? Comment Below:

9. Warriors @ Thunder: 11/18
Perry Jones III fell so far down in the NBA draft, that (arguably) the second best team in the NBA took him close to the second round. He's only going to add more depth. That's not good for the Warriors. Curry, with his ankle injury won't be able to keep up with Bogut. Ibaka will have fun at the rim with David Lee, and Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green are likely going to guard Kevin Durant. That might not go well for them.
Prediction: Thunder win by 15+

10. Warriors @ Mavericks: 11/19
Okay, so the Mavericks picked up OJ Mayo, Elton Brand, and Chris Kaman? So what. They're all old, is what many people think. These combinations can be deadly. Plus, the never ending brilliance of Dirk Nowitzki is a huge factor: the Warriors could have a tough time knocking them off. They will, however, find a way to keep it close.
Prediction: Mavericks win by 8 or less

11. Brooklyn Nets @ Warriors: 11/21
Will The Warriors be able to handle the 'core four'? Or will they surrender and let D-Will and HIS reloaded Nets to blow them out. I think the Warriors are also reloaded: the critics and analyzers all leave out the Warriors as one of the best core. Bad mistake: The Warriors do have one of the best cores. I believe that the Warriors will be able to edge the Nets.
Prediction: Warriors win by 5

12. Warriors @ Nuggets: 11/23
The Nuggets will obviously be more energized with their home crowd. Lawson, Iquadala, and Kenneth Faried are all capable of having huge games, and the Warriors don't do so well in the Mile High city.
Prediction: Nuggets win by 12

13. Timberwolves @ Warriors: 11/24
The Warriors and the Timberwolves are going to be rivals after this year. The two amazing PF's Lee and Love go at it each time. Brandon Roy and Curry will go head-to-head. Harrison Barnes is younger, quicker, and more explosive than Kirilenko. So this might go well for the Warriors. Then again, these ones are hard to predict.
Comment Below.

14. Nuggets @ Warriors: 11/29
Another tough one. Any thoughts? You know what to do.

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Klay Thompson's Imminent Stardom

Everyone is raving about how good Stephen Curry will be this season. While I agree that he will be good, I'm not so sure he's the future of the franchise. I believe that Curry, whether he's averaging 15 or 20 PPG, is going to make an appearance in the all-star game. He's a great shooter and scorer, but people forget that he's plagued by injury.

Curry is definitely going to be huge and one of the best players in the NBA for years to come. He may perhaps move on to Team USA one day.
While that's all great, another talent it emerging on the Warriors' roster that only a few of the NBA elite players have noticed.

Klay Thompson is going to be a huge shooting force. He has handles and ability to attack the basket, but as shown in this article, his numbers are all down when shooting from 3-9 feet. If he does attack the basket more, than he will get a feel for the driving part of the game, and  be even more like Monta Ellis: except a better shooter, and taller: so he can work with Curry easily. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have both noticed that Klay Thompson has one of the brightest futures of any NBA player.
He works hard too. One day, after a tough game against Team USA in Vegas,  Thompson was drenched with sweat and covered in welts. He knew he could sleep well that night.

At 11th pick in the draft, Thompson was a huge steal, as he will be one of the better players in the NBA next year, and will only keep improving. Monta Ellis left a huge gap in the Warriors offense, but I believe that Klay is more than capable of filling it. He and Curry will be THE most feared back court in the NBA by 2013 or 2014.

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Golden State Warriors Offseason Homework: Klay Thompson

This article was first published on BlueManHoop.

Klay Thompson's Assignment: Attack the Basket More Often and More Efficiently

We all know that Klay Thompson can shoot the lights out of the gym. He led all rookies in three-point shooting percentage (.414) and three-pointers made (111) last season. There is no doubt that he will be regarded as one of the top sharpshooters in the NBA in the very near future.

But the same cannot be said about him when he is attacking the basket. Take a look at these advanced stats of Thompson's shot location courtesy of HoopData:

                          Shot Locations                          At Rim                             3-9 Feet                      10-15 Feet               

Player Name	Yr	Tm	Pos	GP	Min	M	A	FG%	%As	M	A	FG%	%As	M	A	FG%	%As
Klay Thompson	2012	GSW	G	66	24.4	1.2	1.8	65.8	53.2	0.1	0.7	20.9	22.2	0.3	0.7	44.2	47.4

Ok, so what can we derive form this chart?

One thing stands out: take a look at Thompson's stats of shots from 3-9 feet, (which are conveniently highlighted in red) and compare them to the other shot locations. This is the one area that he seems to struggle in, shooting just 20.9 percent on field goals from within ten feet of the basket. Another point that this chart proves is that he doesn't even try to attempt shots close to the basket; only 0.7 attempts per game and making just 0.1 of them.

His field goal percentages form the other areas of the floor are all above 40 percent, but his Achilles' heel seems to be the area around the basket.

On Thompson's Twitter bio, he states he is "trying to catch Ray Allen one day".  He may have as a good a three-point shot as Allen, but keep in mind that Allen also has the tenacity to attack the rim (the guy was in the dunk contest once, for Pete's sake).

I know this may seem unfair, but since Thompsom wants to be like Allen, let's show "Ray Ray's" shot location stats since 2007:

                            Shot Locations                            At Rim                       3-9 Feet                       10-15 Feet                

Player Name	Yr	Tm	Pos	GP	Min	M	A	FG%	%As	M	A	FG%	%As	M	A	FG%	%As
Ray Allen	2007	SEA	SG	55	40.4	2.4	3.9	61.0	23.1	0.5	1.6	34.0	16.7	1.1	2.0	52.0	22.4
Ray Allen	2008	BOS	SG	73	35.9	1.6	2.6	60.0	50.4	0.5	1.0	44.0	30.3	0.3	1.0	31.0	43.5
Ray Allen	2009	BOS	SG	79	36.3	1.5	2.4	64.0	60.3	0.4	0.6	60.0	41.4	0.6	1.2	47.0	27.3
Ray Allen	2010	BOS	SG	80	35.2	1.8	2.7	67.8	58.6	0.5	1.0	47.5	52.6	0.5	0.9	57.7	61.0
Ray Allen	2011	BOS	SG	80	36.1	1.5	2.3	65.0	59.8	0.4	0.9	45.6	51.6	0.6	1.1	48.9	50.0
Ray Allen	2012	BOS	SG	46	34.1	1.2	1.7	68.8	58.5	0.3	0.7	35.3	41.7	0.4	1.0	40.9	72.2

As you can see, Allen's field goal percentage on shots from within ten feet is well above Thompson's meager 20.9 percent. Even at age 37, Allen was able to squeeze out a 35.3 shooting percentage.

It obviously isn't fair game to compare a future Hall-of-Famer to a developing second year player, but Thompson should look up to Allen as a mentor. What made Ray Allen so lethal in his prime was his ability and willingness to attack the basket. If defenders backed off on him, he would drain a three. If they played him tight, he would just blow right past the defender to the rim.

That is exactly what Klay Thompson has to do if he wants to take his game to the next level. We all know that he can shoot the three, but we also know that he can't drive and attack the basket. Teams will (and already have) pick up on that and play him tight on the perimeter, forcing him to either give up the ball or drive to the rim, which, as evidenced by the stats, is not exactly his strong suit.

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Predicting Warriors' Stat Leaders in 2012-2013

The Warriors have a very deep roster this season, so many players are going to have high averages. Who will lead the team in what though?

1. Points: Klay Thompson: This sharpshooter will end up averaging about 18-19 PPG. He's a pure shooter and scorer, and when he gets better at driving, he'll be a powerful force.
Runners Up: David Lee: If Lee doesn't get the ball as much because of other offensive weapons, he won't score over 20 PPG. He will, however score at least 16-17. Stephen Curry: Curry will averaged about 17.6 PPG, while occasionally leading the team and breaking out.

2. Assists: Jarrett Jack: I assume Jack is going to play with Curry on the floor. Jack will be the facilitator when Stephen Curry will go on a shooting frenzy and break out with Klay Thompson. Jack will average 6.5 assists.
Runner Up: Stephen Curry: Curry is a good passer, but he really shines when he's shooting the ball. This is why Jack will play PG, and Curry will play SG for some of the game.

3. Rebounds: Andrew Bogut: Bogut's interior defense, his offensive skill, and mainly his rebounding is why the Warriors traded for him. If he doesn't lead the team in rebounds, then he has to score twice as many points and increase his efficiency, which everyone knows is extremely hard.
Runners Up: David Lee: Lee isn't injury prone at all. He knows he can go hard and get those rebounds. He showed us last season with averaging 10 boards a game. Draymond Green: Green was known for his defensive presence and his rebounding skill. He was the all-time leader in rebounds at Michigan State.

4. Blocks: Festus Ezeli: Ezeli is a great interior defender. PG's and other players driving to the basket will be intimidated by his presence. Although he will come off the bench, he can still make an impact.
Runner Up: Andris Biedrins: I hate to say this, but the Warriors still need size on the floor. He's a veteran, and a shot-blocker. If Biedrins can contribute on the defensive end, that huge chunk of money the Dubs spent on him, won't all go to waste..

5. Steals: Harrison Barnes: Barnes has quick hands, and his ability to get into the passing lane amazes me. He will end up with a lot of fast breaks this season - hopefully he doesn't just shoot threes like Jason Terry would. Barnes is athletic and has quick hands.
Runner Up: Stephen Curry: Curry has proved to us that he has quick hands and can steal the ball. He sneaks up behind centers and swipes it. Every coach loves that.

6. Three Point %: Klay Thompson: Thompson lead all rookies last year shooting the ball from behind the arc at 41%. He's only going to get better. Thompson may earn himself a spot in the three point contest this year. I predict he will shoot the ball at about 44%.
Runner Up: Stephen Curry: Curry is a close second. He will shoot the ball at 42%. Usually, Steph doesn't have to worry about getting injured when shooting threes. He almost never gets blocked from behind the three point line: His release is that fast. As soon as the ball is in his hands, it's in the air.

7. Field Goal %: David Lee: As I said before, Lee rarely misses jumpshots. He drives to the basket and usually finishes. Lee will have a really high FG percentage this season. I predict he will shoot the ball at aroun 49%.
Runner Up: Kent Bazemore: As an undrafted rookie, unless feeling it, Bazemore will try to be conservative and efficient. He will help the Warriors by scoring about 5 or 6 points for the time that he's in. Unless he really impresses Marc Jackson, he won't play over 15 minutes. Consequently, he wont take more than 5 shots.

8. Free Throw %: Stephen Curry
Runner Up: What if I put Andris Biedrins? The Runner Up will most likely be Klay Thompson.

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Warriors Two Most Important Players

Sorry Ladies, Stephen Curry isn't one of these player. We all know that he has all-star potential, and will probably be the one to break the Warriors' lack of appearances in the all-star game this season. He isn't that key piece to the offense, however. He can be replaced very easily by Jarrett Jack, who does well filling the role of others.

Speaking of filling someone else's shoes, What about Klay Thompson? The young rookie who was trusted to score 20 PPG just like former Warriors' star Monta Ellis. That's a huge responsibility. All Warrior fans better be praying that he doesn't have a Sophomore Slump. Who are we going to get that scores at a high level just like Monta could do. Thompson did a nice job of that last season. He's only going to go better, as his best years are clearly ahead of him.

Who else is important for the Warriors. Some would say Harrison Barnes has a huge role to fill as the new SF of the team. The Warriors are looking at Andre Kirilenko, which could possibly take away Barnes' starting role.

The quest for body mass and height has been a huge issue. The Warriors were one of the worst teams in rebounding and defense in the league. This is why they made a huge gamble and traded for Andrew Bogut. Bogut is undoubtedly the most key player for these Warriors. He will provide a lack of size, muscle up the people he's defending, and go hard for the rebound - not too hard, or he'll get injured.

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Breakdown of Bazemore Signing

Recent reports indicate that the Warriors have decided to sign the undrafted rookie Kent Bazmore. This is a good thing for the Warriors. If Brandon Rush does decide to come back, there will be more potential lineups to go to. Bazmore is a great player, and signing an undrafted rookie usually ends up working out for the Warriors: Let's break it down.

Usually, undrafted rookies like Anthony Morrow are always motivated to do well. They have something to prove: other teams should have drafted them when they got the chance. In the summer league, Bazemore's clever and smart play drew attention from teams like the Hawks. Luckily the Warriors got to him first. Bazmore will be a fine addition to this already deep Warrior squad. Bazemore is a guard that can rebound the ball, which is key. He's a defensive phenomenon and a shot blocker. His wingspan is 6'10. Lengthy is key for a basketball player. This enables him to grab rebounds and block shots, while also getting into the passing lane. Defense was an area that the Dubs were criticized for.

If Brandon Rush decides to take his talents to LA, then Bazemore would be a great back up to Klay Thompson. Bazmore has a decent shooting touch, great defense, and he pulls down a lot of boards for his position. He's the perfect complement to Jarrett Jack.

When the Warriors decided to sit Klay Thompson out and not risk injury, Bazmore took his place. Many were skeptical the Warriors could keep their perfect record. Bazmore filled Thompson's shoes quite nicely as he filled up the stat sheet every night. In the end, he's a fine addition to the Dubs' roster, and should end up being a fan favorite.

Will this effect Brandon Rush? The Warriors are waiting for Brandon Rush to decide to come back to GSW, but as said before, there are a lot of perks of joining the Lakers. Rush may also be pushed away by the new addition of Kent Bazmore. We'll see how this plays out. If the Warriors get both Rush and Bazemore, then that's just a bonus.

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