In the wake of a disappointing 121-113 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Golden State Warriors find themselves grappling with a season marked by challenges. The suspension of Draymond Green has forced head coach Steve Kerr to make strategic adjustments, including a surprising decision to relegate Andrew Wiggins to the bench in favor of rookie Brandin Podziemski. However, there are uncertainties regarding Wiggins’ consistency in turning the fortunes for the struggling Warriors. Klay Thompson, a voice of experience, shares hopes for Wiggins’ inevitable uprising.
Klay Thompson Sees Wiggins’s Comeback
The decision to bench Andrew Wiggins, a former All-Star, has been a contentious point for the Warriors. Wiggins’ erratic performance on both ends of the court has prompted speculation about his role in the starting lineup. During a game against the Clippers, Wiggins was positively reacting to the change that he made, and he was scoring 4 out of 9 of his shots while playing for 22 minutes.
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Klay shared his thoughts on Wiggs getting moved to the bench 🔽 pic.twitter.com/vyRsLTdw23
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 15, 2023
After a post-game interview, Klay Thompson, no stranger to shooting slumps himself, understood and was optimistic. On asking about the new starting line-up, Klay said, “I mean, Brandon has been playing amazing. So is JKuminga, and with Wiggins in our competitive years, I know how competitive he is. It’s not the end of the world. I’m sure he’ll be back in there before the year’s over.”
Read More: Can Chris Paul Solve the Massive Klay Thompson ‘Problem’ for the Warriors?
On himself, he continued, “I’ve been through slumps just like him. I try to encourage him. I mean, I’m going through one right now; not shooting up to my standards, but I will never forget how great of a player he is. I mean….. he’ll attain that level of play. It’s just me; take a little time, but yeah, it’s coming.”
Warriors find themselves in a quandary: should they stick with an underperforming Wiggins and hope he makes a complete U-turn or develops innovative solutions for their success?
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Kerr Unpacks Curry’s Struggles and Clutch Challenges.
The loss to the Clippers accentuated the Warriors’ dependency on key players. After the game, Steve Kerr reveals what the team went through. He admits that it was a great night for the team but was a poor night for Steven Curry, who made 2-of-6 three-pointers and scored 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
Warriors were 3-9 in the games they played without Green, which underlines the role that he played during the games they participated in with his presence. The tandem of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden proved unbeatable, despite Thompson’s heroic performance.
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Watch This Story: 5-Time Champion’s Bold Prediction on LeBron James Comes With 1 Crucial Caveat
During such a clutch-game statistics inquest, questions surface over the team’s maneuvering within tight matches. The article discusses the wider aftermath of Kerr’s strategy, the dependence on star individuals, and the fine line between experience and freshness for the team’s success.