Warriors' Kevin Durant says Klay Thompson could have had 80 points vs. Pacers
Golden State's newest superstar has high standards for his Warriors teammate
By
Matt Moore
•
1 min read
While watching Klay Thompson go for 60 points in 29 minutes against the Pacers on Monday, the Warriors were gleeful. Afterward, they were recalcitrant. They wanted more from the Splash Brother.
Kevin Durant told reporters that Thompson could have gone for an even higher total if Steve Kerr hadn't elected to sit him with the game out of hand, both to save Thompson's energy, prevent injury and avoid further ruination of the Indiana Pacers brand through toxic humiliation.
"He should've had 80, to be honest," Durant said. "He took 14 threes. The six he missed were probably open. He missed a free throw, got his layup blocked. We talked about it on the bench. He said he should've had 70. I said you could've had 80-plus. But he had to be perfect to do that."
Source: Klay Thompson erupts for 60 points in Warriors' blowout of the Pacers.
Based on the 2.07 points-per-minute rate that Thompson scored at Monday, he would have had to play 39 minutes at that pace to crack 80. It's unlikely for Kerr to be able to justify that, plus, you have to think at some point, maybe, Pacers coach Nate McMillan would decide to change tactics and throw a double-team at him.
Then again, if Thompson were really to go for it, with how locked in he was, you can see him going for a 20-25 point quarter.
It's also a sign of how the Warriors' team dynamic works. They push each other to go beyond good to great, and that's what makes this group so special. Durant has embraced that.
Thompson himself said he could have had 80 and expressed disappointment that Kerr made the conservative choice in resting him. But at some point, Kerr's recognition of the basketball gods is understandable. After all, he wants Thompson to have some shots left in the bank when the Warriors face the Clippers on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
