Before the regular season begins, every NBA player marks out dates for their games on their calendar.
Some games simply have greater meaning. There are some games that just have more on the line, whether it’s a team playing against a competitor or a player making a return trip to their hometown. These kinds of games spark competition among all parties involved.
Shooting guard Klay Thompson, a new star for the Dallas Mavericks, has his first game back in Golden State on November 12th marked on his calendar after joining the team earlier in the offseason.
Before accepting a contract elsewhere this summer, Thompson played for the Warriors for 13 seasons, so that November 12 game will mean even more to him. He will want to demonstrate to the Warriors that he is still the player he once was and that, along with the rest of their core, they should have signed him first.
Former NBA players expect Thompson to return to the Bay with fireworks.
Depending on how this November 12 game plays out, the Mavs and Warriors could develop into fierce rivals this season. A former NBA player believes that Thompson will put on a show in the Bay Area.
Kenyon Martin and Gilbert Arenas jumped into Thompson’s first game back at the Chase Center on Gil’s Arena, and both former players seemed to believe that he would light it up.
“Foot to (expletive),” they both exclaimed.
Martin projected that Thompson would shoot 35 shots, and he expanded on this assessment by projecting that Jason Kidd would make sure he got enough of shots.
The group then discussed how, like any coach, Kidd enjoys picking apart players who lack defensive skill. They also touched on the subject of how, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both having quick starts, the Warriors shouldn’t concentrate too much on stopping Thompson.
Arenas also hinted that Thompson will play freely in this game, not caring too much if his shots fall and simply letting it fly. A lot of emotions will undoubtedly be present throughout this game.
This is Dallas’ first NBA Cup game, so everyone will be watching. Thompson had many memorable moments while playing with the Warriors, including winning the NBA Finals four times.
Golden State will have problems if Thompson makes as many shots as Arenas and Martin projected (albeit their prediction is a little exaggerated). In order to make Thompson’s involvement in their offense easier, Dallas is already concentrating on getting him engaged in a variety of ways. Thompson’s performance in his first game back at Chase Center will not only put him back on the map but also the Mavs.
Given that defenses are frequently laser-focused on trying to shut them down, Thompson will benefit from the spacing that Doncic and Thompson give. Doncic’s on-ball gravity and Thompson’s shooting off the catch make them a formidable on-court combination.
Even though Thompson and the Mavericks had a fantastic offseason, doubters are beginning to surface. On November 12, Thompson will have the opportunity to dispel all of the concerns with a good game.
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