We can safely assume that Klay Thompson will be in the starting lineup and ready to go for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. The first indication: Thompson was getting some shots up when the media walked into the facility after practice:
“Klay went full bore in practice and he looked good. He’s continuing to go through the league-mandated protocol. Each day he’s progressed and looked great,” said Steve Kerr, who said that Thompson did “everything” including scrimmaging and defensive work.
“I feel great,” Thompson said. “I expect to be (cleared). I feel like I’m well on my way there. I haven’t been cleared yet, but I expect to be in the next couple days.”
Thompson said he suffered a worse concussion when he was a freshman in high school. That led him to deem the one he suffered in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals (which made him feel ill that night, but fine since) as “mild.” And unless the doctors detect something unforeseen in Thompson’s neurological profile, he’ll be available for the entire series.
According to Andrew Bogut, it’s next to impossible to tell a difference in Thompson before or after taking a Trevor Ariza knee to the head.
“Same as always. I don’t know if he still has it or not,” Bogut said. “Pre- and post-concussion symptoms, same.”
Later in the interview, Bogut talked about how the team stays loose. Long story short: they joke around with each other. So I asked him if his comment about Thompson’s pre- and post-concussion symptoms being the same was something the shooting guard had already heard from his teammates.
“I think so. I think he knows it, too. I don’t think he knows if he’s pre- or post-concussion. But that’s Klay, he’s always laid back and loose, doesn’t say a whole lot,” said Bogut.
“I think he’s doing well. He practiced today. You have to ask him sometimes if he’s OK because he wouldn’t tell you.”
True to his nature, the guy with the head injury took it all in stride. A reporter asked Thompson if Bogut was on the mark when he said it was impossible to tell if/when Thompson is dealing with concussion symptoms.
“This time I have it easier with the ear bleed,” Thompson said. “That sounds about right, though.”
