Bay Area Sports Guy – Klay Thompson scores 31, still motivated by Rookie/Sophomore Game snub

Klay Thompson didn’t get the memo that the Golden State Warriors would like to lose as many of the rest of their games as possible. “Tank,” as the kids say.

And why should Thompson care? He isn’t in a hurry to add another lottery pick to next year’s rotation. Monta Ellis is gone, and the rookie who Mark Jackson called a “prototypical” shooting guard (as opposed to “undersized,” like a certain someone) after Saturday’s game finally has a chance to show he’s not just another rookie.

Thompson scored 31 points, all of them through the first three quarters of Golden State’s 111-108 win over the Sacramento Kings. The man who owner Joe Lacob said could win Rookie of the Year is making that statement look less ludicrous by the game. Thompson’s averaging 20.1 ppg since The Trade, showing part of the reason why the Warriors were happy to get any sort of asset in return for Monta Ellis, even an injured one.

Interesting postgame comments after the game from Thompson, who showed he’s not over a certain All-Star Weekend snub. The Warriors are just playing out the string. But in a sense, the season’s just getting underway for Thompson.

Reporter: Are you playing with a chip on your shoulder?

Thompson: Yeah, I am. Still haven’t forgot about the rookie game. Looking forward to being in that. But if I keep playing like this, we keep winning, people will take notice. I’m just going to continue to be aggressive and work on my game.

BASG: You played 42 minutes tonight. Are you getting close to that rookie wall people talk about?

Thompson: No, I’m young. I’m 22 and I got fresh legs. If you take care of your body, we got 20 more games we got to grind through. Just got to make a run here. Want to be a threat in this Western Conference. I don’t think I’ve hit that wall yet, I’ll still keep working.

BASG: Ready tomorrow?

Thompson: Yeah, I’ll be ready tomorrow. Going back home, have family there. I grew up going to the Rose Garden. I’m going to have butterflies in my stomach when I walk in. Been watching the Blazers there since I was two.

Butcherboy415

Excuse me the bucks snapped their own five game winning streak by losing to pacers and celts....sorry

Stan

Yeah-but thats classic Monta BB, put up against the bad teams..but we never did see Monta drop 48 on the Lakers or Jazz or Boston,..never read Monta (Kobe like) came on in the fourth to explode on Team X,of that playoff caliber. He just wasn't that good. Bogut with a broken ankle may turnout that we hoodwinked and took advantage of the Bucks. Shame on us..for once in three decades.

Stan

Remember when Sleepy Floyd put 58 on the Lakers of the Magic Johnson (I think) days?..a red hot fourth. Monta in 7 years never came close.

Stan

I read too much blogs stuff..this came to me like 2am,then went back to sleep: Klay in his 28 and 31 point games? Warriors won. A change of culture can be good.

Stan

And BB, I read it..and like Ann Killion said..he STILL left out big flubs..like S Jackson wanting a trade.. OR,Like I pointed out..LACOB buys a losing team..and brings back the whole FO???..minus Nelson. The more I hear KNBR praise Raymond Ritter more i KNOW HE WAS IN ON THE FLUNKSTER fiasco. As a matter of fact, when I have gotten some extreme polite blog posts rebuttal..I wonder..hmmm..lol.

Stan

Ahh..the losses erased the numbers I guess. Just like I once said Cal under Tedford never beat a top 20 team on the road..and somebody posted like 2-3 wins in his 10 year..and 20 losses to the same.Something like that

Butcherboy415

Basg wow love the stats, look I agree with both sides, monta is not Kobe, but who is? Even Lebron has come up short in crunch time...that being said funny how all his bigger scoring performances are linked to losses, not that surprising. But, my argument in a devils advocate role for monta is that he never truly had a dominant big man to compliment his style. Even the small dumars and Thomas guards of pistons lore had three bruisers at the rim in rick Mahorn, bill Lambeer, and a young Dennis rodman to offset their lack of size. Also dumars and Thomas were far better perimeter defenders, passers, and mid range shooters than monta will ever be, so it's probably a moot point. Stan, did you read bill Simmons article on 60 ways to alienate a fan base? It's an incredibly funny detailed national view of just how pathetic every move we have ever made truly is! It's comical and therapeutic to hear from an obvious outsider how ridiculous we look from afar, yet we as fans are simply fed up, and lacob just doesn't understand. Nit that it is lacobs fault at all, just that as a fan base we are completely frustrated, no matter what move we were or have made. Sorry to promote someone else here basg, I apologize if it is in poor taste but the article is a classic and must read for any dubs fan, and we are all die hard dubs fans!

BASG

I'm not exactly the biggest Monta fan, and I think the Warriors made the right decision in moving on. However, he did drop 48 points on OKC this season, and the Thunder are the best team in the Western Conference. He scored 41 in Boston on 3/4/11. He scored 38 vs the Lakers on 1/12/11 on 15-of-26 shooting (he also played all 48 minutes). He scored 46 in Dallas on 2/3/10. Monta has the ability to come up big against marquee teams, but here's the problem: all of those games were close losses for Golden State. Monta can fill it up with anyone, but when your offense is led by Monta, you probably don't have a very good or balanced team.

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Stan while I agree in parts of what you say, the bucks are 7 and 3 over their last ten, and just snapped a 5 game losing streak by losing to two east playoff caliber teams in Indiana and Boston. As far as Monta s minutes go, you k new Scott skills would be a red ass, and try to get monta to play his brand of ball, give them a few games before we jump to conclusions on monta and the bucks. And as far as klay goes, good for him, I hope he makes us forget monta that would be great for us as an organization and fan base! Keep it up klay!

And- I dont hate-A,Monta. I hate what he represented..and half or most of that wasn't even his fault. I hated that the Warriors Org.just clung to him,and made wild assumptions about his talents..and the winningest coach in NBA history just blew up a very good team..and put it on the shoulders of Ellis. I hated reading of the many quaility trades passed up by the Warriors by teams in the past playoff hunts...because we wanted a HOF for Ellis..who would be the new teams 2nd or 3rd string at best. So,we got nobody. He wasnt a "core" he was more peace corps with his skinny frame. I still say-the Warriors need a quality GM..one who doesnt let Jeremy Lin go away as a gift to the richest market in the world. Inexcusable.

I told you-Monta's role is the easiest in the NBA to fill..just shoot and score. A popular job..fun. Bogut has the work to do. Monta is already just a average fill in for the Bucks. Jeez,and to think Nelson and Cohan and even Lacob painted Monta as soooo valuable..

Ellis score 9 points in the 1st quarter..0 in the second-early 4th,was sat fo rthe rest of the game. Bucks lose. The Bucks ARE the new OLD Golden State..