In the world of the NBA, adjustments are a constant part of the game. Teams study their opponents, adapt their strategies, and learn from their experiences, often changing the way they approach certain matchups or players. This is particularly true for teams like the Golden State Warriors, who have had a legacy of success under head coach Steve Kerr and star players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. One such adjustment occurred last season when the Warriors and Mavericks faced off, and a realization regarding Klay Thompson emerged—one that not only surprised the Mavericks but also served as a crucial lesson for the Warriors in terms of how to leverage Thompson’s strengths and weaknesses.
As the 2024–2025 NBA season continues, the Dallas Mavericks have been reflecting on the lessons they learned from the previous year, particularly in how to defend and manage Klay Thompson’s presence on the court. In this article, we’ll explore how the Mavericks’ realization about Thompson led to an unexpected shift in their approach, and how this lesson impacted the Warriors as they learned from their own experience with Thompson.
The Mavericks’ Surprise Realization
When the Mavericks played the Golden State Warriors last season, one key aspect stood out—the way Klay Thompson performed under pressure. While Thompson is regarded as one of the best shooters in NBA history, his performance in some matchups raised eyebrows. To understand the significance of this realization, we need to look at Thompson’s game and how it fits into the Warriors’ system.
Klay Thompson, a three-time NBA champion and a vital part of Golden State’s success, is known for his remarkable shooting ability. His ability to catch and shoot, particularly off the ball, has been a key asset for the Warriors. However, Thompson’s return from two major injuries (an ACL tear and an Achilles rupture) has resulted in a slight decline in his overall explosiveness and consistency, especially compared to his prime years before the injuries. While he’s still an exceptional shooter, there are moments where Thompson’s game can be inconsistent, particularly when facing high-level defenders or teams that can exploit his weaknesses.
This inconsistency became evident to the Mavericks, who realized that Thompson could be contained by a focused and aggressive defensive strategy. Specifically, the Mavericks began to notice that Thompson’s lack of elite lateral quickness and his occasional inability to create his own shot led to struggles when he was forced to rely on shooting under pressure. When teams made the conscious decision to limit his movement and disrupt his rhythm, Thompson often found it difficult to shake off defenders, especially in fast-paced games where he needed to be at his best.
For the Mavericks, this realization was eye-opening. The defensive schemes they initially employed against Thompson were based on the assumption that his shooting ability would be enough to carry him through difficult matchups. However, they soon found that Klay was more vulnerable than expected when placed under specific pressure. By denying him clean looks off screens, limiting his space on the perimeter, and forcing him to take contested shots, the Mavericks learned that Thompson, while still a valuable asset, could be neutralized to some extent with the right defensive approach.
The Warriors’ Response and Adjustment
When the Warriors realized that opponents—specifically the Mavericks—were beginning to neutralize Klay Thompson’s scoring threat, the team had to adjust their offensive strategy. The Golden State Warriors are renowned for their ball movement, unselfish play, and ability to find open shots for their stars, including Thompson. However, if Thompson’s shooting was being disrupted, Golden State had to ensure that their offense didn’t become too reliant on one player, especially when facing high-quality teams like the Mavericks.
The Warriors’ response to this revelation was twofold. First, they emphasized a more diversified offensive approach. While Stephen Curry’s shooting is the engine that drives the Warriors’ offense, the team realized that they needed to do more to create opportunities for Thompson, even when he wasn’t getting clean looks from the perimeter. Instead of just running their offense through Curry and allowing Thompson to play off-ball, the Warriors began integrating more sets where Thompson could get the ball in different spots on the floor. This helped Thompson to take fewer contested shots and provided him with the space needed to find his rhythm.
Second, the Warriors shifted their defensive focus to help support Thompson’s offensive game. Golden State has long been one of the best defensive teams in the league, thanks in large part to the leadership of Draymond Green. With the Mavericks increasingly focusing on containing Thompson, Green and other Warriors players began to take more responsibility for creating opportunities for Thompson on offense. Green’s ability to facilitate offense and create mismatches helped alleviate some of the pressure Thompson faced from defenders, and this gave Thompson more breathing room to find open shots.
But the Warriors’ most significant adjustment came in how they viewed Thompson’s role in the overall structure of the team. While Thompson was still an integral part of their success, the Warriors recognized that his days of being the primary scorer and offensive focal point were behind him. Instead, Thompson became an important secondary option—one that still possessed the potential to explode for big scoring runs, but whose game needed to be optimized around his strengths and weaknesses. The Warriors did not abandon him as a star player, but they did adjust their expectations of him, ensuring they didn’t over-rely on him in ways that could lead to inefficiency.
Why Klay Thompson’s Realization is Significant
Klay Thompson’s realization about his own limitations and the adjustments that both he and the Warriors made during the season is important for several reasons. For one, it underscores the changing nature of Thompson’s game as he navigates life after two devastating injuries. While he may never fully return to his pre-injury level, Thompson’s ability to adapt and change his role within the Warriors’ system has allowed him to remain effective, even if he’s no longer the same player he once was.
For the Mavericks, this realization has been equally important. It highlights how teams need to continuously reassess the threats they face, even when those threats are as well-established as Klay Thompson. The Mavericks had to learn quickly that Klay, despite his legendary status, could be taken out of games under the right conditions. This lesson has informed their defensive approach moving forward, not only against the Warriors but against other teams that have sharpshooters similar to Thompson.
One important aspect of this realization is how it affects the Mavericks’ defensive philosophy. Teams across the league can learn from the Mavericks’ experience with Thompson. While many teams will always respect Thompson’s shooting range and off-ball movement, the Mavericks proved that an aggressive defensive strategy—one that focuses on limiting his space and pressuring his shot selection—can disrupt Thompson’s effectiveness. Other teams will likely incorporate similar tactics, forcing Thompson to adjust his game further.
Moreover, this realization also sheds light on the evolving dynamics of the NBA, where no player, not even an all-time great like Thompson, is immune to adjustments. Teams that succeed in the NBA are the ones that can recognize the vulnerabilities of even the best players and exploit those weaknesses. For the Mavericks, this has become a crucial part of their defensive game plan against the Warriors and other teams with elite shooters.
The Long-Term Implications for Both Teams
The long-term implications of this realization are significant for both the Mavericks and the Warriors. For the Mavericks, it means that their defense has grown stronger, as they are better equipped to handle elite shooters like Thompson. Their success in neutralizing Thompson may have far-reaching effects as they continue to fine-tune their defense to face similar threats from other teams.
For the Warriors, the lesson is more about evolution. As Thompson ages and his game continues to adapt, the Warriors must be prepared to adjust their expectations and their offense to ensure continued success. While Thompson may no longer be the centerpiece of the offense, his ability to space the floor, create mismatches, and hit big shots in clutch moments is still an invaluable asset for the Warriors. By recognizing and adapting to these changes, the Warriors can ensure that they remain competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA.
Conclusion
The Mavericks’ realization about Klay Thompson, and the adjustments made by both the Warriors and the Mavericks, has been one of the most interesting subplots of the 2024–2025 NBA season. As the league continues to evolve and players like Thompson face new challenges, teams are learning to adapt their strategies accordingly. For the Mavericks, the lesson was clear: even the most iconic players can be neutralized with the right approach. For the Warriors, it was a reminder that no player is immune to change, and flexibility is key to success in the NBA.
As both teams continue to learn and grow, the ongoing battle between Thompson and teams like the Mavericks will remain one of the most compelling aspects of the NBA season. The realization and adjustments made in this matchup are indicative of the ever-evolving nature of the game and the strategies that shape the fortunes of each franchise.
