Most people don’t realize how hard Klay has to work to be an effective number two option to Steph. The recognition for his effort on the defensive end is even more obscure. Great post, OP!
jtruth9
If “get in the stance and slide your feet” was a person. You can see the pride he took on defense.
Late_Negotiation_438
How Prime Klay never get into a All-Defensive First Team is beyond me
yungsantaclaus
You hear a lot of stuff about the Warriors living off moving screens but that Tristan Thompson screen starting at 24 seconds in is diabolical
MeijiDoom
That play at 37 seconds is actually so impressive. He’s playing Kyrie towards the sideline, Kyrie cuts back to the center without really losing pace and Klay is able to flip his hips around without getting completely beat. He obviously gets some help from KD but completely switching from one direction to another on defense would cause a lot of people to lose their balance against someone as fast as Kyrie.
iambiggzy
Too bad he’s not as good anymore.
swaaaggy_b
There is no dynasty without Klay.
Coronabandkaro
We talk about Draymond Green being the cornerstone of the defense but pre ACL injury Klay would take on the task of guarding the other team’s PG as well as be the 2nd or 3rd scoring option( with KD) in the motion offense. Thats why the 2022 title in hindsight imo is still Steph’s crowning achievement because Klay has fallen off quite a bit on defense. Dray got a little older too and Steph himself had to improve his defense to a point where he isnt hidden on the floor like in earlier title runs.
imminentjogger5
really miss this version of Klay and that evil twin goatee
astonedgazelle
Klay before the injuries was a defensive master. The Warriors would not have won as much as they did without his ability to defend opposing star guards. Dude was a legit top 10, (maybe top 5) player in the league for years.
127crazie
to think Warriors almost traded him for Kevin Love lol. Dodged a bullet there
Mynameisneo1234
Elite footwork. He must have spent hours watching film to understand the tendencies of Kyrie. Plus, previous experience against him to anticipate the quickness on the floor. I don’t think people understand how good an average pro is, and Kyrie is way above average, so what we are watching from Klay is really good.
SuperAd1793
can we now post that clip of Kyrie hitting the game winning fadeaway during the Christmas day game?
Rappaslasharmedrobba
That is just relentless effort. Champion type shit
Mobile_Chart_4783
This series has some of Kyries prettiest scoring plays, id say he was more locked in than in 2016 here. 29PPG on 47/42/90 was not bad but not enough.
Klay v Kyrie was a great matchup for those few years.
15 Comments
Most people don’t realize how hard Klay has to work to be an effective number two option to Steph. The recognition for his effort on the defensive end is even more obscure. Great post, OP!
If “get in the stance and slide your feet” was a person. You can see the pride he took on defense.
How Prime Klay never get into a All-Defensive First Team is beyond me
You hear a lot of stuff about the Warriors living off moving screens but that Tristan Thompson screen starting at 24 seconds in is diabolical
That play at 37 seconds is actually so impressive. He’s playing Kyrie towards the sideline, Kyrie cuts back to the center without really losing pace and Klay is able to flip his hips around without getting completely beat. He obviously gets some help from KD but completely switching from one direction to another on defense would cause a lot of people to lose their balance against someone as fast as Kyrie.
Too bad he’s not as good anymore.
There is no dynasty without Klay.
We talk about Draymond Green being the cornerstone of the defense but pre ACL injury Klay would take on the task of guarding the other team’s PG as well as be the 2nd or 3rd scoring option( with KD) in the motion offense. Thats why the 2022 title in hindsight imo is still Steph’s crowning achievement because Klay has fallen off quite a bit on defense. Dray got a little older too and Steph himself had to improve his defense to a point where he isnt hidden on the floor like in earlier title runs.
really miss this version of Klay and that evil twin goatee
Klay before the injuries was a defensive master. The Warriors would not have won as much as they did without his ability to defend opposing star guards. Dude was a legit top 10, (maybe top 5) player in the league for years.
to think Warriors almost traded him for Kevin Love lol. Dodged a bullet there
Elite footwork. He must have spent hours watching film to understand the tendencies of Kyrie. Plus, previous experience against him to anticipate the quickness on the floor. I don’t think people understand how good an average pro is, and Kyrie is way above average, so what we are watching from Klay is really good.
can we now post that clip of Kyrie hitting the game winning fadeaway during the Christmas day game?
That is just relentless effort. Champion type shit
This series has some of Kyries prettiest scoring plays, id say he was more locked in than in 2016 here. 29PPG on 47/42/90 was not bad but not enough.
Klay v Kyrie was a great matchup for those few years.