Skip to main content

CSN Bay Area

HOME  >  NEWS  >  SPORTS
Klay's historic night adds to Warriors insane season
Share This Post
Comments
Friday, January 23, 2015 - 11:30pm
Follow @rattocsn

Klay Thompson is the latest, and surely greatest, example of how the Golden State Warriors are being repaid all at once for the decades and seasons and coaches and players who knew nothing but misery and shame and degradation and Cohanmania.

I mean, sure you could try to metric your way to an explanation for Thompson’s megapreposterous 37-point third quarter Friday night. He shot such-and-such from the following angles over the following Sacramento Kings in the Warriors' 126-101 win and blah-blah-blah-de-blah-blah, but in doing so you are missing the bigger picture, which is this:

All of the franchise’s chits are being called in at once, an embarrassment of absurd riches that has raised the expectation bar from “Win The Title” to “Win By 25 Every Night” to “Do Things In Each Game Humans Have Never Seen Before.”

I mean, what’s the worst thing that’s happened to this team this year? Andrew Bogut’s injury? Steve Kerr’s first technical foul? The 26-turnover game in Phoenix? The time the bananas went bad in the cafeteria? Whatcha got?

[RELATED: Klay erupts for 37 in third, 52 in total to lift Warriors past Kings]

Here’s what you got? Nothin’, with a side of Shut The Hell Up. Unless there’s this – the Warriors could give their coach an aneurysm for all the yelling he wants to do but can’t.

This was a night when Kerr wanted to turn moderately purple over his team’s slovenly first-half play. He was displeased in the extreme, and then Thompson went and ruined that by having the finest single quarter any player has ever had, and that includes the night of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game. He made all 13 shots he took, including nine 3-pointers, and made Kerr forget that he wanted to strangle several of his players.

Now all that pent-up anger turns unhealthy without release, so yes, Kerr is risking some sort embolism. But that’s been his whole season, so he must surely know by now what this season is meant to be.

And Thompson’s performance will far outstrip any teaching moments Kerr may try to impart Saturday. After all, how do you teach the children when they never make a mistake to learn from? How do you yell at them for spilling the milk when one has just won a dairy farm at the school fundraiser?

You don’t, and so it goes.

This has been an absurdly great week for the team, and it isn’t over yet. Kobe Bryant tore his rotator cuff, thereby eliminating any further debate over whether Thompson would make the West All-Star team. LaMarcus Aldridge injured his thumb thereby halving the Portland Trail Blazers’ list of influential players. And now Thompson goes and gets 52 the hard way.

I mean, what do the Warriors do next? How do you impress the audience Sunday against Boston after what they watched Friday against Sacramento? If they only win 118-92, do they get booed off the floor? If Stephen Curry doesn’t hit 14 of nine shots, do the customers demand a refund? If Draymond Green doesn’t dunk a ball with his feet, does the arena empty at halftime as parents try to comfort their weeping children on the way to the parking lot?

That’s the new Warrior paradigm – Something Ridiculous This Way Comes, So Just Wait A Bit. All the seasons when they made the wrong trade for the wrong reasons, or drafted the wrong guy, or ruined a potentially good team by arguing over who got the most credit, or just plain sucked to high heaven – it all gets made right this year.

And it may be too much.

[RELATED: What they're saying: Thompson explodes for 52]

Oh, you can try to find some solace in the six losses that prove their essential humanity and show them that this is supposed to be more of a struggle than it is, but you’re wasting your time. Nobody’s listening any more. They’ve come to see the extraordinary, and they get it as though it’s just another trip to the ATM.

In other words, the Warriors – THE FREAKING GOLDEN STATE NO TITLES IN 40 YEARS WARRIORS – have now reached the point where merely winning by double digits is a cliché, and therefore insufficient entertainment for a fan base that went from starving for thrills to Mr. Creosote in Monty Python’s Meaning Of Life.

So way to go, Klay Thompson. You got your 52, you had the best nine-minute stretch since the invention of minutes, you stole a coaching opportunity from Kerr, you raised the bar for your playmates to a new and unfair height, and you’ve jaded an entire fan base who will regard mere victory as winning 12 tickets after a day at Chuck E. Cheese.

Here’s hoping you’re proud of yourself. Spoilsport.

NBCBayArea.com

There is no data to display.

Video

Cookin' with the Currys: Honey Banana and Fruit Smoothies
Curry: '37 in a quarter is unbelievable, thought I'd never see that'
Shot of the Game: Curry lobs up to Thompson for one-hand slam
McLemore: Klay 'was just in a zone'

Giants

Mr. Cub: Ernie Banks did it his way
Selig says MLB could expand internationally
Report: Giants among teams with 'strong interest' in Olivera
Giants bring back Bowker, Hicks on minor league deals
Read More

Athletics

Former A's LHP Milone had benign neck tumor removed
A's expect arbitration hearings for Clippard, Parker
Doolittle has rotator cuff tear, to miss start of season
Profile rising for A's first base prospect Matt Olson
Read More

Sharks

Sharks' Burns drafted by 'Team Foligno' for All-Star game
Rewind: Sharks jolted back to life in 4-2 win over Kings
Instant Replay: Sharks put together complete effort in win over Kings
Sharks' Metallica night 'makes sense,' says frontman Hetfield
Read More

49ers

Report: Gordon failed drug test; Browns 'disappointed'
Ballghazi, Super Bowl perfect end to forgettable NFL season
Lane Kiffin to return to Alabama for second year
49ers GM Baalke talks talent evaluating at Senior Bowl
Read More

Raiders

Report: Raiders to interview Bills' Moore as WR coach
Belichick: Patriots 'followed every rule' on footballs
Tim Brown longs for end of 'gut-wrenching' HOF induction process
McFadden picking Seahawks over Pats to win Super Bowl XLIX
Read More

Warriors

Instant Replay: Klay, Curry put Celtics away at Oracle
Klay's big night for Warriors reverberates
WATCH: Warriors Postgame Live
NBA Gameday: Warriors heavy favorites vs. rebuilding Celtics
Read More

NCAA

Duke's Krzyzewski first D-1 men's coach to reach 1,000 wins
Brown, Randle, Nastic power Stanford past Arizona State
Santa Clara holds on to beat Pepperdine 60-57
Cal overwhelmed by Johnson, No. 7 Arizona
Read More
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • Amy G
  • Buy Giants Gear
  • Buy Giants Tickets

Latest News

Mr. Cub: Ernie Banks did it his way
(1)
CSNChicago.com

GIANTS VIDEO

YSTL: Why would Sandoval not want to hear Giants final offer?
YSTL: Why would Sandoval not want to hear Giants final offer?
See more >

More Stories

Giants bring back Bowker, Hicks on minor league deals
(8)
Vogelsong 'wasn't comfortable' during Astros visit
(5)
See more >
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • Insider Joe Stiglich
  • Buy Athletics Gear
  • Buy Athletics Tickets

Latest News

Former A's LHP Milone had benign neck tumor removed
(1)
CSN Bay Area staff

A's VIDEO

YSTL: Former A's 3B Eric Chavez reflects on decision to retire
YSTL: Former A's 3B Eric Chavez reflects on decision to retire
See more >

A's INSIDER

  • A's expect arbitration hearings for Clippard, Parker
  • Doolittle has rotator cuff tear, to miss start of season
  • Profile rising for A's first base prospect Matt Olson
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NHL Standings
  • Insider Kevin Kurz
  • Buy Sharks Gear
  • Buy Sharks Tickets

Latest News

Sharks' Burns drafted by 'Team Foligno' for All-Star game
(1)
CSN Bay Area staff

SHARKS VIDEO

Sharks head into All-Star break on high note
Sharks head into All-Star break on high note
See more >

SHARKS INSIDER

  • Rewind: Sharks jolted back to life in 4-2 win over Kings
  • Instant Replay: Sharks put together complete effort in win over Kings
  • Sharks' Metallica night 'makes sense,' says frontman Hetfield
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Insider Monte Poole
  • Buy Warriors Gear
  • Buy Warriors Tickets

Latest News

Instant Replay: Klay, Curry put Celtics away at Oracle
Monte Poole

WARRIORS VIDEO

Cookin' with the Currys: Honey Banana and Fruit Smoothies
Cookin' with the Currys: Honey Banana and Fruit Smoothies
See more >

WARRIORS INSIDER

  • Instant Replay: Klay, Curry put Celtics away at Oracle
  • Klay's big night for Warriors reverberates
  • NBA Gameday: Warriors heavy favorites vs. rebuilding Celtics
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Insider Bill Herenda
  • Buy Kings Gear
  • Buy Kings Tickets
  • Channel locations

Latest News

Ranadive says Obama behind Kings' Cousins as All-Star
(1)
Bill Herenda

Kings Video

McLemore: Klay 'was just in a zone'
McLemore: Klay 'was just in a zone'
See more >

KINGS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Insider Matt Maiocco
  • Buy 49ers Gear
  • Buy 49ers Tickets

Latest News

Report: Gordon failed drug test; Browns 'disappointed'
(7)
Associated Press

49ers VIDEO

Who are 49ers realistic candidates for defensive, offensive coordinators?
Who are 49ers realistic candidates for defensive, offensive coordinators?
See more >

49ers INSIDER

  • 49ers ranked 23rd in special teams in Seely's final year
  • 49ers keeping an eye on Chudzinski?
  • 49ers' Tomsula can lean on staff members' experience
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Insider Scott Bair
  • Buy Raiders Gear
  • Buy Raiders Tickets

Latest News

Report: Raiders to interview Bills' Moore as WR coach
(5)
CSN Bay Area staff

RAIDERS VIDEO

YSTL: Will Deflate-gate ruin Tom Brady's legacy?
YSTL: Will Deflate-gate ruin Tom Brady's legacy?
See more >

RAIDERS INSIDER

  • 49ers' Culliver arrested in San Jose
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLS Standings
  • MLS Player Leaders
  • Buy Quakes Gear
  • Buy Quakes Tickets

Top Story

Hope Solo suspended for 30 days from US national team
(3)
Associated Press

Quakes Video

Wondolowski reflects on his World Cup experience
Wondolowski reflects on his World Cup experience
See more >

Shop

JOE STIGLICH

A's expect arbitration hearings for Clippard, Parker
(1)
See more >

MATT MAIOCCO

49ers ranked 23rd in special teams in Seely's final year
(44)
See more >

SCOTT BAIR

Tim Brown longs for end of 'gut-wrenching' HOF induction process
(10)
See more >

MONTE POOLE

Instant Replay: Klay, Curry put Celtics away at Oracle
See more >

BILL HERENDA

Ranadive says Obama behind Kings' Cousins as All-Star
(1)
See more >

KEVIN KURZ

Rewind: Sharks jolted back to life in 4-2 win over Kings
(6)
See more >

RAY RATTO

Ballghazi, Super Bowl perfect end to forgettable NFL season

ALL-STAR TEACHER

Nominate your favorite All-Star Teacher today!

SATURDAY NIGHT ON ICE SHARKS POSTER!

more

Click here to find out how to win a Sharks collectors edition poster!

AUTHENTIC FAN THURSDAY

Click here to buy your Sharks tickets in the Authentic Fan Thursday section!



NCAA

Waldow leads Saint Mary's over Portland on road
Cal overwhelmed by Johnson, No. 7 Arizona

MORE

  • SaberCats
  • Fight Sports
  • Motor Sports
  • GolfChannel.com
  • Tennis
  • Ray Ratto

 

TICKETS

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets
Curry Jersey
Giants Fitted Hat
49ers Hoodie

Mega Menu: Shop

  • Giants
  • A's Shop
  • 49ers
  • Raiders Shop
  • Warriors
  • Kings Shop
  • Sharks Shop

Mega Menu: Shop - Tickets

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets

Latest Videos

Cookin' with the Currys: Honey Banana and Fruit Smoothies
Cookin' with the Currys: Honey Banana and Fruit Smoothies
See more >

ONLINE SHOWS

  • Carpool Confessions
  • Amy G’s Exclusives
  • Buster Knows Squat
  • Humm BB
  • Bullshootin'

TV SHOWS

  • All Videos
  • SportsNet Central
  • Yahoo SportsTalk Live

INSIDERS

  • Ray Ratto - Senior Insider
  • Matt Maiocco - 49ers
  • Scott Bair - Raiders
  • Monte Poole - Warriors
  • Bill Herenda - Kings
  • Kevin Kurz - Sharks
  • Joe Stiglich - A's
  • TV Schedule - Bay Area and California
  • Channel Locations - Bay Area
  • Channel Locations - California