Klay’s Killer Instinct

As I was watching Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, I couldn’t help but notice the heightened consequences the Warriors faced in Chesapeake Arena.  Multiple factors set the stage for a needed heroic performance.  Factors such as being down 3 games to 2, trailing by 20 points at one point in the game, and ultimately staring at elimination in the face. But, instead of concentrating on what was at stake, the most impressive facet of the night was Klay Thompson’s killer instinct sighting. For younger players, it’s ideal to recognize who should be stepping up during these moments and when to do so. Thompson’s play last night is a focal point in which every player should examine before stepping on the floor.

Struggling mightily most of the game to find their rhythm, Stephen Curry and company needed a spark to save their record-breaking season. Not only a spark, but also an unlikely miracle to keep their championship hopes alive. They didn’t need to look far for their saving grace as Klay Thompson came to the rescue. Thompson had a record-breaking 3-point performance, nailing 11 markers from behind the arc. Thompson ended the night with 41 points and 4 rebounds. Outside of Klay’s made shots, the most impressive factor was the degree of difficulty of his shots attempted.  No matter where Thompson was on the floor, his shots were going up. Whether it was hands in the face, multiple defenders thrown at him, or fading out-of-bounds, Thompson was letting it fly.

As shots kept falling for Thompson, you could start to see that look in his eye. We’ve all had that look (or thought we had that look) when playing sports–It’s the look of killer instinct. That killer instinct look has been noted by many of basketball’s greats. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James have all been known for owning the killer instinct look. Ultimately, when the game is on the line, they take it over. No questions asked, we know who is getting the ball.  This act of taking a game over is fueled by the killer instinct a player has internally.  Athletes feed off this moment of hyper adrenaline to boost their sporting performance to limitless expectations. This is exactly what we witnessed last night in Thompson’s shooting clinic.

There are three outliers of last night’s killer instinct performance by Thompson that all players should note:

1. Stepping up within the role of system:

The Warriors’ system isn’t just predicated on its winning abilities, but also allows for a number of players to showcase their abilities in a variety of ways. Being a high volume 3-point shooting team allows players such as Curry and Thompson to get up shots early and often.  Luckily, for the Warriors, they have selfless players that understand their roles in Steve Kerr’s system. For example,  Curry has struggled to find his MVP season form in the playoffs, especially during the OKC series. With Curry struggling, Thompson recognized this in Game 6 and recognized it early. This identification set the stage for his performance. After Thompson’s shots were falling and Curry’s were not, it was time for Thompson to shine. Once the hoop started looking like an ocean to Thompson, Thompson worked even harder.  He worked off screen after screen, ran the floor hard in transition, and made the right reads of the defense.  This wasn’t hero ball.  It was great basketball played within a great system and the moment was his for the taking, and his teammates started working even harder to get him shots.  They recognized he had the hot hand, set even better screens, and delivered the ball with impeccable timing.  Young players should recognize the crucial concept of ‘how’ to step up for their team is as important as ‘when’.  When the ‘how’ and the ‘when’ come together within a system, you get what we all saw last night.  An unforgettable performance.

2. Showing up when the team needs you the most:

Everyone knew the situation for the Warriors surrounding Game 6 in Oklahoma City. Win or go home. So, what bigger stage for a player to step up for his team than last night? At pivotal moments in the game, Thompson answered the bell every time his team needed him. For example, when it seemed OKC was about to pull away in the 3rd quarter, Thompson found a way to make shot after shot to put his team within striking range. A lot of players can recognize the moment when their team needs them, but only the great players can deliver during that moment. As basketball players develop, they need to learn how to handle these moments as a value to the team and not the individual.  Klay knew he had to step up for his TEAM.  Because this was his mindset.  His performance inspired them instead of isolating himself from them.  His work on the defensive end was every bit as brilliant as his offensive outburst which only energized Andre Igoudala and Draymond Green.  And as he got hotter, you could sense the pressure being lifted off of Curry’s shoulders as he closed the game with a barrage of buckets.

When a player’s motives are pure (team win over individual glory), their killer instinct brings out the best in the entire team.

3. No Fear because of preparation: 

The best aspect of Thompson’s epic performance is the preparation for that moment. More specifically,  this moment was built on the foundation of preparation and opportunity. Thompson has put in countless of hours shooting at game speed to mimic game-type scenarios. So, when Thompson’s preparation met opportunity, his no fear attitude resulted in a once in a lifetime performance. He had already done the leg work by himself in the gym.  Younger players should realize this performance was strictly planned and prepared for. Thompson simply had a logical plan to attack a situation that needed his heroics.

Final Thought:

These types of killer instinct moments make basketball players great. There is something about viewing one of these performances in person or partaking in the performance yourself. It’s almost as if you know what is going to happen or the script is already written. We need more Klay Thompson’s in the world of basketball, which consists of players that feed off understanding their role in the system, showing up when the team needs you, and capitalizing on an opportunity with preparation. Thompson’s performance in Game 6 should be added to the list of NBA’s greatest killer instinct performances.