Preview: Warriors vs Mavericks in rematch of the Splash Bros battle

Newly acquired Dubs guard Dennis Schroder gets to try his hand at filling the shoes Klay Thompson left behind.

The Golden State Warriors are back at home, taking on the Dallas Mavericks in a Sunday evening battle that brings Klay Thompson back to Chase Center in enemy colors for the second time. Thompson showed out in his first trip to the Bay as an opposing player last month, scoring 22 points and unleashing a brand new shimmy that had his former Splash Bro Stephen Curry shaking his head.

But it was Curry’s Dubs who had the last laugh, as Curry buried Dallas with a trademark flurry that destroyed the visitors in the final quarter. Now Thompson gets a second crack at the team he left behind as both teams race towards Western Conference playoff seeding.

Golden State Warriors vs Dallas Mavericks

When: December 15th, 2024 | 5:30 PM PT

TV: NBC Sports Bay Area

Radio: 95.7 The Game

The Dubs have been in a forever search to find a guard who could share the floor with Curry without major dropoff in play from what they were getting from Hall-of-Famer Klay Thompson. Guys like Shaun Livingston, a cagy veteran big guard with the mind of a playmaker and an elite level mid-range jumper.

There was also Jordan Poole, a sparkplug superscorer who for moments looked like the second coming of Curry himself with spectacular long range shooting and ballhandling wizardy. Now, Livingston is retired and Poole is well...a Wizard.

Finding that other guard has been absolutely a tall order, as the Warriors’ system demands more than just scoring or defense folks. You gotta have basketball IQ, adaptability, and the ability to thrive off Curry’s gravity. Over the years, several guards have contributed in flashes, but none have cemented themselves as a long-term fit alongside the Splash Brothers.

After Livingston’s steady contributions and three championships with the club, I remember Quinn Cook emerged as a sharpshooter who could provide instant offense, but his lack of size and defensive limitations made him a liability in key moments. And our guy Donte DiVincenzo was a seamless system fit with his hustle and perimeter shooting, but he lacked the scoring punch to truly alleviate Curry’s burden.

Other attempts included Brad Wanamaker, whose steady hand and defensive effort didn’t make up for his lack of offensive dynamism. And what about Mychal Mulder? A solid shooter who struggled to contribute beyond spot-up threes. Even our guy Gary Payton II is typically categorized more as a defensive force and cutting savant than a two-guard who can get buckets.

Poole brought perhaps the most offensive spark since Thompson, with his explosive scoring and fearless shot-making. At his peak, Poole electrified the 2022 playoffs, but his inconsistency and defensive lapses led to his eventual trade.

Golden State may have have just found that elusive player—a guard who can thrive in their system and lessen Curry’s workload in a post-Klay world. IS THAT DENNIS SCHRODER’S MUSIC?!

Let’s see what he does against Klay tonight.