Why Time Off Could Actually Be A Blessing For The Warriors

Why Time Off Could Actually Be A Blessing For the Warriors

Last night the Warriors brought out the same brooms they have been sweeping up every NBA team that has crossed their paths this postseason and used them on the Spurs to once again win the Western Conference. This will be their third straight NBA Finals appearance, but that doesn't really surprise anyone does it?

The Finals start June 1st, which means regardless of the outcome of the tonight's Game 4 between the Cavs and the Celtics, the Warriors will be getting nine days of rest. Now, normally, I am not a fan of teams getting a lot of rest in between postseason series. I think that once you get in a game rhythm during the playoffs and the team is clicking on all cylinders, you want to keep that going as long as possible and not have to sit at home and watch other teams play. However, for the Warriors, these nine days could do some good for them.

I'll start with the biggest struggle for the Warriors as of recently; Klay Thompson. Klay has not been shooting well at all, specifically the Western Conference Finals. He is averaging 11 points a game, half of what he averaged during the season. His shooting percentages are abysmal, shooting just under 33% from the field and below 37% from three-point range. This is all also under less attempts. Since the second round, Klay has had his three-point attempts per game cut in half and his field goal attempts down from a little above 16 to close to 12. Now this could have to with everything slowing down in the playoffs or teams adjusting during the series or maybe the absence of Steve Kerr has affected his play but I think the real reason is the return of KD. There is no denying that Klay's roe has been smaller when Durant is playing but we never thought it would affect his performance ability. He's missing shots he normally makes, taking shots he normally wouldn't, standing around more often and cutting less. These are things that can't happen if and when they face the Cavs in the Finals. Hopefully Klay spends the next nine days in the gym shooting his way out of this slump, in the film room watching what he did in all of the Spurs series and some of the Blazers series for that matter and making sure he avoids doing it at all in the Finals.

What other benefits can come with rest for the Warriors? Well, to bluntly obvious, it is rest. Let's see if the nine days can get Zaza back and healthy for when push comes to shove in the Finals with the Cavs (assuming they still make it) because let's be real here if you don’t think that Finals matchup is going to get chippy and gritty you got another thing coming. I am hoping this Finals is the closest the NBA has ever come to looking like the Stanley Cup. If that is the case, the Warriors need Zaza there to be the muscle that protects the realm of the Warriors, the watcher in the Bay, the Warriors Watch. Yes, that was a Game of Thrones' Night's Watch reference. Also, their head coach. Steve Kerr could use nine days of doing nothing to hopefully be able to sit courtside, at least at the home games, for the Finals. That would be a huge benefit for the Warriors because no matter how much Mike Brown can do, he can never actually be Steve Kerr for this team.

So Warriors fans, kick back, put your feet up, and enjoy these nine days off and hope this momentum keeps rolling. Also if you do want the Cavs in the Finals, you better hope Boston keeps this series going, because if there is one guy you don't want to face after a lot of rest, it is Lebron James.