Will the real Klay Thompson please stand up?!
Before Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, Californian folk hero Dawson Gurley tweeted that he received an order that he is now banned for life from the Chase Center. The YouTube prankster, AKA ‘Fake Klay Thompson’ (just call him ‘Clay’) was a local legend to the Dubs’ 2015 to 2018 dynasty, like Golden State itself. Before the streets of San Francisco became the Warriors’ new home.
But now he’s been shown the door. For all the fan hassling we’ve seen in recent years, it’s no surprise arenas have been clamping down. Especially when the guy that’s been taking selfies with fans for years, whilst flashing the signature hand gesture, got past more security than John Wick, before shooting around on the floor.
It’s no longer A-OK.
Yet, why start with someone so loved? Who actually wants to just have fun and not make fun of the players…or worse.
Maybe it’s because the Warriors wanted to take no chances and make no mistakes in this pivotal game. After Stephen Curry drowned the Celtics with 43 points in the turnaround Game 4, they wanted their other brother to show some splash.
The real deal Klay Thompson had 21 points. But it was Andrew Wiggins who had his day. All over the floor with a double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds. Can you believe some thought the trade that got him here for D’Angelo Russell was a steal on the other side in Minnesota? How times change and reveal the truth. Can you say Canadian champion? How about Finals MVP?
Eight years and he’s right here. Now even Cleveland will hate themselves for giving him up back in the day for Love.
Steph Curry had a relatively quiet night (for him) after his 43, with 16 points and eight assists. Even if his t-shirt response to the “Ayesha Curry can’t cook”, Boston sandwich board made noise. Besides, he deserved a rest after all. He still unselfishly set the table for others like written off, but still on the ball teammate, Draymond Green. All as the Warriors took Game 5 and a 3-2 Finals series lead with a 104-94 win.
After being more downtown than Petula Clark and Macklemore on the playlist in the previous game. Steph’s one-of-a-kind run of 132 straight postseason games and 233 regular ones (season and playoffs combined) with a three came to an end. He couldn’t find a spark from the perimeter fence. Even though it’s his dominion.
None of that mattered, though. As Wiggins’ dagger of a signature slam, even rivalled his dunk of the year, Mavericks one. Capping off the win and pushing the Warriors’ Curry, Thompson and Green past the San Antonio Spurs, to become the trio with the most Finals wins (20) in the last 30 years.
Legendary big-three’s and storied dynasties.
And now, as Girl Dad Jay-Z watched courtside with daughter Blue Ivy, they’re one hit away like Memphis Bleek.
Boston’s future doesn’t look bleak, though. Even if winning two games against the Warriors’ one is a marathon and not a sprint. Like having so much weight left to carry, compared to just one set left to stretch. Yet we all remember the sunglasses meme. The C’s have been coming back like this all playoffs. Especially when a series goes the full seven, which we can see happening here in this most thrilling battle for a championship in years.
They even did it in this game. After being dry from three for the first dozen times. They hit eight straight from downtown to take their first lead of the game, getting their splash on.
That rally, led by Jayson Tatum’s own double/double of 27 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with Marcus Smart’s 20, wasn’t going to be enough in The Bay though. That’s Golden State’s area. Protected by Gary Payton, the second’s smart defence on his own case as player of the year.
Or the future of this dynasty in Jordan Poole. When he hit from 33-feet to clutch his second buzzer-beater of the game and then screamed into the cheering home faithful crowd, one thing was for certain.
This party is just getting started.
