Preview: Warriors vs Mavericks in rematch of Splash Bros battle

The Golden State Warriors are back at home and taking the game up Dallas Mavericks in a Sunday night blowout that brings Klay Thompson back to the Chase Center in enemy colors for the second time. Thompson showed up in his first trip to the Bay as an opponent 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 got the last laugh as Curry buried Dallas with a trademark layup that devastated the visitors in the final quarter. Now Thompson gets another crack at the team he left behind as both teams race for Western Conference playoff seeding.

Golden State Warriors vs Dallas Mavericks

When: December 15, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. PT

TV: NBC Sports Bay Area

Radio: 95.7 The Game

The Dubs have been on a perpetual quest to find a guard who could share the floor with Curry without a major drop-off in game from what they got 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 midrange jumper.

There was also Jordan Poole, a spark plug scorer who at times resembled the return of Curry with spectacular long-range shooting and ball handling. Now Livingston is retired and Poole is well…a wizard.

Finding the second guard has been a tall order, as the Warriors’ system requires more than just scoring or defensemen. You have to have basketball IQ, adaptability and the ability to thrive with Curry’s gravity. Over the years, several guards have contributed at lightning speed, but none have cemented themselves as a long-term fit alongside the Splash Brothers.

After Livingston’s consistent contributions and three championships with the club, I remember Quinn Cook emerging 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 that suited his hustle and perimeter shooting, but he lacked the scoring punch to really lighten Curry’s load.

Other tries included Brad Wanamaker, whose steady hand and defensive effort did not 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 shooting. At his peak, Poole electrified the playoffs in 2022, but his inconsistency and defensive lapses led to his eventual trade.

Golden State may have just found the 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.