MIAMI — Exhale. Because at some point during seasons, that’s what Klay Thompson does. And then he becomes Klay Thompson again.
For all the metrics compiled by the Miami Heat during their now-completed 3-2 preseason schedule, one stands particularly stark:
In his four preseason appearances, Thompson shot 7 of 26 from the field, but even more starkly, only 3 of 20 on 3-pointers.
And yet history says not only isn’t the sky falling for the four-time NBA champion and five-time All-Star, but he only is getting warmed up.
With a body of work lengthy enough where it offers ample context, the player who stands No. 4 on the NBA’s all-time list of 3-pointers made stands in somewhat familiar territory.
As in being somewhat of a slow starter.
Through his first 15 seasons, as he prepares to begin his 16th on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kaseya Center, Thompson’s month-by-month career splits tell what should stand as a comforting history when it comes to his 3-point percentages:
— October: .346.
— November: .398
— December: .400
— January: .429.
— February: .415
— March: .412
— April: .420.
If further context is required, the 3-point percentage prior to All-Star breaks has been .406, with his career 3-point percentage after All-Star breaks standing at .414.
Thompson said after Sunday’s practice at Kaseya Center that he knows what is needed and what he can provide, preseason statistics aside.
“Well, luckily, I have a blank slate,” he said of washing the preseason aside. “The regular season starts Wednesday, and (preseason) doesn’t count. So, for me, I wasn’t too concerned with how I shot the ball. It was more about my wind, my condition, and playing good defense. There’s still things I can get much better at, and just being out there every night.
“I’m not worried about that. Played this game long enough to know you’re gonna have great days, you’re gonna have bad days. Just do the work and stay consistent, and I’ll shoot my career averages.”
Considering Bam Adebayo appeared in only two of the Heat’s five exhibitions, and considering that in his four preseason appearances that Thompson did not play into the second half, the small sample size hardly stands within much of a margin of error.
The question, though, with such a limited sample size is whether the 3-point attempts are the right shots in the right spots.
“I feel really good about what he’s providing for us,” coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday. “First, that gravity that I’ve talked about that is well earned over the course of his entire career. They’re going to defend him a certain way. And then the last couple games, I thought we’ve gotten him some really good looks. And shooters will all go through that.
“He’s still getting his legs under him. He’ll be just fine. Actually, I’m really encouraged by all the other things he’s doing for us outside the 3-point shooting.”
Along the way, an intriguing voice added his thoughts on the topic, with former Heat point guard Tim Hardaway, the father of current Heat guard Tim Hardaway Jr., discussing what Thompson has been during the preseason and what he still projects to become.
Speaking on "The Crossover" podcast he co-hosts with former NBA guard Lindsey Hunter, the elder Hardaway said it will come down to Thompson finding his comfort zone, both as a Heat player and within the Heat offense.
“They still got to figure out Klay,” the elder Hardaway said, “They still got a lot to learn. They’ve still got a lot to improve on, and the continuity of the team.
“As the games go on, as practices go on, watching film, they’re going to understand. You’ve got to give everybody that’s new, you’ve got to give them at least 25 games to understand. The first 10, after that, then, at the next 10, ‘all right, we implemented, we know what we need to do.’ And that 25th game, you all should be gone.”
As in off to the races, with Thompson at better 3-point paces.
Hardaway said that’s when the Heat will know what shots best suit Thompson.
“And you’ve got to pick for him, too,” Hardaway said of setting screens, something the Heat offense has gotten away from. “You got to at least try to pick for him.”
Hardaway said what the Heat can’t do is what the Dallas Mavericks did the previous two seasons under Jason Kidd and park Thompson in the corner for spot-up attempts. He said Spoelstra’s experience coaching Ray Allen should help in that regard.
“Believe me, Erik Spoelstra can see, and he’s going to figure it out,” Hardaway said.
And, no, Thompson said, he will not fall victim to preseason paralysis by analysis.
“I think some years it’s been slow, but some years I’ve shot like mid 40% from 3 on high volume,” he said of the starts of some of his previous seasons. “Just play so long, you can analyze every season. Every season’s different.
“That’s what preseason’s for, is to figure out where you’re most efficient within the system, and it just gives you a feel of the offense, and it’s very important, especially when you acclimate to a new team.”
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