NBA Finals 2017: 5 potential x-factors who could swing the series

By Noah Torr | May 31, 2017

May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) celebrates with Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) after the second round of game four of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots the basketball against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter of game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Klay Thompson

Thompson has basically disappeared from the Warriors during the playoffs, quietly scoring just 14 points a game…and this might be a good thing.

See, Thompson is perfectly fine flying under the radar, because when he strikes it will be much more of a surprise. I mean, we all know Klay can light it up from deep when he needs to. Even though his playoffs have been mediocre, Thompson is still effective. If you look at the Warriors percentages when shooting 25-29 feet from the basket they drastically increase when Thompson is on the court and participating.

In the playoffs, the Warriors are shooting 43 percent when Klay is on the court and 25.9 percent when he is off the court. That is a huge difference. Golden State is a +14.2 when Thompson is on the court and a +2.2 when he is on the bench.

Klay is a valuable member of the Warriors and he is arguably the biggest x-factor in this series because of his ability to blow up at any given moment. If Klay — the Warriors third or fourth option — gets hot, then there really is no stopping the Warriors.

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