Klay Thompson's Game 4 Performance Means Steve Kerr Definitely Should Have Played Him in Game 3

On a night where consistent shooting was hard to find for the Warriors, Klay Thompson stepped up, dropping 28 points on 11-18 shooting in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, including a nifty 6-10 from downtown and zero turnovers.

Thompson, who suffered a hamstring injury late in Game 2, looked right as rain despite Golden State's 105-92 loss to the Toronto Raptors Saturday night. If anything, his strong showing served as proof that head coach Steve Kerr would have been wise to push for him to play in Game 3.

If Thompson was able to play at such a high level five days removed from his injury, he almost certainly could have been at least serviceable three days following the injury in the Warriors' Game 3 loss, a game in which Steph Curry was expected to move heaven and earth essentially by himself.

Even if he wasn't at full strength, his presence alone would have been more helpful than forcing extra minutes on Shaun Livingston and Quinn Cook, who shot a combined 5-for-13 in 44 total minutes.

He also would have drawn some defensive pressure off of Curry, which never hurts.

There's simply no doubt that the Warriors would have had a better chance of winning Game 3 with Thompson on the court despite not being 100%. Steve Kerr would have been wise to get Klay out there, especially with Kevin Durant still watching from afar, given what he means to the team on both ends of the floor.

Instead, Golden State now has to stare down the barrel of a 3-1 series deficit against a Raptors team that's hungry for their first title in franchise history. Hindsight is 20/20, isn't it?