2016 NBA Playoffs: Each Team's Week 1 MVP

2016 NBA Playoffs: Each Team’s Week 1 MVP

April 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) attempts a shot over Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) in the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson

Draymond Green might be putting up an 11-10-6 stat line through the first three games of the Golden State Warriors‘ first round series, but Klay Thompson has been a major catalyst in their two wins and a big part of the problem in the one loss. Simply put, with Stephen Curry out, no player has had a more direct impact on the Dubs’ highs and lows than Thompson.

Though the second Splash Brother is averaging 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the series, he’s only doing so on less than stellar .352/.238/.890 shooting splits — due in no small part to his 7-for-20 performance (including an 0-for-7 from three-point range) in Game 3.

However, when you factor in the way he shut down James Harden for the first two games, the way he dropped 34 points in the Dubs’ first game without Curry, and how Golden State’s offense has been well balanced, Thompson is the default pick.

Next: Houston Rockets