Shooting from the hip

Coming to an NBA team near you: better decisions about injuries.

BY HENRY ABBOTT

With 2:22 left in the third quarter, the last game of the NBA season stopped. Yet another wounded Warrior made yet another trip for emergency assessment under the stands. They have it down: The overworked team physiotherapist, Rick Celebrini, moves to the player’s side—it was Klay Thompson this time. GM Bob Myers trails, emitting worry.

Then it began to feel like, with the highest of stakes, the Warriors started shooting from the hip:

• The broadcast crew, and every eighth-grade coach watching, knew that if Thompson didn’t shoot his free throws, he wouldn’t be allowed to return to the game at all. It might be a dumb rule, but it’s a famous one. Klay ran back to the court, shot his free throws, and ran back on defense.

• Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins intentionally fouled to get Klay out of the game, even though Klay seemed to want to keep playing. Pascal Siakam hit two free throws, in a game the Warriors would trail by one with nine seconds left.

• Thompson then ran back to t…