The Splash Brother abides

Through the first seven games of the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks have looked like a team whose main vulnerability is a lack of cohesion (which is the case with almost every team at this point). This particular scenario was widely anticipated after the dynamic changes that were made to the lineup this summer. Klay Thompson's addition was viewed by most as a move that wouldn't need much time in the incubator, and those expectations have so far been a reality. After a somewhat shaky preseason left the alarmists to their usual devices, Klay has looked very much in-keeping with what Mav's fans were expecting as his ceiling this season, especially in the first three games (again, we're only seven games in). His output was slightly more pedestrian in the latter three, but players are still shaking off the rust. Even Luka has had to work through some bad shooting nights to start the season.

While the season is long and expectations cannot be fully realized until the course of due time has played out, Klay's relatively productive start in such a fresh situation does bode well for the transaction made to acquire him. His season stats will be the true marker that most critics will attend to in assessing his worth. His crunch-time production and elite-level heroics will be another. However, what many fans will not see on a stat line or their televisions is the positive emotional stability that Klay's championship experience (and just his personality) brings to this Dallas team. Kyrie's resume offers, and has provided, something similar. He has been a positive presence in the locker room and in the Mav's press offerings. And while Kyrie has his detractors, little is gained by devaluing the positivity he attempts to instill in his guys. This will continue, though, because people are allowed to have their own opinions. Klay, on the other hand, has fewer fault-finders. His efforts will likely not be marginalized as an empty gesture.

An NBA game can be grueling, depending on various factors such as the matchup, the team's overall physical health, and their emotional well-being. The latter can be dependent on the former two, but it can also be affected, in a big way, by the people in the locker room, and the big-name veterans are often the torchbearers who fan the flame of patience, resilience, and overall positivity for the younger guys. Sometimes this can be done behind the scenes, other times it can be displayed on the court. Mannerisms and on-court behavior are ways that the most disciplined leaders lead by example. While words can be helpful and infectious, actions are less easily forgotten, and the great ones are very well aware that they're being watched all the time.

Klay Thompson is already showing his teammates that basketball is a lot more fun to do when you're having fun doing it. In the polarizing world that we live in, sometimes trolling the trolls is the best way to keep cool. I have a feeling that Klay will continue to bring a uniquely settling presence to this team's locker room that will increase in value as the long season wages on.