Warriors' Thompson sets sophomore season goal

OAKLAND -- For a rookie, Klay Thompson got up a lot of shotslast season. Heck, for a veteran Thompson got up a lot of shots.Thompson found himself the recipient of plenty of playingtime and plenty of offensive freedom after the Warriors traded Monta Ellis lastseason to the Milwaukee Bucks.Thompson became the teams starting shooting guard, but evenmore important, he was the starting shooting guard on a team that had been hithard by injuries.So he got to take plenty of shots. Question iswill he getas many if everybodys healthy?Warriors coach Mark Jackson thinks he just might.There are certain guys that just get their looks, Jacksonsaid after Thursdays practice. You cant explain it. There are certain guysthat if you just put them out there on the floor and dont run anything forthem theyre still going to get their shot attempts. And there are certain guysthat if you run stuff for them, theyre not going to get their shotattempts.Hes a traditional shooting guard, a knock-down shooter.That ball is going to find him and hes going to be in position where hesgoing to get his shots.Thompson averaged 11 shots per game last season in just24-plus minutes per game. But after Ellis was traded, Thompsons playing timewent up and so did his attempts.Thompson took 20 or more shots seven times in the last fiveweeks of the season, and only in one of those games did he make more than halfof those attempts.Thompson shot 44.3 percent from the field and 41.4 percentfrom 3-point range.But he believes he can be more efficient this season, andthats what hes looking to do most.I definitely see my role changing, Thompson said. Imworking with (the starting unit). I should have a lot more responsibility on myshoulders, which I welcome. I just love my role now and I cant wait to startplaying games and seeing what I can do.Hopefully with my work over the summer, I can be moreefficient. I think Im going to get more open looks because we have more postplayers now and there are so many perimeter scorers.NOTES: Warriors center Andrew Bogut hasbeen increasing his workload, and on Thursday he did a lot of running and drillwork after practice. Bogut is still hoping to play on opening night.RookieDraymond Green was held out of practice again because of left kneeinflammation.Jackson said hes not close to deciding who will win the smallforward job, but its going to go to the player that makes the team better. The Warriors first preseason game is on Sunday against the L.A. Lakers inFresno. ... The Warriors had double sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and a single practice on Thursday. Jackson is giving the team a day off on Friday.