How Jordan Poole's Scoring Pressure Opens Up the Floor

Every team needs options. A multitude of dynamic scoring is often what makes up the best championship teams, and for a few years ongoing now, that’s been the case: Every championship team in the last decade has won a championship by having more than one guy who can create their own shot: The Heatles had Wade and LeBron, the Spurs had Ginobili and Duncan, the Warriors had Steph, Klay and KD. Even more recent championship teams aside from the dynasties had that consistency: While Siakam has regressed a lot since 2019, he was a reliable self-made scorer alongside Kawhi Leonard on the Raptors. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday are all able to get their own shots off, as were AD and James in the bubble.

Guys who can catch the hot hand and make their own buckets are a hot commodity, especially when they’re added to a versatile team. Home-growing them, however, has to be a unique experience for an organization and its management. This is why Jordan Poole has been such a key discovery in unleashing Golden State’s new-look offense in the preseason, something that will be likely to continue well into the regular season and possibly the playoffs as long as he stays confident and keeps staying aggressive. The problem that many younger players have ends up being a lack of confidence that kills their obvious skill level. There’s been no indication, thankfully, that his confidence has been in short supply.

There’s a reason they call Poole a “Steph Disciple”. When he’s hot, he’s a walking heat check that’s more than willing to forget a brick one play ago and rattle off a pull-up three in transition the very next. He’s obviously very talented, able to score at all three levels and get his own shot from a lightning-quick first step or a crafty stepback. He creates space from his defender in ways that are reminiscent of the game’s best scorers, Curry included. The havoc he can wreck when he gets going is exactly the kind of pressure the Warriors are going to need on offense all season.

The key to Poole unlocking the offense is for him to stay aggressive. The upsides of this are obviously pronounced: He’s got a good hot hand, can make the right reads and decisions when he plays at his own pace, and most importantly he can give Steph relief minutes where he doesn’t have to be the center of the offense. He also makes it more difficult for teams to double the 2-time MVP, as having Poole with the ball in his hands in a 4v3 isn’t the most ideal situation. Defenses in the preseason and even the Lakers on opening night already showed that they had to respect his scoring ability (definitely a sign from one of the league’s better defensive-minded coach Frank Vogel that Poole’s earned his attention), which gives Steph more room to operate 1 on 1, something he’s been historically very efficient and effective with. Poole and Curry in the backcourt together is a dangerous combination, both of them capable of moving off-ball and working on-ball to create advantages and mismatches all over the place. Poole’s aggression and offensive pressure is going to be one of the most interesting - and important - facets of the Warriors to watch this season.

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