The Golden State Warriors are predicated on Stephen Curry’s ability. Steph isn’t just the most important player on the Warriors, he practically is the Warriors: This team and its system does not work without him. He creates otherworldly spacing that no other player in NBA history could, forcing defenses to have at least one man on him at all times the second he crosses half court. While other superstars have had attention like that, nobody else has done it that far from the hoop.

When Steph goes down, the Warriors aren’t quite the same team. They have to adjust their style, accounting for a lack of player that can let Draymond Green dictate a 4-on-4 or 4-on-3 or have the defense risk getting burred under an explosive scoring display that shouldn’t be humanly possible, and it doesn’t always work. Even with a guy who can get hot in seconds and torch teams for 40 while barely dribbling like Klay Thompson, the team needs a player who can be decisive for others while also being able to get his own at will.

Enter Jordan Poole.

We’ve talked about Poole a lot lately, and rightfully so: He’s making a leap in year 3 of his NBA career, and he’s making it at the perfect time. This season, JP3 is averaging 17p/3a/3r on 45% from the field, 36% from the arc, and 91% from the free throw line per game. Those aren’t bad averages at all for a third-year player, especially one who’s played himself into a higher-volume, 6th-man role. He’s been a spark plug off the bench, upping all his averages from last season. He already has a case for Most Improved Player, despite the media falling into their own slump to advertise as such.

The last 9 games have been a different story. Not in a negative trend, of course, but in a “how is he even doing this” trend. In this stretch - where he’s scored 20 points or more in every contest - Poole is averaging 25 points, 4 assists, and 3 boards a contest. He’s shooting a scorching 57% from the field and 52% from the outside. The only thing that’s gone down is his free throw percentage (86%), but with his increased scoring load, this hasn’t been much of a problem. He’s improved his defensive efficacy and effort as well, averaging just over a steal per game, and is taking care of the ball better with just 2 turnovers a game. He’s being more patient, looking for the right shot, and has just played straight-up high IQ basketball night in and night out.

So this has to beg the question: Is Jordan Poole the offensive engine driving the Golden State Warriors when Steph Curry is out? If you look at the numbers, the answer is obviously yes. In 6 games without Steph this season, Poole has averaged 25p/4a/4r on 46/43/100 shooting. He can self-create off the dribble with an elite first step and a bag full of counters, and create for others by collapsing defenses off the drive or demanding double-coverages when he’s getting to his spots too often.

You can argue in favor of Klay Thompson instead, but an unfortunate truth of the modern NBA is that your best offensive player needs to be able to get their own shot. Thompson has expanded his game a ton in his career, but a lot about his dip in efficiency since returning can be attributed to him trying to do too much on the floor. Who can blame him, honestly, after missing 2 years of competing at a high level? That’s not a knock that he’s trying to get the work in, but he’s just not that player. His three-level scoring ability is largely predicated on his off-ball movement. He can handle the rock, sure, but his movement is most efficient without it. And you can’t have your primary scorer be an off-ball guy in the modern NBA.

The Warriors system depends on Steph. But Jordan Poole’s leap this season has made it easier to transition from what works with Curry playing to what works when he sits a few games. Whether this sustains to the playoffs remains to be seen, but Poole has a reputation for being a big-time player in big-time games. In a time where Klay Thompson is slumping a little from his usual self, Poole has stepped up and will be the X-factor in the Warriors ending this regular season and going into the playoffs strong.

(Photo credit: Jeff Chiu / AP Photo)