The Golden State Warriors’ playoff hopes came crashing down in the Western Conference semifinals, and a major factor contributing to their disappointing performance was the poor play of Jordan Poole. Poole, who was a breakout star for the team during their championship run last season, struggled to find his footing this year, and his lackluster performance in the playoffs only exacerbated the situation. In light of this, many fans have been wondering whether Poole is ready for a starting role with the Warriors.
According to former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, Poole’s struggles may be attributed to the fact that other teams have figured out how to defend him. “Last year, no one really knew much about him and he came in the scene and he was on fire. Now, people got a game plan for him. He has to change his game a little bit more to be more of a starter type of guy versus a guy who’s coming off the bench playing the microwave role,” Arenas said.
Arenas’ assessment appears to be on point, as Poole’s struggles in the playoffs were starkly evident. In six games against the Lakers, Poole only managed to average 8.3 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 rebounds, with a field goal percentage of 34.5%.
As such, it appears that Poole will need to make significant adjustments to his game if he hopes to make an impact as a starter for the Warriors. He will need to find ways to be more consistent and to adapt to the changing defenses that opposing teams will throw at him.
Nevertheless, there is still hope for Poole, and he will have the entire off-season to work on his game and to improve his skills. If he can make the necessary adjustments, he could potentially be a key piece for the Warriors in their quest to regain their championship form.
Golden State Warriors’ Guard Jordan Poole Creates PR Nightmare with Mysterious Comments and Conflicting Statements
Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole has created a PR nightmare for the team after he stonewalled reporters during his final media appearance of the season. When asked about the organization’s message during his end-of-year sit-down with the team’s brass, Poole refused to share the information, causing a six-second pause of dead silence. Meanwhile, players were also asked about Draymond Green punching Poole during a practice before the start of the season, but they all danced around its effect on the team.
Poole had a disastrous postseason this year after being a title catalyst last spring. Reports suggest that the Warriors could make Poole available in a trade, but the player is confident about his future with the team. He said that he had a career-high in two categories and made history with Klay and Steph, adding that he belonged in the organization and was a young guy who was drafted there.
However, the GSW star athlete’s contract has a “poison pill” restriction that makes it unlikely for the Warriors to trade him before July 1, 2023.
Let us know your thoughts about Poole’s lackluster performance in the playoffs in the comments section.
