Guard Jordan Poole has been a key player for the Golden State Warriors this season, providing much-needed scoring coming off the bench. However, one of his weaknesses this season has been his perimeter defense, and we have often seen players score on Poole with ease.
NBA analyst Colin Cowherd recently blasted Jordan Poole for his poor defense, claiming that the guard “cost them” a win against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of Game 1.
“If you think Jordan Poole is a great player, you don’t know basketball. When you watch him on the floor, he is so bad defensively. In the second half, I thought he cost them the game. On a pretty regular basis, Steve Kerr and Draymond Green call him out… You can’t let role players have huge huge games… It’s a problem.”
"If you think Jordan Poole is a great player, you don't know basketball"
—@ColinCowherd doesn't hold back after the Warriors Game 1 losspic.twitter.com/Mc9Bs9UZo7
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) April 17, 2023
There is no doubt that the basketball proverb “defense wins championships” is very true even in the modern era. Generally, teams have to be able to get stops to win at the highest level, and the Golden State Warriors have historically been a good defense under coach Steve Kerr.
With that being said, the Warriors definitely benefited from Jordan Poole’s scoring in Game 1, as he gave them 17 points while shooting 40% from 3PT range. If he steps up on the defensive end, then the team will have a good chance of beating the Kings.
The Warriors Could Be In Trouble Against The Kings
The Golden State Warriors losing to the Sacramento Kings was a shock to many, despite the Kings being the better-seeded team. The team clearly impressed Stephen A. Smith, who claimed that he is now worried about the Warriors.
“I’m very worried about the Golden State Warriors,” said Smith. “De’Aaron Fox is special, and I’m talking potentially Ja Morant kinda special, I’m talking about when Derrick Rose was at the height of his career. He’s unguardable. They cannot guard him… I looked at Sacramento last night, and I was like this, ‘Oh my lord.’ I have been asleep on these brothers.”
Based on his previous statements, Stephen A. Smith knows how good the Warriors themselves are, so it is clear that his saying this should be a concern to the Warriors. However, the Warriors still have a chance to win the series, and their veteran experience will be useful in the matchup.
As long as the Golden State Warriors have Stephen Curry on the roster, they will have a chance to beat any team. Let’s see if they can regroup for Game 2, and it is likely that they will clean up their mistakes from Game 1.
