Golden State Warriors: Expect the Unexpected with Jordan Poole

The drawbacks

With Poole’s offensive abilities come drawbacks alongside it.

His unconscious trigger does bring a low field goal percentage that has been present since college. 43% with Michigan coupled with 35% during the preseason is nothing to write home about, and he is down to around 33% from the perimeter.

The signs of shooting inconsistency have been on display throughout the preseason.

For every 6-12 games from the field, there has been a 2-10. This is natural for shooters, however, even the best can shoot 0-11 from three one night, and then the very next break the NBA record with thirteen three pointers.

Poole will have off-nights.

As a perimeter player, his shot will blow hot and cold, and this will naturally be magnified by his status as a rookie.

What will be crucial for him will be how short his memory can be. His confidence appears unwavering, and confidence in him by his team will remain strong, but can he remain confident during a rough patch in January?

Another variable surrounding Poole’s rookie year effectiveness circles around how much Steve Kerr is willing to tolerate on the defensive end. Poole has deficiencies on this end, and ankle-breaking crossovers on him by Zach Norvell Jr over the course of preseason highlights this.

Kerr has built a reputation of pulling players off of the court after defensive errors, but his dependency on solid vets is no longer there. He may just have to roll with it, giving Jordan a bigger leash in doing so.