“Just be patient, the (Golden State Warriors) offense is going to give you opportunities to drive and… OH! that was an audacious 3-point attempt from Jordan Poole!”
If there was one moment that summarized Poole’s recent performances, it is that (paraphrased) line from broadcaster Kelenna Azubuike as the young guard jacked up a 30-footer early in the shot clock against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Being audacious is not always a bad thing. Do you think Stephen Curry would be the prolific scorer he is today if he did not have the audacity to attempt the ridiculous shots he makes on a routine basis?
For Poole, a bit of audacity was needed after spending much of his first two seasons cowering from the moment. He struggled with confidence and as a result, frequently disappeared from games in his rookie and sophomore stints.
Something changed, however. And, the word change might have a good connotation in this sense. Poole is no longer afraid to show his skills. This has led to some dazzling performances — and some head-scratching decisions.
Jordan Poole is finally playing with confidence but his newfound audacity has become a blessing and a curse for the Golden State Warriors.
It has been riveting to watch Poole’s ascension into one of the league’s most exciting young stars. He is bursting at the seams with offensive potential and has continued to flash that ambition even in spite of a 7-of-29 start to the season from deep.
The 22-year-olds emergence as a competent ball-handler and scorer has softened the blow of missing Klay Thompson for the start of a third consecutive season. Without Poole to take on some offensive responsibilities in the backcourt, things would be overwhelming for Curry.
Yet, the truth is, Poole is playing a bit out of control at the moment.
Sure, his fearless shot attempts led to a fourth-quarter surge against the Los Angeles Lakers that notched the Dubs a win on opening night. He has had a few other moments of glory throughout the Warriors’ 4-0 run but in many cases, his boldness has cost him.
Poole is trying too hard to prove himself
Calling back to the quote at the top of this article — Poole is in a rush to prove himself. This has been highlighted by Steve Kerr and continues to be the driving force behind Poole’s rushed approach to each game.
This is understandable. The young guard spent the last two seasons fighting for each minute of playing time. It is hard to let go of that chip on your shoulder and he certainly has more to prove at this stage in his career.
But, as everyone will tell you, there is no fast-tracking the process. You can not take any shortcuts to become great. For Poole, there is no need to be a hero when you share the backcourt with Curry.
The game needs to slow down for Poole, and I am confident it will. Right now, he is playing with an innocence that is being shattered by reality very quickly. He is no longer the secret weapon that can take teams by surprise — he is being studied and opponents are game-planning on how to slow him down.
So what is the solution? Poole must relax.
Take care of the ball. Make good decisions. And most of all, maybe chill out with some of the heat-check attempts.