3 Challenges Golden State Warriors must overcome
By Tony Pesta
Challenge: Consistency from the bench
If NBA benches were consistent every single night, every team in the league would have a shot at the title.
The truth is, second units are rarely reliable throughout an 82 game season. And, that rotation of trustworthy players is inevitably slimmed down, even more, when the playoffs begin.
The Golden State Warriors understand the value of strength in numbers more than anybody. What’s more, they have a genuinely talented collection of role players.
Even so, the likes of Otto Porter, Damion Lee, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Andre Iguodala, Nemanja Bjelica, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II have occasionally been lacking the punch Golden State needs from the second unit.
Solution: Jordan Poole becomes Sixth Man
Solution? Insert one of the best spark plugs in the league.
Jordan Poole has been doing good by all of the people who predicted him to have a breakout season. He’s averaging a career-best 18.2 points and 3.4 assists in the starting lineup and has leveled his 3-point shooting out to roughly 43 percent since late November.
Poole is the ideal sixth man to inject life into the second unit. He can score in bunches and something tells me he will enjoy the total freedom of leading the offensive charge as Stephen Curry gets a rest.
Much like the previous challenge, the solution will present itself when Klay Thompson returns. The natural evolution for this team is Poole embracing his sixth man role, which will happen when the Splash Brothers are reunited.