It’s always a mixed bag with Jordan Poole. The first two games of the 2022 NBA Finals have shown us how he can impact the Golden State Warriors for better or worse.
Game 1 was rough.
He was targetted by Boston and threw up nothing but clunkers on offense, shooting 2-of-7 and getting played off the court as the Warriors dropped the opening game.
Game 2 was going down the same route.
That is… until Poole flashed the potential that makes him such an intriguing player.
We’ve seen the best and worst of Jordan Poole in this series. Here is how his highs and lows impact the Golden State Warriors.
It only took one minute for Poole to blow the game wide-open and deliver a knockout punch to the Celtics at the end of the third quarter.
First, a drive and dish to Kevon Looney for an easy basket.
On the next play, a snatch-back 3-pointer over the slow-footed Daniel Theis.
Then, with only a few seconds remaining, a halfcourt bomb to extend the Warriors’ lead to 23.
Poole did not start the Dubs’ third quarter scoring flurry but he did put the cherry on top with an outburst of his own.
This perfectly represents his current role with the team. Poole will not be the primary scorer or the guy who leads the way for Golden State — but he can put them over the top.
At his worst, he’s a streaky shooter who can become a glaring hole in the defense.
At his best, Poole is the microwave scorer who can extend a lead and inject momentum into his entire team.
Which version of Poole the Warriors get will have a direct impact on whether they win the championship or not. Without Poole, it might not be possible.
But, as we saw in Game 2, Poole packs a punch that can lift the Warriors to a comfortable victory on any given night.