Kings expose Golden State Warriors glaring issue in Game 1

The Sacramento Kings poured in 126 points, including 71 in the second-half, to earn a tight comeback win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the teams’ first-round playoff series.

The reigning champions were perilous to stop De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, with the pair combining for 70 points to deliver the franchise their first playoff win since 2006. Should we be surprised given the Kings’ league-leading regular season offense, and the Warriors’ defensive issues on the road?

Maybe not, but this is a Golden State defense with high-level perimeter defenders in Gary Payton II and Donte DiVincenzo, big athletic wings in Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, and an anchor in Kevon Looney. Oh, and it’s all conducted by Draymond Green,  the best Defensive Player in the league over the last decade.

Jordan Poole’s defensive issues were badly exposed in the Golden State Warriors first-up loss, limiting his time on the floor and capacity to impact offensively.

When it comes to score-first guards off the bench, Jordan Poole simply needs to the best in this series. Game 1 saw him completely outplayed by Monk, not that he was alone from a Warrior perspective. The fourth-year guard led his team in scoring during the first-half with 13, but his offense became less efficient and the defense meant he was unplayable down the stretch.

Poole had 17 points and three assists on 4-for-10 shooting in just under 23 minutes. They need his scoring and offensive output, though Steve Kerr also has to balance that with what he gives up on the other end.

The 23-year-old was the primary defender on seven field-goal attempts against the Kings on Saturday. Sacramento would score on five of those possessions — a 71.4% scoring clip that simply isn’t sustainable from a Golden State perspective.

Kerr can try and hide Poole as much as he can on defense, but this is the NBA Playoffs where opposing teams are trying to exploit everything they can in games so often determined by the fine margins. It’s really up to Poole himself — he’s not a gifted defender by any stretch, but he can work a lot harder, and put his body on the line more, to survive more on that end.

He’s currently a risk v reward player, which is an issue when he’s set to make over $30 million a year from next season. Right now, his offense has to be at an elite level to justify having him on the floor in a postseason setting for anymore than what we saw in Game 1.

Monk had 32 points in comparison, and perhaps the Warriors need to make him work even more particularly once in foul trouble. If the output between both young guards remains at the same gap as we saw on Saturday, then not only will it be difficult for Golden State to advance to the second-round, but Poole’s future may well be in the spotlight come the offseason.