It was just one preseason game, but Jordan Poole‘s performance on Monday vs. Portland was an incredibly positive sign for the Warriors, writes Kendra Andrews of NBC Sports Bay Area. Poole racked up 30 points – including seven 3-pointers – in just 22 minutes of action.
“This is what he’s looked like in camp,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “Not hesitating, he’s getting to the rim, playing with an unbelievable confidence … He’s earned that confidence.”
As Marcus Thompson of The Athletic writes, the Warriors explored potential trades for stars during the offseason and ultimately didn’t make a move. While Golden State isn’t expecting Poole to become an All-Star, there’s a ton of confidence within the organization that he’s poised to make a major leap and could potentially become the sort of complementary impact player the team sought on the trade market.
“He’s one of our best players,” Kerr said, per Andrews. “I think what we have to determine is how he holds up defensively with the different lineups he’s playing with. But you got a guy that explosive, you got to get him on the floor.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Although Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins ultimately agreed to be vaccinated, he made it clear this week that he did so reluctantly, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. Wiggins, who said he’s the only person in his family to receive the vaccine, expressed concerns about possible long-term effects, but felt as if he had no choice but to get vaccinated. “The only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA,” Wiggins said on Monday. “It was a tough decision. Hopefully, it works out in the long run and in 10 years I’m still healthy.”
- John Hollinger of The Athletic isn’t expecting a big bounce-back season from the Warriors, projecting them to finish ninth in the West with a 39-43 record. Within his season preview, Hollinger also explores Golden State’s tax situation, speculating that a Kevon Looney trade could be something the team considers during the season in order to reduce its year-end bill.
- Andre Iguodala was an important part of the Warriors’ title teams in 2015, 2017, and 2018, but he’ll turn 38 this season, so it’s unclear how much he’ll contribute to this year’s team, writes Kendra Andrews of NBC Bay Area. Even if they don’t get much out of Iguodala on the court, the Dubs will benefit from having his voice in the locker room, Andrews adds.
39-43 isn’t terribly optimistic. Although given the timeline surrounding Klay Thompson’s return, it’s probably a realistic prediction. I’m sure Marty will disagree.
You really put any stock into wannabe experts predictions? Just look up 3rd Street a quarter mile to see how bad those can be.
Howie, you leave the best posts. Thanks for that. I’m gonna do something I don’t like to and that is predict win totals. I’m going with 56. It’s not that I’m over rating GSW but that I’m of the belief that these “experts” are over rating other teams in the West. AND they are, IMO, way better than last year. What say you?
Thanks for the compliment. I’ll say 50. You never really know how a team is going to come together. I don’t think it is a matter of who has the best players. It is how all the players get utilized.
The 39-43 prediction is only if Curry is out over half the games played. Looking at the rest of the west Any team reaching a 62 or higher total will win the west. Every team has their holes so any team over 50 wins is in the top 6.
When the other 95% of the league is vaccinated and you stand to lose 15M… it was a choice so stop whining
Doesn’t sound like much of a choice
Wiggins took Johnson and Johnson vaccine?
Iguodala would be perfect match to the Lakers
Wish I could ask Wiggins if he is still healthy 20+ years after getting his Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Meningitis, and Polio shots.
Those are all diseases not a virus, big difference my man♂️
Lmao they are all viruses, my man….
*They are all diseases caused by a virus. CoViD stands for Coronavirus Disease. Sars-CoV-2 is the virus.
It’s funny, Andre Iguodala acted as if he was too good to play for the Memphis Girzzlies. As if they are some no name bad team in the middle of fly over country. That Memphis team has been more relevant than his favorite Warriors the past 2 seasons.
Somebody is a little butt hurt. Do you really think you know how he was feeling a couple of seasons ago.
The future for Memphis is certainly much brighter than the Warriors’.
Wiggins had a tough decision between playing the game he supposedly loves and gets overpaid for or getting a perfectly safe and scientifically tested vaccine that allows him to play a game he supposedly loves and gets overpaid handsomely for. What a loser.
So if Wiggins is fine in 10 years he will finally admit he’s not smart enough to be speaking publicly on public health issues and will STFU about politics and health in future?
the one who really needs to shut up about politics is LeBuns, he’s toxic. You don’t need it in sports
He hasn’t said much publicly on health. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first he has said, no?
Perhaps Wiggins should give his former teammate Towns a call and ask if he should be concerned with the longterm effects of the virus or vaccine.
In order to know the long term effects you’re going to have to wait multiple years. A year is not long term, that’s short term
Wiggins, Irving, Burke… talented but dumb people nobody would follow. They almost make a case for vaccination just by opposing it. Some fans wonder, since their stats are so good, why aren’t GMs falling all over themselves trying to get them?— because the three do not care about others including teammates.
There is a different direction we could have taken but we did not. Half-measures are rarely the answer.
39 wins is what they had last season. I think they will get more this year. It has been only 2 preseason games but this time is dramatically better than last season and Klay and Wiseman aren’t even playing yet. Bjelica, Porter Jr. and Bradley are significant upgrades. And, even if Klay is only 80% that is an upgrade. I think the Warriors lost 15 games last year by 5 points or less, so I think they can have a 8+ game improvement with this roster which would put them 3rd in West based on last years records.
That’s a good point. Klay doesn’t have to be 100% to be effective. I don’t see his shooting being effected. His defense might be off. Lateral movement might be off.
Before training camp, I had GS finishing at least 6th, and potentially bunched up with the Lakers, Portland, Dallas, the Clippers…they could be fighting for home court, assuming health. Also depends on how everyone decides to use their rotations, so we generally dont know much until the regular season approaches, but I think they mostly dod what they needed to, and I’m curious to see what they do with that last roster spot defensively at guard. Looks like the injury to Payton will cost him the spot, in favor of Avery Bradley