Well, I’d say his inability to slow Ja down (a hard task admittedly) was the single largest factor in their loss.
So yeah, I’d call that sobering. I’m not saying he’s a bad player, I’m not saying he’s doomed, I’m saying that if he’s going to be a high leverage player in the conference semis/finals, he’s going to have to hold up at least OK in these situations.
Understatement of the year? Listen, if Jordan Poole could reliably slow down Ja Morant he’d be the best player in the league.
It’s Ja Morant pulling out everything in his bag. I never thought I’d be the one defending pools defense but worry about it if he’s making normal guys look like Ja did last night
Well, if he wants to be a 35+ minute a game player in a switching defense in the conference semifinals, guess what he’s going to be asked to do. This isn’t the Pistons or whatever - his importance to the Warriors is in large part determined by his ability to play both ways against really good teams and players, in a handful of games at the end of the year. It’s a really high standard!
Again, in the final 8 of the NBA playoffs, in a switching defense, he’s going to be asked to slow down extremely good players. If he wants to be a star, its something he needs to do.
Steph couldn’t do it before, but he got MUCH better defensively. Poole needs to as well.
I don’t think this is that hot a take?
Lukewarm. I’m in agreement. Just saying that that’s gonna happen at times.
Absolutely. I’m not arguing they should cut him or anything. I do think his defense presented a problem they needed to (and didn’t) scheme around.
I think they should send him to Alcatraz, have the state tax authority audit his returns for the past three years, and deport his family across state lines.
Fact of the matter is…he is a 35+ min game player in a switching defense in the conference semifinals. Getting spun around by Ja Morant in 1 game is hardly an indictment on his ability to be a starter for a contender.
…it’s a standard only Giannis and a handful of other players in the league can reach. Rudy Gobert got hunted by Jalen Brunson in Game 2 (?), it says nothing about his defense. Ja Morant is a superstar player who will get his no matter what.
Yeah I posted that clip more to show Ja’s amazing move than to show Poole getting worked. Poole’s not a great defender but Ja is tough. No shame.
Kerr and the Warriors playing 4D cap chess last night. In a game you don’t need to win, you let guy everyone is mentioning as getting a max contract extension get torched a little bit. Save a couple million in luxury tax putting that tape on and saying he needs to be better on defense.
(yes, this is a joke… nobody can defend Ja when he’s on like he was last night)
Well, Gobert got “torched” by Brunson because he was a center picking up a guard at full speed because Mitchell’s defense was absolutely abhorrent (again - playoff defense is a high standard). Much like Green was “torched” by Morant who was constantly coming at him with a full head of steam - because he blew Poole away.
There are plenty of other players other than Giannis that can succeed defensively in the playoffs. Look at basically the entire roster in Boston, Milwaukee, and Phoenix. Are those title contenders? Sure! I thought Golden State considers itself a contender.
I’m gonna stop now. I should have learned from my NBA posts that even the mildest criticism of an alum gets me tagged a hater.
Who’s averaging 22.3 pts 6 Assists 55% FGeff in the playoffs and, at the same time, putting up defensive performances that slow down players of the caliber of Ja Morant? Giannis, Jayson Tatum, and who else? Jayson Tatum put the ‘clamps’ on Kevin Durant and KD still averaged 20 + pts.
I’m sorry but when it comes to Poole, Michigan fans are pretty quick to put him down and that’s going to draw criticism from the likes of me. You took a clip of Poole getting rinsed by Ja Morant, of all players, and made it seem as if it’s an indictment on his future as a starter for a contending team.
If you think my comment was based on that clip, you’re just wrong. He got roasted the entire the second half.
Poole is a significantly worse defender than Devin Booker, for example (who has improved greatly).
I have no ill will - go upthread and you’ll find 3-4 posts of me calling him a surefire all star next year.
He is 22. I am not saying he won’t or can’t get there. Booker and Steph hadn’t at his age.
I am just saying he needs to improve. He is 22!
I think your criticisms are totally fair. Where you probably went wrong was calling it a “sobering night”.
Whether you were aiming that towards Poole, UM fans, GSW fans, or general NBA fans…I think anyone who knows anything would tell you that it was not a shock to see Poole (and others) getting roasted by Ja. Thus, not really sobering.
Just my take reading these interactions.
It’s extremely hard to find the right adjective on a sports forum. Just a smidge too strong and you get pushback but I do agree with the general sentiment.
Looks like Jordan is good again.
10 out of 15 FG attempts, 25 pts, highest plus in the team.
Is JJJ a major or minor disappointment in the 2022 playoffs? I favor the former. He has not been good in these their biggest games. I get that he is in a different role and can’t rely on Stephen Adam’s anymore … but that reliance is not awesome.
