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The Golden State Warriors broke a four-game losing streak with a massive victory over the Utah Jazz, the team with the best record in the NBA in 2020-21. Although Draymond Green scored his 26th triple-double and Stephen Curry had 32 points, it was rookie James Wiseman and young prospects Jordan Poole and Nico Mannion who kept the Dubs in position to finish the game.
The Youngsters recorded 39 of the Warriors bench points in the win.
After the game, Green highly appreciated Poole’s improvement.
“You have to give him a lot of credit. He’s at that gym everyday with (Player Development Coach) Luke (Loucks), (Assistant Coach / Director of Player Development), CD (Chris DeMarco), and these guys doing his job. He went to the G League, and (Head Coach) Kris Weems held him accountable. I think he’s taken a few steps forward, not only offensively but overall as a player there under Kris Weems’ tutelage, ”Green said of the young Warriors.
“It shows as he came back here. I think it’s been three or four games now. It shows in his room. You have to give this child a lot of credit. I don’t know if anyone on our team is more in the gym than him. It feels good to see guys like that being rewarded. “
For his part, Wiseman has shown just how awesome he can be, but much like Golden State as a whole, the rookie has been inconsistent throughout his first year in the pros. In a game where he was guarded by one of the best centers in the NBA, he might have had his best game of the season. Coach Steve Kerr was happy with Wiseman and the other young players who have had productive games.
“The idea is that James is a goalscorer. He scores the ball quite easily if he puts it in the right positions, and Jordan and Nico are both able to hand the ball to him in those places, so we think the three make a good group together. If Jordan or Nico are capable of knocking down shots and James is that threat on the pick-and-roll, then we can develop an offensive identity with that group, and that’s the idea, ”Kerr explained.
“I also like their competitiveness. The three guys really want to be there. They want to compete and win. It’s all part of what we’re trying to do this year. I’ve said it a few times, we try to win games, we try to develop young guys, and we try to do everything at the same time. Tonight we were able to thread this needle, so hopefully we can keep doing it.
Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole make the most of their Warriors’ opportunity
Mannion and Poole have spent most of the season in the NBA G-League. Since their call, both players have been key parts of the Second Unit. They make mistakes, but neither player shies away from the competition.
On Sunday in Chase Center, they mustered their best performance as a member of the Warriors. Kerr acknowledged the productivity of the two combined with Wiseman.
“I thought the three guys were great. We throw them into the depths a bit, but we love their talent and their potential, and we also really love the way they play together. They go well together because of James’ threat as a diver, and Jordan and Nico are good pick-and-roll players, and Jordan and Nico have really developed a good synergy over the season. They are good friends and they went to Orlando and played really well together. I realize that putting all three of them out there with that second group is putting a lot on their shoulders, but there’s a reason we’re doing it. We believe in these guys.
Golden State entered the game struggling to find a productive second unit, and so the Jazz – led by All-Stars Donavan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mile Conley – had to dominate from the start. Instead, however, the Dubs saw a glimpse into their bright future with the trio of youngsters leading the way.
“I think we have a lot of potential. We’re extremely gifted and talented, and as soon as we can get some chemistry, all five guys, and pick up a bit of a rhythm like we did later in the second quarter and fourth quarter today. hui, I think we’re dangerous, ”Poole said after the game.
The Dubs recorded 33 assists in the win over the Jazz, and the bench scored 51 points led by Poole (18) and Wiseman (16). They will then face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as they look to go 2-0 in back-to-back home games.
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