“I don’t believe Draymond Green and Jordan Poole will have any issues moving forward, mainly because of Poole”- NBA analyst believes on-court chemistry will sort things out
The big question heading into the opening night Tuesday was how Draymond Green and Jordan Poole would play together. After their display in a 123-109 win over the LA Lakers, analyst Skip Bayless believes there is nothing to worry about.
After Green punched Poole during practice a few weeks ago, many wondered if that would disrupt the team's chemistry. Although Green, a four-time NBA champ, has apologized, some believe there is still tension.
With their first outing, the Warriors succeeded in showing they can play through the animosity. On "Undisputed: Skip and Shannon," Bayless said:
"I do not believe that he and Jordan Poole will have any issues going forward, mainly because of Jordan Poole. He just seemed above it all. He handled it perfectly, beautifully.
"So, I think they will be fine. ... They connected last night on the court. Jordan passed it to Draymond for the basket. ... I think they'd have no problems playing basketball together."
Both players conducted themselves professionally, as they said they would. They also combined for a play that ended with a Green dunk.
Skip Bayless believes Jordan Poole is "way better" than Draymond Green
There have been speculations that JP has been arrogant since winning the title. Some said he ridiculed Green's scoring, which is what led to the punch.
Regardless of what was said leading up to the fight, Bayless believes Poole is better than Green right now.
"He knows he's way better at this point than Draymond," Bayless said. "He's pretty great. He just comes in and lights it up. As I tweeted, he's throwing knockout punches."
Did last night's win prove the Warriors can move past the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole incident?
"I do not believe Draymond Green and Jordan Poole will have any issues moving forward mainly because of Poole. They connected on the court; they will be fine." — @RealSkipBayless https://t.co/3vEnekYWrn
The current NBA exalts scoring, which is why players are not highly rated if they are not high-level scorers. However, the Warriors know how important Green is to them.
Some might say they would not have won four titles in the last eight years if it was not for Green's input. Although he is not a scorer, he impacts the game in several other ways, especially on defense.
Green is also an offensive force. He had the most assists last season and also set solid screens that got shooters like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Poole open looks.
Green and Poole have expressed their desire to defend their title against all odds
The Warriors' desire to defend their 2022 title is seemingly stronger than any personal beef. Poole and Green have said that their primary goal is to help the team win another championship.
Although Green and Poole might be far from becoming friends, they both understand that they have a job to do. JP also understands Green's importance and was not in favor of a suspension when consulted.
Both players showed their commitment to winning in the season opener, leaving whatever personal differences aside. Their contributions led the Golden State Warriors to a 123-109 win over the Lakers.