Steve Kerr on why he pulled Jordan Poole aside for a chat during practice - “Just trying a little less hard to make the great play”
Steve Kerr had some advice for Golden State Warriors star Jordan Poole during practice on Monday. Given the important role the youngster plays in the system, Kerr gave Poole some advice on how to better fit into the system moving forward.
The Golden State Warriors are in an interesting place this season. Although they are far from being considered title contenders, they are in a strong position to make the postseason.
But this is not enough for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. As title aspirations remain at the top of the priority list, the Warriors will need to make several adjustments in order to improve their chances.
The team is already facing some setbacks with key players out of the rotation due to injury. Although heroics by Klay Thompson every now and then have helped keep the team afloat, such an approach is certainly not sustainable.
In this regard, Kerr knows the importance of Jordan Poole. There's no doubt that Poole is the Warriors' next big star after Curry. But the youngster is far from ready to take the torch from Steph.
Given Curry's prolonged absence, however, Poole will be called upon to step up. In most cases, he has delivered. But Monday's practice was proof that he still has a long way to go and Kerr is keen to help him on that path.
When asked by NBCS Warriors' Monte Poole about what the two spoke about after practice, Kerr said:
"Just trying a little less hard to make the great play. Getting off the ball and trusting that it will come back. If we execute the way we can, his scoring opportunities won’t be with the defense set up, waiting for him every time."
He added:
"If he can get off the ball and we can execute, he can now attack a closeout with the defense scattered. Or he can use his speed to get to the rim rather than pounding the ball on a high screen-and-roll, with everybody waiting for him. It’s not just on him. It’s on our whole group to execute better."
Steve Kerr takes a moment with Jordan Poole off to the side at practice, all smiles. https://t.co/SGZJp7iYdN
Kerr's advice certainly has merit considering Jordan Poole's dribble-heavy approach.
Golden State's free-flowing offense depends heavily on off-ball movement and constant passing. With an emphasis placed on the creation of opportunities and players getting better looks, Kerr will hope to see Poole assimilate into the system a bit more comfortably.
Jordan Poole's development is vital for Golden State
It goes without saying that Jordan Poole's development is essential to the Golden State Warriors' future. The only concern at the moment appears to be his approach towards his role in the team. His isolation style of play often tends to hinder the team's flow.
While this isn't necessarily a negative, as it often results in a bucket, flow is paramount to Golden State's success. As such, Kerr will hope his advice hits home and Poole can pick up the slack in Curry's absence.
JORDAN POOLE BEATS THE BUZZER FROM DEEP 🚨 https://t.co/DPCgo0RrKH