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ESPN Senior Writer- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
As Jordan Poole began to describe the confidence boost his teammates have given him following the Golden State Warriors' Game 3 road win over the Denver Nuggets, Klay Thompson grabbed Poole's shoulders, jumped up and down and shouted:
"It's a Poole party! It's a Poole party!"
This celebration came on the heels of Poole's 27-point performance that night -- his third consecutive 25-point playoff game.
Through the first four games of the series -- Poole's playoffs debut -- he's averaging 24.3 points on 59.6% shooting and 51.9% from 3.
"That's another lethal weapon," Warriors All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins says. "He looks like he's in a world of his own. He's competing on both ends and he's taking big shot after big shot, making big play and big play."
The third-year guard's development has given the Warriors the ultimate luxury: allowing Curry -- who was coming off a month-long absence due to a left foot sprain -- to ease back into game action. Curry will play Thursday's Game 5 with no minute restriction for the first time this postseason.
Poole has also given the Warriors a bonus they weren't expecting: a third guard who has become the gateway to Golden State's most lethal rotation, alongside Wiggins and Draymond Green -- otherwise known as the Warriors' new death lineup.
"It's a scary sight," Thompson says, "when we really get going."
How did a group that played no minutes together during the regular season become Golden State's best fivesome so far in the playoffs? And how will this lineup be tested as the Warriors pursue a return to the NBA Finals after two years in the lottery?