Top 5 talking points from Golden State Warriors’ 2021-22 NBA preseason

The Golden State Warriors ended their 2021-22 NBA preseason campaign with a 5-0 unbeaten record. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry was sensational in the games he played and Bay Area fans saw the makings of a championship team. The rookies gave decent production and role players proved their worth. They wrecked all three teams in the preseason and did so without Klay Thompson. Imagine when he comes back?

According to Vegas oddsmakers, the Warriors had the fourth-best odds to win the 2022 NBA championship before the preseason began. Many analysts scoffed at those odds, but the Golden State Warriors have now started to show what they can truly do with their updated roster.

Although this was pre-season and these victories don't count towards team wins, there were plenty of positives to draw from the Golden State Warriors' 5-0 run. They defeated the LA Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers twice and the Denver Nuggets once.

So let's look at five talking points from the Golden State Warriors' 2021-22 NBA preseason.

#1 Jordan Poole is a lock for the starting shooting guard spot until Klay Thompson returns

Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game against the LA Lakers

Jordan Poole is expected to be the Golden State Warriors' trump card for the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season. He has grown into a legitimate threat from the perimeter and has developed his game playing alongside Stephen Curry. He dropped 30 points in the preseason opener against the Portland Trail Blazers and then 28 against the LA Lakers two games later. He averaged 21.8 points per game in the preseason, the fifth-highest in the NBA. Poole did so on a remarkable 50/36/87 shooting split across five appearances.

Many analysts have predicted that Jordan Poole will have a breakout season this year. Steve Kerr spoke about Klay Thompson's replacement in the starting lineup, saying,

"For now, [Jordan Poole will] be in that starting spot and he's playing so well, it's hard to envision not keeping him there."

Poole has established himself a solid rotation player who can get major minutes alongside Stephen Curry in the backcourt until Klay Thompson gets back.

#2 Golden State Warriors' shooting and spacing is going to be off the charts

Jordan Poole and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrate [Source: AP]

The Golden State Warriors have displayed some unbelievable spacing and shooting in their first five preseason games. They launched a mind-boggling 69 threes in their preseason opener against the Portland Trail Blazers. The team insisted that none of the shots were forced but rather were a result of the spacing and good looks. Damian Lillard of the Trail Blazers spoke about it after the game, saying,

"When you hear that number (69) it's just like 'Man!' Some teams shoot 40 threes, you're like they shot a lot of threes, but I think [the Golden State Warriors] shot that in the first half. It's crazy to think about... On my drive home, just thinking about the game, I couldn't think of a time they shot a 2-pointer"

While we cannot expect the Golden State Warriors to attempt that many threes every game, it does show the confidence the players have from beyond the arc. Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica signed with the Warriors in the offseason and are incredible three-point shooters.

Jordan Poole is currently a shooting guard replacement in the starting lineup until Klay Thompson returns from injury. But even after his return, head coach Steve Kerr mentioned not benching Poole but rather playing both guards together alongside Curry. Mark Haynes of Clutch Points reported Steve Kerr's words, where he said:

"When Steph and Klay are both on the floor with Jordan, we're going to have a chance to go from good to great shots all the time. Defenses are going to have to be responding in every direction."

It's safe to say the Golden State Warriors are going to be shooting lights out in the upcoming season and only teams with incredible perimeter defense can find a way to stop them.

#3 Damion Lee is ready to contribute at a high level

Damion Lee of the Golden State Warriors in 2019

Damion Lee has earned a solid spot in the Golden State Warriors' rotation. He had a decent preseason but a much better training camp. Head Coach Steve Kerr mentioned Lee's role on the team in the upcoming season, saying,

"Damion (Lee) has had a fantastic camp and has earned some minutes"...Kerr said Lee will "for sure" start the season in the team's rotation.

Damion Lee started in place of Stephen Curry in the preseason game against the LA Lakers. He showed high energy and intensity with instant production while scoring 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes.

Damion Lee averaged 9.2 points per game in the preseason on 50/14/90 shooting splits. The 14.3% shooting from beyond the arc is an extremely rare occurrence for Lee and shouldn't be taken seriously. He is one of the best shooters on the team who averaged 39% from downtown last season.

#4 Otto Porter Jr. was a remarkable signing by the Golden State Warriors

Otto Porter Jr. with the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game [Source: San Francisco Chronicle]

Otto Porter Jr. has been lighting it up from deep in the preseason and has left no doubt that he is worth the signing. He shot 55.2% from beyond the arc across the five games on nearly six attempts per game. Porter is one of the biggest reasons why the Golden State Warriors are going to be having incredible shooting in the upcoming season.

He is a career 40% shooter from three-point range and his presence on the floor will give the other players freedom to operate. This will often lead to open looks for Curry, Thompson and Poole while opening up driving lanes as well.

In the preseason game against Denver, there was one possession where two Nuggets players ran to close out Otto Porter Jr. in the corner but in the process, left Stephen Curry wide open.

Otto Porter Jr. is rightfully going to get major minutes in the Warriors rotation.

#5 Stephen Curry is ready for the regular season

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the preseason finale

Stephen Curry razzled and dazzled on the court and showed his mid-season form. He had a wonderful offseason and an even better preseason campaign. Curry finished the preseason as the second-highest in the league in points with 24.5 including a 41-point outburst against the Portland Trail Blazers in the finale.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talked about Curry and his excellent pre-season, saying,

"I mean he's been building up perfectly from before camp started, all of the training over the summer to now. You know, he obviously missed the game in LA the other night... that was part of the plan, he didn't need to play all 5 games."

Coach Kerr added that Curry got amazing work done in the offseason and training camps while suggesting that he is "ready to roll for the regular season." Kerr said,

"But for the last few days, he's got a lot of individual work in, and he's clearly ready to roll for the regular season; so he's in a great place. Guy's a machine; it's just amazing how he looks after himself you know, physically, emotionally."

Stephen Curry was voted 6th in the league for the 2022 MVP prediction in the NBA's 2021 Annual GM Survey, while the Golden State Warriors were given a 7% chance to be second in the Western Conference.

The Golden State Warriors begin their 2021-22 NBA season against the LA Lakers on October 19th, 2021.