Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors: 3 big questions and a prediction

Which players coming off the bench will make the biggest impact on the series? 

Superstar players like Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic are vital to their team’s success. A factor that is not talked about is the impact of players coming off the bench. The NBA is filled with players who are very talented but might not make the cut to be a starter.

That is where role players come in. These types of players are unselfish and know what they do best. Complementing the starters’ play is the job of a role player. They try and stay in their lanes and stick to what they do best. Maybe it’s playing some smothering defense or constantly being ready to shoot the ball when your open.

A rookie for the Nuggets has been one of their better bench players this season. That would be Bones Hyland, who averages 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He does all this in just 19.0 minutes played per game. Hyland is still finding his niche in the NBA, but I’m sure head coach Michael Malone loves having him come off the bench and help take over guard duties while the starters get some rest.

The best bench player for the Warriors is a third-year pro, Jordan Poole. Head coach Steve Kerr has had to juggle around the lineups all season. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson missed a combined 68 games this season. Players like Jordan Poole have stepped up to the call and have made a solid contribution to the Warriors in the regular season.

Poole had a career-best year in a lot of categories. He started 51 games for the Warriors and averaged 30.0 minutes per game. His season averages were 18.5 points (career-high), 3.4 (career-high),and 4.0 assists (career-high) per game. Don’t be surprised if you see Poole on another team in the next few years. A lot of teams could use his play.