{"id":138878,"date":"2025-05-10T12:16:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T16:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=138878"},"modified":"2025-05-10T12:16:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T16:16:12","slug":"can-warriors-trayce-jackson-davis-game-2-carry-game-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/10\/can-warriors-trayce-jackson-davis-game-2-carry-game-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Forgotten Warrior\u2019s Game 2 Carry To Game 3?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a rookie, Golden State Warriors big man Trayce Jackson-Davis<\/a> broke out as a quality rotation player.<\/p>\n

To be fair, Jackson-Davis wasn\u2019t the normal<\/em> rookie. Many teams key in on draft prospects with one or two years of college experience. However, Jackson-Davis spent four seasons at Indiana<\/a>. His last two seasons with the Hoosiers saw him getting coached by a former NBA player and head coach in Mike Woodson (who will now join<\/a> the Sacramento Kings coaching staff).<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, that theoretically made him fit with the Warriors more than he normally would have. After all, Golden State has several players in their rotation who aren\u2019t seasoned, namely Brandin Podziemski<\/a>, Moses Moody<\/a>, and Quinten Post<\/a>. Yet, they\u2019re considered a veteran team due to the success and experience of their stars.<\/p>\n

So, why wouldn\u2019t they be appreciative of mature prospect like Jackson-Davis?<\/p>\n

Can Trayce Jackson-Davis\u2019s Game 2 Carry To Game 3?<\/h2>\n

For all of the promise that Jackson-Davis showed as a rookie, he\u2019s found himself on the outside looking in since Jan. 29.<\/p>\n

His fluidity nor playmaking, both of which were head-turners in 2023-24, took a step back. However, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr couldn\u2019t figure out how to run the offense he wanted with several non-shooters. As a result, Jackson-Davis became a casualty of circumstance.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the answer for why Post\u2019s in the rotation but not Jackson-Davis largely comes down to 3-point shooting<\/a>. To that point, Post converted 40.8 percent of his 3s in the regular season while attempting 4.3 per game. Jackson-Davis is 0-4 from 3 for his career.<\/p>\n

As he\u2019s primarily a center, maybe he felt like developing an outside jumper was a luxury, not necessity. Even in this era, there are multiple starting centers who are successful without a 3-ball. Unfortunately for Jackson-Davis, he\u2019s playing for the team and coach associated most closely with 3-point proliferation.<\/p>\n

However, following his performance in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, Kerr sounds ready to put Jackson-Davis back in the rotation. Him and<\/em> Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>, another guy who\u2019s been pushed aside<\/a>. \u201cThose guys really performed well and showed why they can help us win<\/a> this series so they\u2019re going to be a part of it for sure,\u201d Kerr says (h\/t KNBR).<\/p>\n

\"\"
May 8, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to figure out rotations, who we want to start (and) all that stuff but both guys are going to play a role.\u201d<\/p>\n

Game 2 Tape<\/h3>\n

In Game 2, Jackson-Davis was a man on a mission, playing with force at both ends.<\/p>\n

Offensively, his hard screens, easy athleticism and attacking mentality made him a real threat. In fact, he scored 15 points on 6-6 shooting from the field, his attempts coming from lobs, rim-runs, and tip-ins. He briefly showed off his basketball IQ as a facilitator as well.<\/p>\n

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Trayce Jackson-Davis 15 Points, 6 Rebs, 6\/6 FG full highlight vs Timberwolves – Game 2 pic.twitter.com\/UCeeTLG7Pv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA Showtime (@NBAShowtime12) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n