Quinn Cook never really got a fair shot coming out of Duke as an undersized, four-year guard. Granted, he somewhat struggled with expectations early on in his career. But as has been the story of his life since birth, Cook continued to work while the doubters did. Now he has an opportunity to showcase his talents for the world to see on ESPN versus the Charlotte Hornets.
This will prove to be an interesting look for the Warriors. Kerr has shown us time & time again how rotations should actually work and Cook will be the main beneficiary tonight. He & KD actually go back to their days in PG County Maryland and considering KD likely co-signed the idea of bringing Cook in, I can only imagine that he (& the rest of the Warriors vets) will do what they can to get Quinn shots and get him comfortable in a short amount of time.
This may seem like an outlier to the average fan but this is what makes this Warrior organization so great. They’re aware of the challenge ahead. They fully respect this Hornets team & what they’re capable of. They know they won’t be at full strength tonight. But they also know that every human on that roster could prove vital to their repeat prospects. As we’ve seen already this year, pieces move, things happen. Next man up isn’t just a mantra. it’s a daily reality.
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WHAT TO EXPECT: Let that man Cook
I highly doubt that Quinn will handle the ball to start. This is because Warriors prefer to use Steph’s creativity to strike first. So, we’ll very likely see an isolation for KD or some double screen action to get Klay loose & allow Quinn to shake the nerves.
After that? Playing with the first unit will allow Cook to play to his strength: getting into the teeth of the defense & creating shots for others, knocking down threes & just being a feisty leader. Furthermore,
With an energy-producer like Draymond leading the huddle & a childhood friend in KD urging him to play his game & show the world what he’s capable of, I expect Cook to have a solid showing. Even on draft day, I felt he had tons to offer a team immediately as a backup/change of pace guard. Hopefully, tonight, Kerr will just #letthatmancook