Iguodala's mentorship to Poole will be big going forward

SAN FRANCISCO -- There has been one constant when watching Warriors practice, one day before their loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals and two days after. 

Where Andre Iguodala goes, Jordan Poole goes. The two are together during drills and in between. There's deep conversations and light-hearted jokes. 

With more than 15 years of life experience over Poole, and another 15 over him in the NBA, Iguodala (38) has taken Poole (22) under his wing since returning to the Warriors this past offseason. That wasn't by coincidence, too. 

"Yeah, most definitely," Poole said Saturday when I asked if he considers Iguodala his vet. 

This is now Iguodala's seventh Finals appearance in his 18-year career. He has experienced victory and defeat, winning three titles and falling short three times as well. The former Finals MVP has seen it all, and his words of wisdom are invaluable. 

His main message to Poole has been to embrace the entire moment in the Finals. That means the heightened media, the brighter lights and having countless eyes on you at all times. To be here at 22 years old is special. Iguodala didn't make his first trip to the Finals until his age-31 season. 

And it's another thing to be a big piece to the puzzle of the Warriors' success and their championship hopes at such a young age. 

"Just asking questions and getting his insight," Poole said of his conversations with Iguodala. "Finding ways to learn from the film and my own team. Just trying to better myself as a player and the whole team."

The Finals are a game of adjustments, and the Celtics did a great job of doing exactly that in real-time. They figured out ways to expose the Warriors' zone defense, and after Steph Curry broke the record books on the way to 21 points in the first quarter, he was held scoreless in the second quarter and put up 13 total points over the final three periods. 

When Curry went down to a foot injury the last time the Warriors played the Celtics in the regular season, Poole took over as Golden State's main scoring option. He scored 29 points while going 10-for-20 from the field and 6-for-13 on 3-point attempts. But he struggled mightily in the Warriors' Game 1 loss against Boston's stingy and swarming defense. 

Poole scored just nine points in 25 minutes off the bench in the loss. He only got off seven shots, going 2-for-7 from the field, and made one of his five attempts from deep. His plus-minus was a game-low minus-19.

"We're just making sure we're on the same page," Iguodala said. "Part of being a great player isn't just about how you play, but how you help others play to the best of their abilities. We're just talking about certain situations, how we can mitigate some things that have been thrown at us and how we can adjust to different looks they may throw at us. And then the same things defensively as well.

"That just shows a guy who really wants to excel, wants to play well. He's watching a lot of film. He's trying to learn as much as he can. You love to see that from a young guy."

Earlier Saturday, Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson had a message for Draymond Green. Atkinson referred to Green as "one of the best player development coaches in the league."

The 55-year-old Atkinson is in his first season with the Warriors, primarily running their offense. He was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons and is a finalist to be the Charlotte Hornets' next head coach. If there's one thing he really has been reminded of since coming to the Bay Area and witnessing the Warriors' two timelines of the present and the future, it's realizing the importance of having veterans like Green and Iguodala to influence younger players like Poole, 19-year-old Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, who turned 20 four days ago. 

"Those guys aren't afraid to coach them hard either," Atkinson said Saturday, exclusively to NBC Sports Bay Area. "It's a different voice. Those guys are out there. It's invaluable. And listen, that's a credit to [general manager Bob Myers] to understand, and the Warriors have done it before with guys like David West. 

"It's like they have this formula." 

Poole turned the ball over four times two nights ago in the Warriors' loss. He has a lightning-quick first step but was out of control at times and unable to penetrate against the Celtics' top-notch defense. That marked the fourth time in the playoffs that he has committed four turnovers, and it also was the third time he was held to single digits. 

There's a balance that's needed from Poole. He has defeated nearly every obstacle thrown his way this season, and Boston is a different beast. Having him control the game at his own pace is a necessity. 

So is attacking and finding ways for his strengths to blossom. 

"We need him to be aggressive for us to be successful," Atkinson said. "But I think there's ways where we can help him. Draymond and Andre have talked to him about that type of stuff. Who to attack, when to attack, what the situation dictates. That's where they're invaluable, too. 

"For Jordan, the challenge is that's a lot of information. You're getting a professor's Basketball 101. Like, holy mackerel. So he's got to find a way to filter that." 

RELATED: Photography, friendship sparks lifetime bond for Poole, Jimenez

The Warriors were given all of Friday, all of Saturday and Sunday's hours leading up to Game 2 to correct what needs to be fixed. The message to Poole is simple, whether it be from Steve Kerr, Atkinson, Green or Iguodala: We need you. 

The past must be flushed away, and there's no better mentor than Iguodala to preach that point to Poole. 

"He's got to stay aggressive," Atkinson said. "We're not winning this thing without him. That's just the truth of it, and he knows it."

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast