Warriors Wonder: Cook is the Quin-tessential Strength In Numbers player

If you missed last night’s game because you were out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day festivities with friends, family, or frenemies, then you may have just scanned the box score for the Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns tilt. Your eyes probably lazily surveyed the stats from the shorthanded Dubs 124-109 triumph over a tanking Suns squad, checking for which Warrior actually cared enough to dominate.

That’s when Draymond Green’s stat-line sprung out at your face like a hot pop-tart, straight out of a brand new Ronco toaster: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists on a stellar 10-of-20 shooting from the field (4-of-8 from three-point range?!). Immediately, your brain remembered that Green is an Olympian, All-Star, and arguably the most important player on the team.

Besides, how could a man named Green not put on a show on St. Pattys? Clearly, he must be the Warrior Wonder.

WRONG!

Quinn Cook got super busy against those scrubs in Phoenix. In a gargantuan 40 minutes of playing time, Cook feasted on the Suns with 28 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, on 11-of-17 shooting. His 5-of-7 makes from downtown had him looking positively Curry-esque (although he didn’t shoot, turn, and jog away before any of the shots went in. Smh, we’ll have to work on adding some more hubris to his game #babysteps4babysteph).

This next tweet came out from Warriors PR right before Cook scored his 28th point.

This young fella is looking special. The fact that this game came on the road, on the second night of a back-to-back, after he set his previous career high against the Kings, speaks volumes about this young man’s drive. Everybody crying about us not retaining Ian Clark can finally dry their tears and regain hope. We have a fully competent option at the point guard spot behind Stephen Curry and Shaun Livingston.

Let’s close with a quote from Green per the Mercury News:

“I sit here and watch and wonder how is Quinn Cook a two-way player?” Green asked rhetorically. “Then you got guys in the league that can’t dribble with their left hand, can’t go left or can’t go right. Then you have guys like that [with Cook] as a two-way player. I’m happy for him and happy he’s ready to show the world. I’m happy that he gets rewarded and gets what he deserves.”

That begged the obvious follow-up question: has Cook proved worthy of being on the Warriors’ playoff roster?

“I think he is,” Green said. “To have a guy like that, Quinn is a change-of-pace guy. He’s a guy that will pick up 94 feet. All that stuff makes a difference. I think he’s definitely forcing a hand. It’s great what he’s doing. All you can do is put yourself in a position for someone to make a decision. If you can give yourself that shot, you live with the result.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Dray.