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5 players to watch during the Nuggets’ playoff run

By Quenton S. Albertie

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets gathers with teammates during a timeout against the Utah Jazz in the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets gathers with teammates during a timeout against the Utah Jazz in the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers pressures Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers pressures Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

Michael Porter Jr.

Porter averaged 22.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.0 steal per contest in the team’s seeding games, shooting 55.1% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range in that time.

Averaging 33.3 minutes per game in the bubble, the rookie only averaged 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.5 steals per game prior to the NBA hiatus. As he played just 16.4 minutes per contest, his averages are relatively consistent, so what he produces as a starter is what should be expected going forward.

That said, what makes MPJ so special isn’t just his soft shooting touch and his propensity to rebound at a high rate. He’s the Nuggets’ biggest matchup problem, as at 6’10” he’s bigger than most small forwards and, with his ball-handling, he’s able to drive past plenty of power forwards as well. In addition, when he gets hot, he gets hot.

As this will be the young man’s first taste of the postseason, he’ll be getting a trial by fire when the playoffs start. However, he’s already earned the respect of the biggest names in the league, and that reputation will mean that team’s will be gameplanning against him or sending some of their best defenders at him, freeing up opportunity for the team’s other players to get going.

Porter is at his best when the team looks for him early and the benefits appear to be mutual, as the Nuggets can get off to an early need and the rim starts to expand to the size of a hula hoop for the Missouri native.

In the Nuggets’ win over the Jazz, Porter started off strong but cooled down as the game went along, finishing with 13 points (5-13 FG) and 8 rebounds in 31 minutes. Clearly, the return of Murray has given MPJ fewer opportunities to make an impact as a scorer but he still has the talent to be the team’s third-best player and the one that pushes them over the top.

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