Nuggets defensive matchups
When comparing both rosters, it worries me that the Nuggets won’t have enough wing defenders to properly matchup against the Clippers.
In previous matchups against the Clips, Jerami Grant is given the heavy task of guarding Kawhi but never fails to give The Claw a rugged time getting to the rim. Grant appears to have had the most defensive success guarding George though.
Take it with a grain of salt because NBA matchup data is inexact, but...
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) September 2, 2020
it says Paul George was 0/7 from the field when guarded by Jerami Grant in two games this season.
It won’t just be a one-man job defending Kawhi or George though, so Gary Harris and Torrey Craig are going to see big minutes on the floor.
Paul Millsap, playing like an ancient artifact, can still match up against players like Morris and Harrell. However, as games continue take a toll on the body of the aging Millsap, it’s going to be difficult to rely on him late in games.
Due to his general lack of defensive success, one can only wonder how much floor time we’ll be seeing from Michael Porter Jr, who looked worse defensively in the first round than he has all year.
There is a great risk – great reward factor to MPJ. On one hand, the Nuggets can get instant offense and a shooting spark. On the other, Denver can collapse on defense.
In Denver’s series against Utah where Porter was the primary defender, Jazz players shot an unacceptable 61% from the field and 59% from 3-point range. These numbers just can’t slide when facing off against the best scoring team of the postseason so far.
Unless he somehow spikes in defensive IQ or if Denver is in need of an offensive burst, it wouldn’t be surprising if MPJ receives a diminished amount of minutes (especially with Harris back into the rotation).