Denver Nuggets: Who steps up in Michael Porter Jr.’s stead?
By Sean Carroll
Denver Nuggets: Replacing Michael Porter Jr.’s production internally
After getting off to a slow start, the Denver Nuggets have had to find ways to replace MPJ’s production long before that missed layup against the Rockets.
The Nuggets were doing fine; AG was scoring better than usual, Barton is having a career year in terms of scoring, and Bones was coming into his own. But is it enough?
Right now, no, it’s not enough. Denver is only 9-9 on the season and doesn’t look threatening.
With an MVP on the roster, Denver should not only be making the playoffs, but they should be making some serious noise, just like the 2020-21 season. Without Jamal, they’re not winning a title but Jokic can drag them into respectability.
Without Jamal or MPJ, it gets a lot more difficult and this team is all of a sudden looking at the play in conversation.
If Denver is to make a dent in the Western Conference, they need another player to step up and rise to an elite level.
The most qualified candidate to make that leap is Will Barton.
Before Wednesday’s game, Barton is averaging 16.6 points a game while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc, and 46 percent from the field. All of those numbers are career highs and the 31-year-old is embracing his new role as starting wing while finally fully healthy.
There’s a world in which he and Jokic grow into a rather lethal tandem. Will we see it?