How Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. Can Be Difference-Maker Against Wolves
By Alex Murray
No McDaniels Makes MPJ A Happy Boy
It’s a shame whenever a starter is lost for the playoffs, but it’s even worse when that player is injured because of an off-the-court incident as avoidable as punching a concrete wall. Unfortunately for Minnesota, that’s what Jaden McDaniels did, and he earned himself a fractured hand for his efforts.
It’s a bit callous to say, but that brain fart from McDaniels probably left MPJ smirking a little bit. McDaniels has really come into his own as a reliable offensive option this season, but it’s his defensive abilities that have been the cornerstone of his game.
McDaniels was in the top 10 of NBA.com’s March 15th Defensive Player of the Year rankings, and elite guys like Paul George have credited his defensive prowess in the past. McDaniels regularly guards the opponents best scorer, and he should get a spot on one of the NBA’s All-Defensive teams at year’s end.
Fortunately for MPJ, Mcdaniels will not be available for this series, which means he’ll be going up against Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson, neither of whom are complete zeros on defense but neither of whom come close to the defensive impact McDaniels has.
It’s no secret that Porter Jr. does most of his damage from the outside, which works in his favor against the likes of Anderson and Alexander-Walker, who ranked 17th and 19th out of 20 eligible Timberwolves players in opponent three-point percentage allowed with 37.8 and 39.6, respectively. At the three spot Porter Jr. will usually have a height and length advantage, and that will be true again against the Timberwolves.
While Anderson does have a freakishly long 7’3″ wingspan, he’s almost two inches shorter than MPJ, who’s just a hair below 6’11”. Alexander-Walker, who started the Thunder game at the three, is just 6’5″ with a 6’9″ wingspan, which means MPJ should have no problem rising up and shooting over his defenders, even if they get into good contest position.