A “remarkable” rise
How Nuggets rookie forward Michael Porter Jr. gained Michael Malone’s trust
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. » Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. didn’t expect the backlash that came from his postgame comments after Denver fell behind the Clippers 3- 1 in the Western Conference semifinals.
He didn’t anticipate how his words would be spliced and his intentions deciphered. Frustrated after a Game 4 loss that he felt he could’ve contributed more to, he wasn’t trying to bury anybody, let alone Nuggets coach Michael Malone or his teammates.
His point — well- intentioned but not artfully delivered — was that everybody needed to touch the ball to beat a defense as suffocating as the Clippers’. In the aftermath, before a film session, the team briefly addressed his comments.
Both Malone and Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly spoke, according to a league source.
The message was that on this stage, with a platform as large as the NBA playoffs, players needed to be even more careful about what they said in front of a camera. The point was clear: In the future, when issues come up, address them internally and not in the emotion of a postgame news conference.
After it was addressed, the meeting shifted to a film session that got at the core of Porter’s comments. The coaching staff knew there was truth to what he’d said. So rather than belabor the manner in which it was delivered, the session focused on what Porter could do to get himself more involved.
“I stand by what I say,” Porter said
after Game 5 when a second- half rally kept the Nuggets’ season alive. “I didn’t mean it in any type of disrespectful way or anything like that.”
There are any number of turning points the Nuggets could cite when looking for the moment the Clippers series flipped and paved the Nuggets’ path to the Western Conference Finals. It could be that team meeting, the Paul MillsapMarcus Morris flare- up in Game 5, or even Game 3, which left the Nuggets smarting over a potential win they let get away. But when Porter connected on a clutch 3- pointer late in Game 5, and the bench erupted in celebration, it was clear there were no hard feelings. The Nuggets would win Game 6 with another eliminationdefying rally and take Game 7 convincingly to reach their first conference finals since 2009.
And throughout the three fourth quarters in Games 5, 6, and 7, only Jamal Murray averaged more minutes ( 10.8) than Porter ( 9.9).
“I think our coach has done a great job challenging him and also empowering him,” Connelly told The Denver Post. “It’s been fun to watch his development.”
To think that Malone would trust Porter to that extent, a round after he’d benched him for his defense, was stunning.
“In those games, the games that you talk about when he’s on the floor when so much is hanging in the balance, that’s invaluable for a young player,” Malone said Saturday, one day ahead of Game 2 of the conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. “I think what’s earned him those minutes is that he’s really bought in, grown and committed to the defensive end of the floor.
“The offensive end comes easy for Michael. He’s so talented, he’s so skilled, and he can go on a scoring run all by himself. His rebounding has always been there. But for him to get those minutes to close games, he has to be able to defend. And I think from Game 1 in Utah, round one, all the way through now starting the Western Conference Finals, his defensive improvement’s been remarkable.”
Despite not shooting at as high a clip as he’s capable of, Porter has still rebounded at a tremendous rate and his defensive awareness has improved drastically.
“The biggest part that I’ve seen improvement in is his rotations,” his dad, Michael Porter Sr., said. “I think he’s come a long way in understanding, ‘ OK, yeah, for a minute this is my guy, but once we start rotating, it’s a scramble, and I might be guarding a guy in this corner, but then I gotta show on the roller, tag the roller, and then I might have to get out to the opposite corner to get the shooter.’”
Porter’s dad has been inside the “bubble” here for nearly a month. Depending on if it’s a game day or not, father and son will alternate between breakfast and dinner together.
“It has meant everything to me to be here to see it in person,” Porter Sr. said. “Win, lose or draw, being here and seeing these guys play and specifically my son progress the way he has is just blessings on top of blessings. … He’s never lacked confidence as to whether or not he could play at this level, but I think this bubble experience has even reinforced to him that, ‘ OK, man, I take care of my business, I can play and be really effective at this level.’ ”
For months, Murray has been an active participant in MPJ’s improvement. In practice or games, Murray is always chirping at Denver’s budding rookie. And it’s because he recognizes his talent and knows he’s only begun to scratch the surface. Murray has never publicly commented on what Porter had to say that night, but his answer Saturday suggested he’d seen a change in Porter’s approach.
“I just think his patience right now,” Murray said. “He might not touch it every single time on the court, but when he gets a good look, we know he’s gonna put it up and most likely make it. His rebounding is incredible. He’s got a really good nose for the ball. Shot blocking’s there. So, all his instincts are there. … I think he’s going to be a big factor in this series against the Lakers.”
It would’ve been a stretch to say that a month ago during the Utah series. But his dedication to staying on the floor — acknowledging and addressing his defense — is a giant development in Denver’s quest for a championship.