Is it time for the Nuggets to part ways with Michael Porter Jr.?
Michael Porter Jr., still has a deer-in-the-headlights look when he enters games, and I don’t see him coming into games with the type of relentless effort to win a job in the rotation. Have we seen an adequate body of work to determine what kind of player he will likely be? And should the Nuggets seriously consider seeing what they can get in return for MPJ at the trading deadline in February? — Brad Hicks, Arvada
Singer: Just to be perfectly clear, the Nuggets spent a lottery pick on MPJ, invested a year into his rehab, have tried to develop him on the deepest team in the NBA, and you’re suggesting cutting bait before he’s even topped 100 minutes of playing time?
No, we haven’t seen an adequate body of work to determine what type of player he’ll be, which is why trading him isn’t going to happen. I agree that when he plays he’s looked unsettled and rushed, but he’s only 10 games into his career. There are definitely nerves and he’s put pressure on himself to perform, especially since he knows the Nuggets are expected to win.
Coach Michael Malone said finding Porter Jr. valuable minutes, while trying to win games, has been the hardest part of the season for him. “For me, it’s always understanding who I’m evaluating,” he said. “What I mean by that is, I’m not going to look at him the same way as I’m looking at Gary Harris. That’d be unfair to Michael. So I have to realize that this is all going really fast for him, so I’m just looking for him to settle down. … When he calms down, he’s going to be a hell of a player.”
What’s up with the offense?
What happened to our shooting? Jokic can’t hit a 3, Gary Harris seems to average more shot attempts than points, and nobody consistently gets to the free-throw line. As a team, our offensive efficiency has dropped considerably. What happened? — Tim Barton, Gunnison
Singer: Hey, Tim. Your intuition is correct. The Nuggets offense isn’t moving like it did last year, and too many possessions are wasted when guys dribble the air out of the ball. Nothing — I mean nothing — gets Malone more upset than selfish, stagnant offense. It’s especially apparent when the Nuggets have gotten a doubledigit lead and then feel it’s OK not to run any offense since they’ve got a sizable lead.
Some pertinent numbers: The Nuggets were fifth in the NBA last season with 312 passes per game. They’re down to ninth at 301 per game, per NBA.com stats.
Last year they shot 42% from 5-9 feet and 46% from 10-14 feet. Those shooting percentages are down to 39% and 33%, respectively, this year. Furthermore, those that they are making in the midrange aren’t coming via assists.
One more oddity: The Nuggets are dead last in the NBA at the frequency of transition opportunities. The Giannis-led Bucks have a transition opportunity on 22% of their possessions. That’s the case for Denver on just 12.5% of theirs.
Power up. Hey Michael, the Nuggets keep winning because of their great defensive energy. Overall, who would you say is the Nuggets’ best “energy“player? — Alex Ackermann, Cañon City
Singer: Three guys come to mind. Ever since the embarrassing New Orleans game, the Nuggets have fed off Jamal Murray’s energy. And that’s been the case even when his offense hasn’t been there. His six steals the other night against Houston (in the midst of 4-of-16 shooting night) were a career-high. He’s been noticeably more vocal and his effort on defense has been impressive. The other two energy bunnies are Denver’s “old heads,” Paul Millsap and Will Barton.