The Denver Nuggets are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but they have struggled a bit as of late. With their recent loss to the Brooklyn Nets, they are now on a three-game losing streak.
After the Nets game, forward Michael Porter Jr. seemingly took a shot at coach Mike Malone. He was asked a question about finding his rhythm, with Porter Jr. noting that coach Mike Malone sat him for the entire fourth quarter and only put him in with a little bit of time left, making it “impossible to catch a rhythm”.
“(He) sat me the whole fourth and put me in with 20 seconds left, I think. So, I mean it’s impossible to catch a rhythm then.”
Just heard from Michael Porter Jr. in the postgame locker room. @VidaVivaDiva asked MPJ about finding a rhythm. Porter answered: "(He) sat me the whole fourth and put me in with 20 seconds left, I think. So, I mean it’s impossible to catch a rhythm then."
— Vinny Benedetto (@VBenedetto) March 12, 2023
There’s no doubt that Michael Porter Jr. has a point here, but this seems like something that should be handled behind closed doors. It will be interesting to see if Mike Malone issues a response to this statement, and if the team’s rotations change as a result.
As of right now, Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 17.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.0 APG for the Denver Nuggets. He is a highly efficient wing player who has shot 49.1% from the field and 41.2% from the 3PT range.
The Denver Nuggets Will Have To Prove Themselves In The Playoffs
Even though the Denver Nuggets are a top-tier team, a lot of analysts don’t trust them in the playoffs. In fact, previously, Colin Cowherd claimed that the Los Angeles Lakers could upset the Denver Nuggets in a playoff series.
“If they were healthy, I’d pick the Lakers,” Cowherd said. “I don’t trust Denver in the West. Playoff basketball is about being great at stuff. It’s not about depth. It’s not about plaques. It’s not about MVPs. The Lakers, when AD and LeBron are healthy, they have things they’re great at.”
This is definitely a controversial take, but there have been others who have expressed similar sentiments. Paul Pierce has recently stated that the Denver Nuggets could lose in the first round if they face the Lakers or Warriors. The Nuggets will have an opportunity to prove the haters wrong this season though, and we’ll see how far they get.
Ultimately, Michael Porter Jr. will be key for the Denver Nuggets when it comes to playoff time. Hopefully, we see him perform at a high level and help them finally make it out of the Western Conference this season.
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