Coming off five straight wins, the Denver Nuggets have bounced back from a slight slump. Michael Porter Jr.‘s elite production is the biggest reason for the Nuggets’ mini-win streak. At one point, Porter Jr. was the subject of trade rumors. Now, he’s coming off three straight matches scoring at least 30 points. He is playing some of the best basketball of his career as the Nuggets head toward the All-Star break as a top-three seed in the Western Conference. If Porter Jr. can continue his elite scoring, it would elevate the Nuggets to be a dangerous team.
Nuggets Need Michael Porter Jr. To Continue Elite Production
A Star Stretch
Despite never making an All-Star team, Porter Jr. has the talent to make it. He has shown his skills in the Nuggets’ four games in February, especially the last three. In February, he averages 30.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, and his efficiency has been off the charts. He is shooting 60.0% from the field and 48.6% from three. In the last three games, his points average has been a staggering 35.0. The Nuggets’ offense has significantly improved with Porter Jr.’s outbursts, averaging 127 points per game in that stretch.
Although three games is a small sample size, it shows Porter Jr. can contribute at an elite level in consecutive games. His spark in this recent stretch was precisely what Denver needed after the team’s recent shooting woes. Porter Jr. must provide consistent production from three for the Nuggets to compete with high-volume three-point shooting teams. When he hunts his shot, it elevates Denver to another level. His shooting this past week led to ridiculous plus/minus numbers in each contest as he finished +62 across the three games.
Nuggets Need To Continue To Involve Porter Jr.
With the Nuggets having arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić, it’s no surprise they are a top-three seed. In the strong Western Conference, star players need help, and Porter Jr. has provided that. He adds elite three-point shooting and is a great rebounder since he is one of the tallest wings in the NBA at six-foot-10. His height helps him easily shoot over defenders.
The biggest reason Porter Jr. has scored at an elite rate in the last three games has been his involvement in the offense. He isn’t passively waiting for his shots; he is actively hunting for the open look. That is a best-case scenario for Denver, who should run more plays for him. It’s hard to go wrong with a tall wing player shooting 41.7% from three on the season, so feeding him shots is ideal.
The Nuggets depend on Porter Jr. for three-point shooting and scoring in every game. When he scores well, the team succeeds. The team is 20-5 in games where Porter Jr. scores at least 19 points, his season average. They are 12-14 in the games where he scores 18 or less. The 26-year-old is integral to the team’s success and offensive production. Involving Porter Jr. in their offensive game plan is critical for the Nuggets to win.
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