The List: Michael Porter Jr. needs to embrace the physicality of the game

1. There were at least four examples over the last two games of Denver Nuggets turnovers that were the direct result of a confusing cut by Michael Porter Jr. Some of these turnovers can be chalked up to a lack of chemistry between Porter and Nikola Jokic since they have only recently begun running so many handoffs together and running two-man game as a staple of the team’s offense. But there are two things that Porter needs to work on.

The first is simply embracing the fact that he will need to win the physicality battle on every cut. Defenders will try to jam the screen by getting into his space. Porter has to learn that those moments are a battle of wills. Don’t cede any ground.

The second thing to focus on is to always finish the cut. Porter has a tendency to make herky jerky cuts that stop abruptly after one step. Finishing the cut in a flow offense is a sign of trust. It’s trust that Jokic will find you when you are open, even if he isn’t looking at you and it is trust that your cut will put pressure on the defense and the ball will keep moving.

2. When he does finish cuts, he has a tendency to punt on physicality, allowing the defense to catch up or jump the passing lane. Embracing the physicality of the game is going to be a theme on today’s list.

3. How Porter cuts is important because he has so much gravity, especially when he elevates quickly off of the catch. The more he becomes comfortable with shots like these ones, the more defenses will bend and fall behind.

4. Another example of Porter needing to learn when to use finesse and when to use power in the paint.

5. Here is one of Denver’s favorite actions, a back screen into a handoff. But the play falls apart because Porter allows the defense to elude the initial screen.

6. One of Porter’s biggest weaknesses on defense is the way he dies on screens.

7. With Porter’s length, he can afford to get further into helpside when he is the low man on the weakside.  Giannis is the master of this, often helping 20 feet off of his man knowing that he has the speed and length to closeout on a shooter in the corner.

8. Porter’s length is such a weapon on defense. It really widens his margin of error.

9. Aaron Gordon is down to just 10 points and 2.2 assists per game since joining the Nuggets. He isn’t getting the same looks that he got in Orlando and needs to start altering his game to become the weapon that the Nuggets need him to be. The clip below provides a perfect example of this.

Gordon is shooting just 26% from behind the arc in Denver and defenses will continue to sag off of him the way Rudy Gobert sags off of him on this play. Shooting when open is fine but non-shooters like Gordon need to find other ways to punish the defense for cheating. Jokic called for a flash to the foul line to create a high-low. Draymond Green uses these types of possessions to flash and go right into dribble handoffs, knowing that the defense won’t be in position to show on the handoff. But just standing on the wing as a spot up shooter is a bailout that defenses will gladly allow in a playoff series.

10. You’ve got to love the effort Shaq Harrison plays with on the defensive end. Watch how quickly he gets up after hitting the floor.

11. I looked into this play to see if it was scripted for Facu Campazzo to cut behind both his defender and the help defender one pass away. It was not, I am told. But the combination of Facu cutting behind both defenders timed with Porter’s flare screen created the perfect punishment for doubling in the post. The Nuggets are going to have a hard time generating kickouts from the post when playing with just one elite floor spacer so actions like this one might need to make their way into Denver’s playbook.

12. I’m not one of the people who think there is a conspiracy against Jokic but plays like this one are hard to justify. I get that referees make mistakes but the sideline official had a clear angle on this play and Gobert is holding him for the entirety of the scoring move. Frustrating to watch, and certainly frustrating for Jokic who spent the entire possession giving said official the death stare.