Nuggets Roundtable: Should Denver reduce Michael Porter Jr.'s minutes?

The Nuggets had a chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead on the Heat Sunday at Ball Arena, but a lack of focus, execution, and discipline from Denver allowed the Heat to even the NBA Finals at 1-1. What needs to change for the Nuggets in Game 3? Also, should Denver reduce Michael Porter Jr.’s minutes and how can the Nuggets get Jamal Murray going again?

What needs to change for the Nuggets in Game 3?

Adam Mares: The Nuggets have to get stops. Game plan discipline and execution was a problem in game two, as was Miami’s shot-making from the perimeter. The good news is that the Nuggets score at a great clip whenever they manage to get stops so the solution can compound for the Nuggets. If they take away the easy buckets that the Heat generated off of Denver’s defensive breakdowns then they will win the game.

Harrison Wind: The Nuggets need to remember what’s gotten them to this point. It’s been incredible offense and execution from Nikola Jokic and Denver’s starters, but also discipline, focus, and a locked-in mindset that was nowhere to be found in Game 2. That’s what was so disappointing and surprising about the Nuggets’ first home playoff loss. Denver looked relaxed to open the 1st quarter, and Miami too advantage. The Nuggets’ defensive focus was embarrassing. Denver suffered too many breakdowns. Communication was lacking. There was little intensity. That’s not going to be good enough against Miami, a team that doesn’t make many mistakes.

Brendan Vogt: It’s all about discipline on defense. Denver’s offense was fine in Game 2. The miscommunicated switches and overreactions to Miami’s drives sealed their fate. The Nuggets can play championship-level defense when locked in. We’ve seen it this postseason. But they’ve got to defend better than they did Sunday night, or this is all for naught.

Should Denver reduce Michael Porter Jr.’s minutes in Game 3?

Mares: I don’t think that you go into game three with that as your default setting but everyone on the team has to be prepared for that to be an option. Porter need to make shots. The Heat have done a good job of keeping him out of rhythm and keeping Denver’s offense from getting the ball popping. He’s probably not going to get a lot of chances so he has to take advantage of the few three-point opportunities that arrive. And he’s got to lock in on off-ball switches.

Even still, there is a chance that Bruce Brown is a better option. It’s the playoffs. In game two, Duncan Robinson got hot and stole minutes from Gabe Vincent and Kevin Love. It happens. And if that is what Michael Malone decides to do, Porter has to accept it and contribute as much as he can in whatever minutes he plays.

Wind: The Nuggets should open Game 2 with the same rotation that they’ve had in these playoffs — I think Porter deserves that after the strides he’s made this season. But if he still isn’t making shots and isn’t up to the task defensively, that’s when Michael Malone should make the move to play Bruce Brown more in his place. Porter is 3-17 from 3-point range in the Finals. He’s 6-27 (22.2%) from distance over his last three games (since Game 4 vs. Lakers). I’m starting to wonder if Porter is either sick or injured. The only times this season when he’s been in a slump like this is when that’s been the case.

Vogt: If you need to close with Bruce Brown, so be it. That’s a feature of this roster. But I would give Porter a significant stretch of runway before adjusting. He was great in Game One. He’s been solid all season. And at any point in time, these shots could start falling. I hope they stay the course.

How can the Nuggets get Jamal Murray going again?

Mares: There are technical changes Denver can make to free him up. Running Murray off of multiple screens will help free him and force Butler to switch or trail. But most of all, Murray just needs to find the proper balance of being aggressive and letting the game come to him. In game two, I thought he read the flow wrong early and it was part of what contributed to the Nuggets falling behind. But I trust that he will figure things out as this series goes on.

Wind: Murray got smothered by Jimmy Butler in Game 2, and Denver has to find a way to free him up from that matchup. With Kevin Love in the starting lineup, Butler is freed up to guard Murray and he’s very capable of limiting him. The reason for optimism is that Murray has faced a slew of defenders in these playoffs and has always come out on top. It typically just takes the Nuggets a game to come up with an effective strategy.

Vogt: Murray faced some version of this obstacle in the first two rounds. He burst through to the other side on each occasion. In addition to his sheer scoring prowess on this stage, Denver has time now to examine Miami’s rotation change and how to attack the new personnel. His return to form is all but inevitable.