[jwplayer 6glm3uZc]
Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. on Saturday was named to the NBA All-Seeding Games Second Team based on voting by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
The experience of seeing time on the court prior to the start of the playoffs proved to be a valuable opportunity for Porter. The Nuggets have dealt with several injuries, clearing the way for Porter to be the starting small forward in his seven games played at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Porter averaged 22.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and one steal during the seeding games, shooting 55.1% from the field. He said on Sunday that he felt comfortable on the floor and is feeling good physically before the Nuggets begin the playoffs on Monday against the Utah Jazz.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said that he is curious to see how Porter handles his first playoff experience. He likes Porter’s demeanor and even believes that young players like him have an opportunity to play well in the playoffs since there are no raucous crowds to deal with.
Michael is a different cat. He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He goes out there and he wants to play; he wants to hoop. The guy is a gym rat. I think what is unique about this circumstance is if I’m a young player making my playoff debut, you do not have to worry about going on the road playing in a hostile environment.
You’re playing in an empty gym with piped in, fake fan noise. I think that has allowed a lot of players to play at a higher level because there is not that added element of — I mean, Portland [last year in the playoffs] was a rough crowd. You don’t have that same atmosphere, that same feeling so I think that is going to help a lot of young players, like Michael.
The emergence of Porter during the restart has been very crucial for the Nuggets. Porter knows that he will need to elevate his play even more in order for the Nuggets to have a chance to make a deep run and he appears ready to make a contribution.
The Nuggets and Jazz tip-off Monday at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
[lawrence-related id=21460,21419,21133]
[vertical-gallery id=14282]