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The incredible postseason run for the Denver Nuggets came to an end on Saturday after losing Game 5 to the Los Angeles Lakers 117-107 in the Western Conference Finals.
Denver became the first team in NBA history to overcome two separate 3-1 series deficits and win a series twice in the same postseason. Unfortunately, the Nuggets were unable to duplicate that success versus the Lakers and will now begin their offseason.
Despite falling short of their goal of winning the championship, the Nuggets viewed the playoffs as a great building block for the future. Their postseason run also proved to be a great learning opportunity for players on the team, like rookie Michael Porter Jr.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic said after the loss on Saturday that he believes the postseason served as a tremendous learning opportunity for Porter as he completed his first season in the league.
I think he surprised a bunch of the players and a bunch of the teams with his shot ability and just how talented he is. I think it was a great experience for him just to see every possession matters. I think he learned a lot during these playoffs.
Porter turned in a strong first year with the Nuggets. He was named to the NBA All-Seeding Games Second Team for his play and showed flashes of his potential. Porter struggled at times on defense, though, and will need to improve in that area moving forward.
Overall, the Nuggets are certainly encouraged by what they saw from Porter this season as he projects to be a key player in the future. With additional growth and improvement, Porter looks to have a bright future in the Mile High City.
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