Mike Malone on Michael Porter Jr. report: Be careful what you read

Michael Singer: Asked Michael Malone about the Michael Porter Jr. report. “I would say don’t listen to those reports. … They didn’t come from me, they didn’t come from Tim Connelly. They didn’t come from anybody within the Denver Nuggets. I would …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Pregame show is live! With some BIG topics to discuss.
✅ MPJ 🔜?
✅ Spotlight
✅ Longest win streak of the season on the line
youtube.com/watch?v=LBlOVI…8:30 PM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
Nuggets: *no updates on MPJ*
MPJ: hey, gonna be seein some people in Grand Rapids next week
Woj: MPJ is gonna be seeing some people in Grand Rapids next week
Agent: MPJ is good to go for next week
Nuggets: why didn’t everyone pay attention to the absolutely nothing we’re saying? – 7:45 PM
Michael Singer @msinger
Asked Michael Malone about the MPJ report.
“I would say don’t listen to those reports. … They didn’t come from me, they didn’t come from Tim Connelly. They didn’t come from anybody within the Denver Nuggets. I would say, be careful what you listen to and what you read.” – 7:37 PM
Katy Winge @katywinge
Coach Malone just informed the media pregame not to listen to any of the reports that have been going around about Michael Porter Jr. He said none of them are coming from within the Nuggets organization. – 7:36 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Nuggets coach Michael Malone on report MPJ will be cleared this week: “I would say don’t listen to those reports. They didn’t come from me, they didn’t come from Tim Connelly, they didn’t come from anyone within the Nuggets. Be careful what you listen to.” – 7:34 PM
Michael Singer @msinger
The thing to remember with MPJ: His re-integration back into the lineup shouldn’t be as difficult as Jamal Murray’s. Porter is a floor-spacer and a rebounder. Murray touches the ball on most possessions. I think it’s going to be a lot more seamless with him. – 7:10 PM
Michael Singer @msinger
There is significant optimism Michael Porter Jr. could return sometime in March, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told @denverpost.
“There’s a very good chance he could be back if he continues to progress,” Bartelstein said.
denverpost.com/2022/02/27/mic…7:00 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
The Nuggets are 35-25.
Jokic is averaging 26/14/8 on 57% shooting and leading the league in triple-doubles.
MPJ is coming back next month. Murray might come back in April. pic.twitter.com/2Po88uHdyH6:41 PM

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Huge for the Nuggets if they get both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back and they are productive.
They could be that rare lower-seeded team that no one actually wants to see in the postseason. – 6:35 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., is progressing to be cleared for on-court contact within the next week, freeing a path for him to return to the lineup sometime in March, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @Priority Sports tells ESPN. Story: es.pn/3voBX4g6:33 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NEW episode of Pickaxe and Roll, presented by @DKSportsbook:
Thoughts on Denver’s fifth straight win:
-Monte has turned it up a notch
-AG was scoring from everywhere
-Meh Joker still impacts the game
-Strong Boogie REALLy impacts the game
Plus……MPJ? denverstiffs.com/2022/2/27/2295…3:46 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Still thinking about that MPJ Instagram comment like an insane person. – 3:13 AM
Michael Singer @msinger
#Nuggets up 38-30 after one against the Kings. Buried six 3-pointers, dished 12 assists.
And then you realize they played 10 guys in the first quarter, without Zeke/MPJ/Jamal. When healthy, this team can go 13 deep. – 9:39 PM

More on this storyline

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. is progressing to be cleared for on-court contact within the next week, freeing a path for him to return to the lineup sometime in March, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN on Sunday. -via ESPN / February 27, 2022
Porter underwent lumbar spine surgery three months ago, a procedure that’s allowed him to return to the floor moving and shooting pain-free in recent weeks. Once Porter is cleared for contact, it’s expected it’ll just be the matter of a final ramp up until his return in March. -via ESPN / February 27, 2022

Mike Malone on Michael Porter Jr. report: Be careful what you read

Optimism exists that Michael Porter, Jamal Murray could return this season

Adrian Wojnarowski: There’s a lot of optimism about how he’s rehabbing and talking to Tim Connelly their president and Mark Bartelstein, Porter’s agent, they love the way he has come along. And there’s optimism we are going to see him again this …

Adrian Wojnarowski: There’s a lot of optimism about how he’s rehabbing and talking to Tim Connelly their president and Mark Bartelstein, Porter’s agent, they love the way he has come along. And there’s optimism we are going to see him again this season. And of course, Jamal Murray, another player with an ACL injury. They’ve not ruled out the possibility that he could be back later in the year. So you look at a Denver team that could possibly add back I think Michael Porter Jr. and we’ll see with Jamal Murray, and that’s a very formidable team in the playoffs.

Source: YouTube

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Michael Singer @msinger
Monte Morris, asked about the potential returns of MPJ and Jamal at some point. He didn’t rule out it, said those guys are going hard in rehab. Said if they can return, they’re ready to “rock and roll.” – 1:33 AM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
Murray and MPJ laughing and shooting the shit on the bench is great to see. Be even better when they’ve got jerseys on and are doin that in games. – 11:51 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Michael Porter Jr. getting shots up pregame. He’s ramped up his workout from even a couple games ago. pic.twitter.com/hjJxEfMLkz9:44 PM

Katy Winge @katywinge
Jamal Murray getting some 1-on-1 in pregame. This is the closest to live basketball I’ve seen from Murray – really, really good progress. pic.twitter.com/CqfNBY7ZcE9:43 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Jamal Murray pregame going 1-on-1. He’s nine-months post-ACL surgery. pic.twitter.com/lWDU47Mi4W9:42 PM

TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBA
Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, PJ Dozier, JaMychal Green, Vlatko Cancar, and Bol Bol are out for the Nuggets tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/MAXwRMmjV46:51 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
It’s funny how we were thinking about the MPJ injury and surgery then versus how we view it now. Not sure the Nuggets knew everything immediately and wanted to be purposefully vague.
But the biggest indication of a return: they never applied for a disabled player exception. – 4:07 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. have now missed a combined 75 out of 84 possible games, which is 89% of the season to date. – 2:37 PM

More on this storyline

Michael Malone: I’ll be honest, I really don’t go there a whole lot (mentally). I’m more of a day-to-day guy and trying to figure out a way to help this team stay afloat and become more consistent. I speak with Jamal all the time. We have a great relationship. And I’ve told him many times — and I think it’s important for him to hear it from me — (that) there’s absolutely zero pressure for him to come back this year. At the same time, I tell him, ‘Listen, if it’s in the cards for you to come back and play this year, great. If it’s not in the cards for you to come back and play this year, great.’ He’s gonna come back when he is ready. And as I mentioned last night, that doesn’t mean just from a physical standpoint — ‘Hey, the doctors have cleared Jamal Murray (down the line).’ But that’s (only) one part of it. The other huge part of it is the mental, the confidence, right? He is embracing and accepting that, so there’s zero pressure from me, from (Nuggets president of basketball operations) Tim Connelly, from anyone on our team, our training staff. Jamal Murray, honestly, will come back when he is ready. -via The Athletic / December 31, 2021
Michael Singer: Michael Malone says on @AltitudeSR that Jamal Murray is still “a ways away.” Said he doesn’t want any fans thinking Murray will be back in January or February. Organization has gone to lengths not to put pressure on him. There remains no timeline on Murray’s return. -via Twitter @msinger / December 21, 2021

Optimism exists that Michael Porter, Jamal Murray could return this season

Adrian Wojnarowski: There’s a lot of optimism about how he’s rehabbing and talking to Tim Connelly their president and Mark Bartelstein, Porter’s agent, they love the way he has come along. And there’s optimism we are going to see him again this season. And of course, Jamal Murray, another player with an ACL injury. They’ve not ruled out the possibility that he could be back later in the year. So you look at a Denver team that could possibly add back I think Michael Porter Jr. and we’ll see with Jamal Murray, and that’s a very formidable team in the playoffs.