Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic shuddered through last year’s playoffs, seemingly low on nerves.
His stunning playoff debut made a mockery of pressure despite playing in charged environments like San Antonio and Portland. Jokic “showed up,” as Nuggets coach Michael Malone described Sunday afternoon on the eve of the first-round playoff series Denver vs. Utah.
What Jokic and fellow first-timer Jamal Murray went through last year when they came short in the second round in a gripping Game 7 loss to Portland will not be what rookie Michael Porter Jr. experiences in his first go-round. Porter, who was named second-team All-Bubble on Saturday, will have a very different, and advantageous, circumstance when he makes his playoff debut against the Jazz on Monday.
“I think what’s unique about this circumstance is that when I’m a young player making my playoff debut, you do not have to worry about playing in a hostile environment,” Malone said. ‘You play in an empty gym with piped in fals of fan noise, which I think allowed a lot of players at a higher level, because there’s not that added element of, I mean, Portland was a rough crowd . You do not have the same atmosphere, that same feeling. And I think this will help a lot of young players like Michael. ”
Utah is notorious for having one of the toughest environments in the NBA, but that is mitigated by the neutral “bubble.”
Porter has made the most of his starting chances as a result of injuries to Gary Harris (hip) and Will Barton (knee). In seven games in the bubble, Porter averaged 22 points on 55% shots from the field, including 42% from 3-point range. He has also been the Nuggets’ leading rebounder at 8.6 boards per game. A month ago, assuming Denver had a clean bill of health, it was not even clear how much Malone would use the 6-foot-10 stretch forward in the playoffs. Now he is an invaluable component.
“I personally do not really look at specific statistics, but I know I have to be a big part of this team if we are going to go far, as we plan to do,” Porter said. ‘I have big shoes that I have to fill. Thrill and Gary are not playing at the moment, and so for me, I know I had to be a big part of it, so I have to get locked up in every game, be active on the glass, be defensively active, put the ball in the net. being a hoop and being a leader on the floor even though I’m a young boy. ‘
Malone bought Porter a bit of coverage since Jokic and Murray made their respective playoff debuts, both having several years of NBA experience under their belts. As hard as it is to believe, Porter is still a rookie.
“Michael is another cat, he does not come too high, does not come too low,” Malone said praising his young star. ‘He goes out, he just wants to play, he wants to hope. The man is a gymnast. ”
Even more encouraging, Porter was not impressed by the news that he was named the second-team All-NBA bubble on Saturday. Also on that list were stars like presumptive MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard.
“For me, it all starts now,” Porter said. “That’s a cool little performance for those first eight games, but all the real stuff I’m focusing on starts now, and that’s the playoffs.”
Porter said he feels physically great and that it sounds like he’s in a good headspace, even if he’s never had Playoff experience.
“The energy level, the enthusiasm, the way the boys played was a very different level than in the regular season, so I had to witness that (last year),” he said. “Obviously it will play differently, but even though we are in the bubble, we all know that the intensity will go up 10 times.”
