For Michael Porter Jr., focusing on the postseason is significantly more important than being snubbed from the Rising Stars Challenge this past week, Mike Singer of the Denver Post writes.
“He knows I deserve to be a Rising Star, be in that game, but I’m gonna be playing in the playoffs, and that’s worth a lot more to me than playing in that game,” Porter said, mentioning that he sent coach Mike Malone a lengthy text after the Rising Stars rosters were announced. “So I’m just gonna keep working, get my rest during that All-Star break and be ready for that second half of the season.”
As noted by Singer, six of the 10 players selected to the annual game for the United States are currently out of the playoffs. Porter has given consistent production in his first NBA season, averaging eight points, 4.4 rebounds and 14.3 minutes through 39 contests.
“I’ll use it as motivation, but I don’t really try to play the game out of anger,” Porter said. “Like I’m not going to go out there and be mad I didn’t make it, so try to go score a bunch of points. Like I just go out there and try to play the game that I love. To not get picked, it definitely adds some fuel to the fire. It is what it is. Man, that’s other people’s decision.”
The Nuggets currently have a 34-16 record through the season’s first 50 games, good for the third-best record in the Western Conference. Porter missed the team’s game against Detroit on Sunday due to an ankle injury, with Denver losing in overtime 128-123.
Here are some other notes from the Northwest Division:
- Trail Blazers president Neil Olshey should take the week off and not make any monumental changes to his team, Jason Quick of The Athletic opines. Portland has been red hot over the past 1-to-2 weeks, led by Damian Lillard‘s incredible production (48.8 points per game in his last six contests). The team has won four straight games and is 7-3 in it’s last 10 outings. “I think it’s definitely a conversation,” Lillard said when asked if this group needs to be kept together to continue its momentum, according to Quick. “We are moving, and it’s against good teams. Golden State, Indiana, Houston, Lakers, Utah … I mean, good wins, so there’s something to be said about it.”
- Nick Kosmider of The Athletic explores various trades the Nuggets could consider ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, labeling Jrue Holiday, Robert Covington and others as potential targets. Denver is 34-16 and sports one of the league’s best offenses.
- The Jazz shuffled their lineup against Portland on Saturday, choosing to start Mike Conley at point guard and bring Royce O’Neale off the bench, ESPN’s Tim McMahon writes. Utah thrived off a Mitchell-O’Neale-Ingles-Bogdanovic-Gobert starting lineup without Conley, who missed several games due to a hamstring strain. “I know how frustrated he’s been because he’s wanted to play,” coach Quin Snyder said. “You hear about someone’s character, and until you go through things with them and you see how they react to that adversity … that’s what he’s demonstrated in my mind.”
I agree, Olshey should keep assuming Lillard will deliver them to wins by averaging nearly 50 ppg. Ever heard of a sample size, Mr. Quick?
Rising Stars should feature more players.
Maybe a 3 team round-robin or 4 team trny.
Well I did like the OP!
Obviously it’s safe to assume that Dame will cool off eventually, and they’re still going to have a hard time making the playoffs this year.
Pelicans should trade holiday in the off season when they know what pick number they’ll actually be receiving
Firstly Lillard is absolutely balling.
Would absolutely never happen but what about a 3 team trade…to happen in Offseason
Blazers: Joel Embid and Buddy Heild
Sixers: CJ McCollum
1st round pick from the Blazers 2020
1st round pick from Blazers 2022
2nd round pick from Kings 2021
Kings: Jusif Nurkic
Blazers get a real 2 superstar team with Lillard and Embid to rival the Clippers and Lakers. They also have Heild Ariza and Collins to fill out that team. Plus Simons and Melo off the bench. With Whitesides expiring deal they can spend a little in FA too.. they give up picks but have young players in Simons Heild Collins and Embid
Sixers if they don’t make the ECF should look to trade either Simmons or Embid. There championship window is now. This trade builds around Simmons. McCollum can ball handle a little bit to take pressure off Simmons but he also runs endlessly off the ball and is a great shooter.
Sixers also get 2 future first round picks to continue adding pieces.
Kings who don’t seem high on Hield anymore get a quality centre in Nurkic. Nurkic fits the Kings timeline, is good defensively, and doesn’t block up the paint offensively. Him and Bagley would make a nice duo.
So they trade Embiid for MC collum and 2 very late Firsts.
Sounds really fair
I doubt Jrue would be a good fit on the Nuggets. They already have combo guards, and he’s not worth what it would take to get him.