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Jamal Murray’s injury has been a major setback for the Denver Nuggets’ aspirations. The absence of its maximum external reference already conditioned the team in the past playoffs and aims to replicate it in this one.
As if that weren’t enough, Nikola Jokic was also injured during Tuesday’s loss to the Utah Jazz. Although structural damage to his knee has been ruled out, his participation in Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks is up in the air.
If he does not ultimately participate in it, the Nuggets will not only need an extra offensive effort from Aaron Gordon, Will Barton and Monte Morris, but also an important step forward from Michael Porter Jr., who is having a fairly low-key start to the season.
During the first four games, Porter has barely averaged 11.5 points with an effectiveness in field goals of 34.6%, almost 20% less than the figure with which he closed the 2020-21 course (54.2%). For this reason, Michael Malone has insisted on the need to involve the forward more, who has also asked for a greater impact on the game.
“We have to start up Michael Porter,” said the technician according to the middle Denver Post. “He’s been in four games and I know he’s capable of playing at a much higher level, from the point of view of shooting, efficiency, rebounding and defense. We have to get more out of it. “
The head coach He noted that his scoring rhythm will sooner or later regain its previous record. However, he stressed the need to contribute in other sections of the game until then. “The shots just aren’t coming in,” Malone added. “I know he is a much better shooter than he has shown. He’s going to get out of this slump, but in the meantime he has to find other ways to make an impact in the game. You can’t let that affect other areas of the game. “
Taking into account that he renewed for the maximum salary just a month ago, it is completely logical that the coaching staff and colleagues ask him for more.
(Cover photo by C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)
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