Official Game Thread: Nuggets at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Mmm mmm mmmph… these joints delicious, Trae! Where do they even grow these?”

 

“Thank you for reaching The Denver Nuggets Basketball Club. For trade requests regarding Michael Porter, Jr., Press 1!”

So sorry, NBA GMs. Operators are no longer standing by.

There seemed like a short window where teams might have been able to pry Denver’s 2018 first-rounder prospect from their cold, live hands. Spinal disc surgery from his short-lived freshman year at Mizzou gave other Lottery teams pause. Coach Mike Malone hasn’t seemed all that enamored with the finally healthy rookie’s progress, not enough to make him a regular in the rotation a mere 26 games in, much less a starter. Speculation abounded that the avowed raw vegan’s diet was hampering his recovery, that one eventful trip to Outback could change his life.

Everybody involved needed to be patient. Malone, fans, carnivores, Porter himself. Most importantly, Tim Connelly and the Nuggets brass, who assuredly have been offered every second-round pick under the sun for the chance to relieve themselves of persistent questions about 2017’s McDonald’s All-American MVP and Naismith Prep Player of the Year.

Connelly and the Nuggets have had quite a few hits at draft time, and a few whiffs, enough to entertain the folks over at Coors Field. Yes, they drafted Rudy Gobert in 2013. Yes, they also traded him to division rival Utah for Erick Green and cash. Yes, they took Doug McDermott with the 11^th pick back in 2014. Yes, they also took Nikola Jokic in the second round, and got Gary Harris in a multi-player swap involving McBuckets.

Yes, Emmanuel Mudiay went 7^th overall in 2015. Yes, they hit on two of three top-20 picks the next year, Jamal Murray and ATLien Malik Beasley. Yes, they drafted Donovan Mitchell with a late lottery pick in 2017. Yes, they also traded him for Trey Lyles and Tyler Lydon.

Eighteen months after taking a flyer on the now-21-year old Porter, the 6-foot-10 forward remains Denver’s best shot at a grand slam. Malone seems satisfied, for now, with the occasional bunts and ground-rule doubles. But as the Nuggets come into State Farm Arena tonight to face off with the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Altitude TV in DEN), their fans are clearly eager to round the bases right behind Porter.

In his NBA debut back on Halloween, filling in for Will Barton, Porter sunk a three-pointer versus the Pels, made four of six free throws, and was 4-for-5 on 2FGs, totaling 15 points and 4 rebounds over the course of 20 minutes. That treat turned out to be a trick by Malone, as Porter didn’t sniff another 20-minute outing until December 29. He was gifted nearly seven minutes of action when Trae Young and the Hawks ventured into town and upset Denver 125-121 on November 12 (Atlanta has gone 4-22 since).

Finally, MPJ’s first start, at home against the Kings with former Hawks great Paul Millsap inactive. 8-for-10 from the field, 19 points and 6 rebounds as the Nuggets prevailed by 5. His reward? 11 minutes off the bench two nights later in Houston. Malone wasn’t done with the yo-yo job.

The Indiana Pacers found themselves Peach Jammed in consecutive games last week. Porter put the pits to the Pacers on Thursday with a career scoring day. A season-high 25 points in 23 minutes, 9-for-9 on twos, 2-for-3 on treys, plus five defensive rebounds from Porter helped Denver ace the Pacers in Indy. By Saturday night, as Young’s offensive exploits (41 points, 8 assists) juiced the visiting Pacers into a pulp, Malone could only finagle 12 minutes for Porter in Washington, as the Nuggs (24-11) suffered arguably their worst loss of the season, a 15-point loss to the enduringly shorthanded Wizards.

Concerns persist about Porter’s ability to hold up defensively (+11.6 D-Rating on/off, as per bball-ref), less pressing of a concern now that the lithe Barton (29^th birthday today; team-highs of 21 points and 9 rebounds vs. ATL on Nov. 12) has been putting forth the effort to solidify the long-shaky small forward position beside Millsap. Also, a paltry 1.5 assists per-36, despite the limited sample size, is enough to give reasonable pause. Yet it’s not unreasonable to expect a prodigious talent like Porter to get time, on the floor, playing to his self-perceived strengths while honing the less-impressive aspects of his game.

In Atlanta, unlike Denver, he’d be back to catching copious feeds for fullcourt finishes from Young, reminiscent of their days dominating the Nike EYBL scene together not terribly long ago. But the Nuggets, bearing a pleasant 24-11 record (4.5 GB the Lakers) that has them comfortably in the first-round homecourt mix with the Clippers, Rockets, Jazz and Mavs, have little interest in hosting Amateur Hour.

Youth isn’t an issue for the Rocky Mountain upstarts, with six of the team’s nine largest minute-loggers aged 25 or under and the whole roster, save for the cagey cager Millsap, below age 30. Connelly and the Nuggets’ front office effectively brought back the band that went 54-28 and fell a game short of the Western Finals last season, traded this year’s first-rounder to OKC for Jerami Grant, gave Murray his extension (there’s a rule, Brandon Ingram, about Your Fellow Mens’ Pockets I’d like you to check out), handed the injured Bol Bol a two-way deal, and chilled.

It’s not youth that has Porter constrained at this early stage of his career, it’s pure inexperience. There was limited room on the depth chart to advance Brandon Goodwin (8.8 assists, 1.9 TOs per-36 in 16 Nugget games in 2018-19), for example, so the point guard was left to find a new two-way deal this season. This cluster of Nuggets has gelled quite well, and it's up to Malone to figure out how best to get Porter’s talents to fit in. The sense from the outside is that, if he can integrate Porter successfully by season’s end, Denver could become more than a Finals contender on paper.

In Atlanta, a 34-year old Millsap raking in more millions (an expiring $30.5 million) than minutes (25.0 MPG) while averaging 12.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 1.4 APG would be a pariah. In Denver, Sap’s a godsend. Particularly as The Anchorman serves frontcourt complement to Jokic, who checks in quite the anchor himself at 7-foot, 285 pounds.

Teams that are a bit short in the tooth, in theory, tend to be zippier. Not so with a Malone-coached collective that plays at the league’s second-slowest pace (down from 27^th in pace last season), allowing Jokic, the center dishing a team-best 6.4 APG, ample time to work his halfcourt magic. Pick-and-roll is more of a pick-and-stroll (1.02 roll-man points per possession, 6^th-lowest in NBA), but Denver hardly feasts on a diet of post-ups and iso’s.

The Nuggets prefer to have Jokic, Murray and Barton holding the ball until they can find the unkindest cut their opponent will allow (1.36 PPP on cuts, 2^nd in NBA; 8.6% play frequency, 4^th in NBA). The attraction to quick-cutters leave opposing defenses open to offensive rebounds (DEN 25.1 team O-Reb%, 1^st in NBA) and putbacks from Jokic, Millsap (probable, bruised knee) and Mason Plumlee.

Inspiring perhaps for Atlanta, compensating for their All-Star’s defensive deficiencies is what the Nuggets do. The starters, including Millsap, make the effort to get back in transition (54.8 opponent eFG% 4^th-best transition D in NBA) and hold the fort at least until the lumbering Jokic makes his way down on the defensive end of the floor.

Murray, backup Monte Morris, Barton and Harris hassle perimeter shooters, keeping Denver’s opponents cool from beyond the three-point arc. The Blue Arrow’s not renowned for his defensive skill, yet Murray has accounted for 4.9 defended 3FGAs/game, and his 26.7 defended-shot 3FG% is the best in the Association, ahead of Kawhi’s 26.8 percent, among players defending four or more such shots per contest.

It is a close-knit group, but Denver’s starters usually need to be firing on all cylinders. If more than one player if off his game, as was the case in November as Jokic (1-for-8 3FGs vs. ATL) mostly sleepwalked through his 20-point, 7-assist performance against Atlanta, and as Harris (2-for-10 3FGAs in 40 minutes) took matters into his own hands too often, the Nuggets (NBA-low 12 games played vs. teams at .500 or above, 7-5 in those games) can be at risk of falling short when bad teams like the Hawks, Kings, Pels and Wizards are on their games.

The early-afternoon injury report brought some encouraging news for coach Lloyd Pierce, whose Hawks (8-28) had to pull out the win over Indiana without pregame scratches John Collins and Cam Reddish. Collins (back bruise) and Reddish (wrist sprain) were each upgraded to probable for today’s contest, and it’s likely they’ll each return to the starting lineup if they’re cleared to go.

The team’s Game Notes tipped that Pierce’s preliminary plan was to go big again, with Bruno Fernando splitting time with De’Andre Hunter (present vs. IND) and Vince Carter (Half-Man, Half-a-Step-Slow) at power forward, and Damian Jones seat-warming the center spot ahead of Alex Len (team-high 9 rebounds and 16 bench points vs. IND; 63.5 FG% and 8.5 RPG). Jones (tense adductor) is questionable to play today, and Jabari Parker (shoulder) remains doubtful. But if Collins can start and play significant minutes, the Hawks can return to a more customary rotation.

Nugget defenders will try to get out into Trae Young Territory and make looks at the rim tougher, but with Jokic sagging so frequently, it will be important to get timely picks from Hawk centers that produce Young, Goodwin and Reddish rolls to the basket and allow them room to create. Help from Millsap should open up lobs for Collins, who should be eager to string some good games together.

Opponents find outside shots hard to come by from above the break (31.3 opp. 3FG%, 2^nd-lowest in NBA) and on the right corner (31.8 opp. 3FG%, 2^nd-lowest in NBA), but the left corner (40.7 opp. 3FG%, 2^nd-highest in NBA) is where the Denver perimeter defense thaws a little. Swift drives that pressure the rim (65.9 opp. restricted-area FG%, 3^rd-highest in NBA) from the well-defended spots and keep Nugget guards on their heels is important, but so will be motion by Atlanta’s shooters as they await kickouts and swings around the horn. The awakening Kevin Huerter (43.8 3FG% last 2 games; 6 left-corner 3FGAs all season) may find that left corner of the floor to feel like a layup line.

Tonight could be another coming out party for MPJ, another big step up the long Rookie Ladder. Or, it could be just another day where Malone keeps the stone rolled over Porter’s groundhog hole. Despite his promising glimpses, Porter hasn’t shown enough to hint that, through 26 games, he could be a legitimate All-Star by the middle of his second season. Then again, through the first 26 games of his rookie season with the Hawks, neither did his AAU buddy.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

That was lw3! The Nuggets are an enigma in the league. Their style reminds me of an Indy Pacers style where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Not to discredit their stars ️ but more under the radar stars. I kind of like Connelly’s style...and Pritchard..and Mike Malone’s style. Used to watch his dad Brendan with the Pistons back in the day.
 

We got a little momentum going. Looking forward to seeing Hunter. I think he’s learning the nuances of the game and that’s why the ups and downs. But the ups are really up and downs are really down. 

 

Nuggets -7.5  o/u 224

Let’s see if we can string 2 in a row. 

Go Hawks!!!

[JayBirdHawk]

The Gang's all Back! Almost.

 

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

LOL @ Half-man, Half a-step-slow

OK Hawks.  Defend the Nest.

[RedDawg#8]

49 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

The Gang's all Back! Almost.

 

 

I can’t wait for Trae, John Kev and Jabari to all be in the lineup healthy and firing at the same time. 
 

Im sure it’s only happened 3 or 4 times all year. 
 

I want those names to get momentum and chemistry because we can light anyone up when they’re feeling it and on 

[benhillboy]

Jerome is cool but he’s no Kelsey.  I love little shawty.  Love my boy Stinger too but swap him for Brittany Arnold and we cookin with grease over here.

[Spud2nique]

Game time! 

[benhillboy]

Bruno +2

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Bruno filling up the stat sheet.

[lethalweapon3]

As always, Uncle Pawl stays True To Atlanta.

https://www.core4atlanta.com/about-us-1

Quote

 

CORE4 is founded on a dream by the 4 Millsap brothers---a dream to share their talents, training and success to change the lives of players, coaches and parents through athletic achievement, education and life skill development.

Through the coaching and inspiration of their uncle, DeAngelo Simmons, Paul, John, Abe and Elijah, have come together to inspire a new generation with the 4 principles that have guided their personal and professional lives.  At CORE 4, each participant will learn the Power of 4: Character, Community, Commitment and Competition, and how it will lead to life success both on and off the court.

 The Millsap family lives and breathes the Power of 4—just ask Paul, who proudly wears the #4 on his jersey in honor of his belief and dedication to these 4 life-changing principles.

 To share this dream with others, the Millsap 4 and DeAngelo Simmons have built a state-of-the-art facility and developed an exceptional training protocol to share the Power of 4 with players, coaches and parents.

 To the Millsap family, The Power of 4 is more than a statement, a catch phrase, or a number on a jersey…it is a number carried in their hearts to inspire and lift up the lives of all those they touch.

 

https://www.fastcasual.com/news/atlanta-based-barbecue-joint-names-ceo-partners-with-nba-player/

Quote

 

It's been a busy year for This Is It! Southern Kitchen and BBQ, an Atlanta-based Southern home-style restaurant brand. It's named Tamala Fowler as CEO, launched a franchising program, signed professional NBA player Paul Millsap as its first area developer and partnered with a Food Network celebrity chef, according to a company press release...

 

Basketball and barbecue

During his time in Atlanta playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Millsap became a frequent visitor to This Is It! restaurants and was drawn to the brand's emphasis on family and its mix of homemade BBQ, seafood and soul food. As the brand's first area developer for Greater Atlanta, he plans to open at least three locations in the area, with the first of these restaurants to open by mid-2020.

"While I was living in Atlanta, I fell in love with This Is It! restaurants for their delicious food and strong focus on family and Southern hospitality," Millsap said in the release. "As a longtime fan of the brand, I jumped at the opportunity to expand this concept throughout Georgia and am excited for This Is It! to become a large part of my future in the restaurant industry."

 

 

~lw3

[benhillboy]

Jokic look like a tune up match for Lennox Lewis after an injury.

[benhillboy]

Will Barton has that Corey Brewer body. How the heck do they hold up playing that hard being that skinny?

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Trae with the nutmeg pass . . . and 1.

Just now, benhillboy said:

Will Barton has that Corey Brewer body. How the heck do they hold up playing that hard being that skinny?

Have you ever thrown a stick on the ground?   Did it break?

That's how.

[benhillboy]

Damn Jokic about to put Len in the rim with that post up.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Jokic is going to foul all 3 centers out, at this rate.

[Dnice]

No answer for jokic,  I guess his teammates can fall back.

[NBASupes]

Jokic came to play tonight 

[terrell]

Hawks look so much better when mostly healthy..

[benhillboy]

I think Bembry would do decent in a dunk contest.  Better than John (sigh). 

[terrell]

Just now, NBASupes said:

Jokic came to play tonight 

Somebody shouldve took him to Magic City...