Denver Nuggets interim coach David Adelman defended his choice Saturday to keep forward Michael Porter Jr. out of the game's decisive final minutes. Adelman cited Porter Jr.'s lack of impact during play and the difficulty of re-inserting a player who had sat for extended time.
Porter Jr., who is paid $179 million over five years, played just 26 minutes in the team's 112-110 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. He scored only three points on four shots and finished with a team-worst minus-8 plus-minus rating. One report noted Michael Porter Jr. brought almost zero energy to the game.
Adelman stated postgame he felt it was "unfair" to sub Porter Jr. back late after sitting for long stretches. He clarified his stance on player rotation, saying, "If Mike comes out, and he plays, and he’s engaged defensively, he’s knocking down shots — Michael will be out there, just like everybody else in that locker room."
Star center Nikola Jokic echoed the coach's sentiment, urging his teammate to be more aggressive but adding that winning takes precedence. "If you’re not going to be engaged right now, then you’re not supposed to be playing this sport," Jokic said regarding Porter Jr.'s performance. He emphasized the need for players to "sacrifice" and support the team goal of winning, regardless of individual statistics or playing time.
While Porter Jr. struggled, guard Russell Westbrook provided a spark off the bench. Westbrook contributed to the win by helping bring the team back after a large deficit. He helped push Denver over the top with a flurry of late-game shot-making and defensive activity, proving to be Russell Westbrook proved to be the only reliable bench player for the Nuggets in this game.
The decision highlights Adelman's strategy: prioritizing the five players performing best at that moment. This approach paid off in Game 1. However, the team will need Porter Jr. to contribute significantly going forward. Experts ask Why MPJ cannot go MIA if Denver wants to win the Clippers series. His shooting and scoring ability are necessary for the Nuggets' playoff success.
Adelman maintained that the players who finished the game "did their job" and secured the win defensively. This performance-based rotation appears likely to continue throughout the series.
