Michael Porter Jr.’s first season with the Nets has moved nicely previous novelty and into one thing extra concrete. To move coach Jordi Fernández, the label is now not up for debate.
“I mean, he’s an All-Star,” Fernández stated. “He’s played like an All-Star, you just got to watch him play, and how much better he’s gotten.”
The manufacturing backs it up. Porter entered Friday’s recreation towards the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Heart averaging 26.1 factors and seven.5 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 49.5% from the sphere and 41.1% from 3-point vary, numbers that characterize probably the most expansive offensive function of his profession. However Fernández is simply as centered on how these numbers are being generated.
What stands out, he defined, is how a lot Porter’s recreation has grown past the shot-making that first outlined him. The scoring stays elite, however it’s now paired with profession highs in rebounding, free-throw makes an attempt and assists, together with a rising affect on how the Nets compete possession to possession.
That impression isn’t all the time apparent within the field rating. It exhibits up in how Porter strikes defenders, how he works with out the ball, and the way typically his presence bends a possession earlier than anybody else touches it. Fernández admitted his preliminary imaginative and prescient for Porter concerned extra isolation.
That plan didn’t final lengthy.
As a substitute, the Nets have leaned into Porter’s off-ball instincts. Slicing, relocating, sprinting into area. These actions have created benefits for teammates simply as a lot as they’ve created pictures for Porter himself. He’s additionally taken on a career-high taking pictures food plan from deep, launching almost 10 3-point makes an attempt per recreation, a quantity that forces defenses to account for him nicely past the arc.
“When he came in, I was like, ‘Hey Mike, maybe I’ll throw some isos for you,’” Fernández stated. “And he was so excited. And then the season started, and I don’t iso him.”
MOVING LIKE A VET
Terance Mann’s function in Brooklyn has required adjustment. Not simply on the ground, however inside the material of the roster.
“I think he’s learning how to be a young, old man,” Fernández stated.
Mann has been requested to step right into a veteran function sooner than anticipated, changing into considered one of Brooklyn’s regular voices regardless of nonetheless being in his late 20s. With a roster that skews younger and continues to churn resulting from accidents and absences, his presence has mattered past any single stat line.
“He’s done an amazing job with adjusting to a new team, finding his play and at the same time, being a good vet,” Fernández stated. “Showing these guys the way to do things, communicate with them, hold them accountable.”
EXPANDING HIS IMPACT
Noah Clowney’s elevated 3-point quantity hasn’t narrowed his recreation. It’s opened it.
“You still want to do your job and not every day the shots are going to go in,” Fernández stated. “But Noah just impacts the game in so many different ways.”
Clowney’s willingness to shoot has modified how defenses guard him, creating area to drive, end or draw fouls. On the similar time, Fernández emphasised that Clowney’s basis stays on the defensive finish, the place his dimension and exercise have translated into rebounds, contests and second efforts that don’t all the time present up cleanly within the field rating.
“With reps, more minutes, all those things are going to continue to get better,” Fernández stated. “And that’s why we think very highly of Noah.”
