Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has been pushing Michael Porter Jr. to take on more responsibility in running the offense and to return to the active cutting style that helped him thrive in Denver, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
Porter seemed to embrace that direction on Sunday, finishing with 34 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the second straight game in Brooklyn’s victory over Washington, marking the team’s second win of the season.
“He has a plan for him to get better and to show things that he hasn’t done before,” Fernandez explained. “And right now for him to buy into finishing his cuts, not dancing, not overdribbling, putting pressure on the rim, everybody benefits from it.
“And guess what? Usually when he does it, he’s the one benefiting from it. So we want him and need him to play like this, because that’s just contagious and good for the group. So, very proud of him.”
Porter didn’t shy away from taking responsibility for Friday’s loss to Orlando, acknowledging he went 1-for-6 late in the game.
He told Lewis that he’s still adjusting to the Nets’ approach, but emphasized that Brooklyn has bigs who can reward his movement without the ball.
“When I was in Denver, everyone assumed that I was just getting some of those cuts because of Nikola (Jokic) and his vision. But I’ve always been a cutter, a guy that likes to find easy buckets, use my size around the basket,” Porter said.
“So coming over here, it’s something that I have been intentional about. (Nic) Claxton and Day’Ron (Sharpe) can really pass the ball and they found me for a lot of easy points around the rim. So I got to keep doing that.”
Nets Notes: Porter, Saraf, Lottery, Demin https://t.co/ySyOXVTj6Y pic.twitter.com/UsBOMH2pWt
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