Michael Porter Jr. is overdue in so many ways.
Although Porter is having one of his worst shooting streaks of his career, going 3-for-19 from 3-point range, the Nuggets are leading in the Finals. It's also not like he just attempts shots that are fiercely disputed. The Heat occasionally leave him entirely exposed, yet he keeps bricking.
Can Porter get himself together? Normally, he doesn't remain chilly for very long. However, going back to Game 4 against the Lakers, he only managed to go 3-for-10, making this a stretch of four straight games in which he has struggled. Only five times in his career has Porter shot 30 percent or lower in the same number of games.
Porter caught fire on three of those five occasions—once when he broke out in his second season and twice during his rookie season. When was MPJ this cold, though? It occurred in the four games before to his 13 straight absences due to a heel problem. And before that, too? Prior to missing the entire 2021–22 season due to back surgery, he played in six games.
These two incidents are concerning, and Porter hasn't exactly made up for it in this series on defense, primarily suffering in help situations. It's possible that he has trouble reading Miami's attack because of its speed. But there is no denying that his overall production has decreased.
Having said that, history is on Porter's side. He should be due unless there is a physical problem that we are unaware of. And that's both a terrible development for the Heat, who now have to worry about Murray and Jokic, and a huge potential win for the Nuggets.
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