The foot feels good. The defensively versatility is needed. And as for Otto Porter Jr.’s willingness to play?
“I’ve been off for 10, 11 months,” Porter said following Wednesday’s morning shootaround in Oklahoma City. “I need to play as much as I can.”
Technically, the Bulls only sat idle for nine months between the time the NBA paused the 2019-20 season for COVID-19 and began this preseason. But given that the veteran forward only logged five games in March in his first action in four months because of a lingering foot injury, Porter’s overall point remains.
In a normal year, Porter, like many veterans, may have looked at the preseason as a necessary evil. But this is far from a normal year.
“Haven’t played in so long it feels good to finally get back out there, go up and down the court again,” Porter said. “Body feels really rested and strong.”
Porter played in just 14 of the Bulls’ 65 games last season. If you’re wondering where increasing his availability ranks on coach Billy Donovan’s to-do list, well, it’s high.
“With the amount of time that he's missed, certainly him being healthy is the most important thing to our team,” Donovan said earlier this month.
Porter gets it. As one of the most complete two-way players on the roster at a position where wing depth isn’t exactly screaming out as a team strength, he knows this is an important season -- even if it wasn’t a contract year for him.
But it is.
“I want to make sure my body is feeling good,” Porter said. “I told coach (Donovan) I would be willing to do whatever it takes to get this team where it needs to be. However many minutes I play, I’m going to try and go out there and play as hard as I can in those minutes.’’
In the first two preseason games against the Rockets, Porter did what he does. He averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 8-for-14 and keeping defenses spread.
But the most encouraging part has been him feeling good through close to 44 minutes of action.
“We’re still figuring things out as a team. My job is to go out there and do whatever I can, whether that’s pick-and-pop or space, initiate the offense, bring the ball up myself,” Porter said. “But I think defensively he (Donovan) wants me to be all over the place.’’
Download
Download MyTeams Today!
"much" - Google News
December 11, 2020 at 03:00PM
https://ift.tt/3gWk8QE
Porter prioritizing playing 'as much as I can' in preseason - NBC Sports Chicago
"much" - Google News
https://ift.tt/37eLLij
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Porter prioritizing playing 'as much as I can' in preseason - NBC Sports Chicago"
Post a Comment