When the Wizards drafted Otto Porter in 2013, people expected he would develop into a player who could do a little bit of everything, just like he did at Georgetown. You know, he’s score a bit, help on the glass, make some passes here and there, play solid defense, etc.
The thing is, now he isn’t just doing a little bit of everything, he’s doing a lot of everything. His performance on Wednesday against the Celtics is the latest and finest evidence. Porter racked 34 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals, and 3 three pointers and finished +18 on the night. He’s the first player in NBA history to ever do that in an NBA game.
Of course, it’s important to remember Porter probably wouldn’t have been quite so dominant if Jae Crowder (the guy who usually would have guarded him) and Al Horford (the guy who usually would have contested him at the rim and for rebound chances) had played last night. Still, this was where a player like Porter is usually supposed to blend in the background and let other players shine. Instead, he found a way to dominate and he didn’t have to change his approach to do it.