Otto Porter has made significant improvements from last season, and is giving a bulk of the credit for the strides he has made to Paul Pierce. Porter commented on how Pierce has made him a better player, and has been the one to push him towards what he has become.
Following from CSN Washington.
“I need it. I’m a young pup,” Porter said of Pierce. “I need somebody to push me and that’s what he’s doing.” Paul, your thoughts? “I think he’s tired of me getting on him, too. I constantly stay in Otto’s ear pushing him, trying to get him to be the best he can be. He’s responded. He’s starting to play with a little bit more fire.”
Pierce has not only solved the Wizards problem of never sweeping a best-of-7 series in franchise history, but has now solved the Wizards problem of Otto Porter. Porter seemed to be leaning towards becoming a bust, but all of the thoughts and speculation about Porter disappeared once Pierce got to Washington to mentor him. With somebody as smart, talented, and successful as Pierce being there to guide Porter, he could become a player more talented than ever projected.
