Chemistry and Optimism

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
Boob-No-More said:
This is true, but Nurk has spent the last two summers working on his body, trimming the fat and adding strength. He's clearly lighter,quicker and stronger than he was in DEN. Last year was his first as a full time starter. He started 79 games and played more minutes last season than the previous two seasons combined. Of course, a freak injury can happen at any time, but I think the strength and conditioning work Nurk has put in the last two summers reduces the chance he will suffer the kind of fatigue related nagging injuries that seemed to plague him in DEN.

At least, let's hope so, because if not, as you say, we're fucked.

BNM
Click to expand...

Yeah. I hear ya, but oof. Our luck with centers is the reason I'm always cautiously optimistic. lol.
 
oldmangrouch said:
Not to mention the fact that Nurk is not the savior some people pretend he is.
Click to expand...

I totally disagree with this. Last year, in his first season as a full time starter, he completely transformed our defense from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. That alone makes him a savior in my eyes.

Last year, he started poorly on the offensive end. He seemed to be rushing things, trying to get used to his lighter, quicker body and that resulted in a lot of weak, hurried flip shots around the basket and a lot of careless, unforced turnovers. Once he slowed down a bit and stopped trying to do too much, his numbers, both shooting percentages and turnover rate, improved dramatically.

This year, I expect him to continue to anchor our defense, as well as become a legitimate, reliable 3rd option on the offensive end. Now that he has added the threat of a 3-point shot to his game, I also expect to see the offense flow through him in the high post more, like it did back during Nurk fever. Even if he doesn't take/make a lot of 3-pointers, the fact that he might, pulls the opposing center out from under the basket which creates cutting/driving lanes for his teammates.

BNM
 
33333
Boob-No-More said:
I totally disagree with this. Last year, in his first season as a full time starter, he completely transformed our defense from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. That alone makes him a savior in my eyes.

Last year, he started poorly on the offensive end. He seemed to be rushing things, trying to get used to his lighter, quicker body and that resulted in a lot of weak, hurried flip shots around the basket and a lot of careless, unforced turnovers. Once he slowed down a bit and stopped trying to do too much, his numbers, both shooting percentages and turnover rate, improved dramatically.

This year, I expect him to continue to anchor our defense, as well as become a legitimate, reliable 3rd option on the offensive end. Now that he has added the threat of a 3-point shot to his game, I also expect to see the offense flow through him in the high post more, like it did back during Nurk fever. Even if he doesn't take/make a lot of 3-pointers, the fact that he might, pulls the opposing center out from under the basket which creates cutting/driving lanes for his teammates.

BNM
Click to expand...

I'd like to take this time to proclaim what an idiot I was for saying Nurk shouldn't shoot 3's.

Please, to all, accept my apologies.
 
Strenuus said:
33333


I'd like to take this time to proclaim what an idiot I was for saying Nurk shouldn't shoot 3's.

Please, to all, accept my apologies.
Click to expand...

Apology accepted.

But, the key is not how many he takes and makes, it's the threat that he might that opens up the key for his teammates that is the most valuable.

Plus, it opens up the possibility of running the pick and pop off the high screen. Last year the high pick and roll between Nurk and Dame was the staple of our offense. Now, we have an added wrinkle. Nurk can either roll to the basket (especially effective if the other team switches), plus now he has the option to step out past the three point line and knock down that shot. Again, it's not really about him becoming the next Kyle Korver, it's that the threat of the Nurk3™ opens up lots of other options. Now teams, can't just key on stopping Dame coming off the high screen, they need to also be aware of the potential pick and pop with Nurk knocking down the 3.

BNM
 
Plus we are playing faster off rebounds that allowing us get in the offensive quicker and not allowing the defense to set.
 
oldmangrouch said:
I hope you're right. Honestly, I am no longer convinced he is actually an upgrade over Plumlee.
Click to expand...

You can't possibly be serious. I loved Plumlee, but no way in hell do I want to go back to being one of the worst defenses in the league. Plus, Nurk is actually a threat to score the ball beyond 2' from the hoop.

BNM
 
Last game they showed the top 5 teams in the league in term of %age of minutes played last season by returning players. We were not in it.
 
Last edited:
Boob-No-More said:
You can't possibly be serious. I loved Plumlee, but no way in hell do I want to go back to being one of the worst defenses in the league. Plus, Nurk is actually a threat to score the ball beyond 2' from the hoop.
Click to expand...

Actually, running short shots were Plumlee's weakness. He was nervous and found a way to miss every bobble. Much of the cause was Stotts' hyperfast system.
 
SIeepwalker said:
Laste game they show the top 5 team in the league in term of %age of minutes played like season from returning players. We were not in it.
Click to expand...

Need a translator. Do you speak with the robots when you sleep?
 
jlprk said:
Actually, running short shots were Plumlee's weakness. He was nervous and found a way to miss every bobble. Much of the cause was Stotts' hyperfast system.
Click to expand...

Was the system in BRK and DEN also too hyperfast for Plumlee's feathery shooting touch? With Plumlee, if it isn't a dunk, it probably isn't going in (and that includes FTs). If you take away his dunks, his career FG% is .431, which is terrible for a guy whose career average FG distance is 3.6 feet, who has never made a 3-pointer in his entire career. At least in POR he made more than 50% of his FTs. Mike Malone must be making him shoot his FTs too fast, as he only shot .458 from the line in DEN last season.

BNM
 
Boob-No-More said:
Was the system in BRK and DEN also too hyperfast for Plumlee's feathery shooting touch? With Plumlee, if it isn't a dunk, it probably isn't going in (and that includes FTs). If you take away his dunks, his career FG% is .431, which is terrible for a guy whose career average FG distance is 3.6 feet, who has never made a 3-pointer in his entire career. At least in POR he made more than 50% of his FTs. Mike Malone must be making him shoot his FTs too fast, as he only shot .458 from the line in DEN last season.
Click to expand...

All I know is what I saw under the too-fast Stotts system. Unlike most, more stationary centers, Plumlee would run around 15-20 feet out, enabling plays with his passes. Similarly, his scoring consisted of starting 20 feet out, racing his defender pell-mell to the hoop while receiving the pass, and bobbling out the layup because 2 defenders had gotten there first. We would always say, how did you miss that? Yet when I looked at his stats after each game, he averaged as our 2nd or 3rd best player, beating guys getting last-minute glory like McCollum.
 
I'm optimistic about this season. Nurkic and Collins are going to be better. Collins is going to have a bigger role this season. This team has been growing together since 2015 after Aldridge left. Every year a new element is added along with internal development. Slow and steady wins the race.
 
Labinot41 said:
Mhh i Don't know. Last Season i was very dissapointed from him and i had the same oppionion like you, but watching him play in europe for bosnia and in pre Season, he looks different to me. His Shooting improved (especially free throws), also his 3 point Shoot looks nice. But what most impressed me was his ballhandling and the feel for the Game, he's not taking stupid shots anymore and is making good decisions on the court, and on defense he is a Monster, i had flashbacks from the 16/17 Nurk fever, so i try to be a lot more Patience with him this year
Click to expand...
Nurk struggled and the team struggled last year. I believe the chemistry will be better this year and Nurk is going to be great.
 
Here's hoping the team that won 13 straight will play that way at the beginning of the season. Go Blazers! Can't wait for tonight's game.
 
mook said:
Last year Nurk put up basically the same stats as Marc Gasol when he was 25 (Gasol's second year), which was 2 years older than Nurk was last year, and Nurk did it in 9 fewer mpg, in a league that much less emphasizes big men.

Nurk's numbers work out to 20/12 per 36mpg. He just couldn't stay on the court long enough due to conditioning (and having a solid backup).

I love everything I've seen so far in preseason from him, from hitting threes to even better defense to fewer ugly flip shots to him just looking thinner and more mobile. Portland will definitely be in trouble if Nurk misses any significant time, but eh, there's not much we can do at this point.

Dame is coming off a First Team All NBA season, and doesn't look to be losing anything. CJ talked repeatedly on his podcast about drawing more fouls, and has clearly added a little muscle over the summer and is making more interior moves in preseason. Our role players in the front court are worse without Ed Davis, but better in the back court, and Collins is at least a year older and wiser. It's pretty much a wash, but our top 3 players will probably continue to improve. (Yes, even Dame. People forget he's only 28. A lot of guys still improve a little at that age. .
Click to expand...
Yep. Steve Nash was 31 when he won his first MVP award.
 
Labinot41 said:
C'mon bones bro, don't act like you could see what happens in the future. AND, it's only a 2 Game sample size
Click to expand...
I've been saying all summer that Moe would be fine as a PF and Zach was ready for minutes.
 
BonesJones said:
I've been saying all summer that Moe would be fine as a PF and Zach was ready for minutes.
Click to expand...
Im still not buying it on either front yet.
Good two games though. Zach will obviously get minutes, but whether the frontcourt is actually good or not is still relatively up in the air for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Norman Powell sign and trade
2
Replies
43
Views
4K
BoomChakaLaka
BoomChakaLaka
Wizard Mentor
Chemistry 2022-23
Replies
20
Views
1K
THE HCP
THE HCP
OSUBlazerfan
2017 Free Agency (CJ max deal)
Replies
2
Views
289
JfizzleBlazer
JfizzleBlazer
KSF-ERIC
Dame wants Stotts to keep his job, among other things.
Replies
14
Views
533
Hoopguru
Hoopguru
SlyPokerDog
Chemistry vs turnovers
Replies
9
Views
835
jlprk
jlprk

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top