Game Thread GAME# 57: BLAZERS @ MAGIC - FEBRUARY 23, 2017 - THURSDAY, 4:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[ripcityboy]

I was so tired last night I fell asleep in my chair for the second half. Going to have to catch the replay on CSN later. My bad.

 

[Strenuus]

Frustrating game most of the way but yes, then Lillard Time happened. Best thing, though, is how great Nurkic is with hardly any practice with the team. I think he'all be a game changer in playoffs. His passing is so good, we don't miss Plumlee at all. I feel badly for Plumlee though. His career is screwed.

Thats what I gathered from watching the box score throughout the game. Saw we were down 9 with 8:40 left...

Nurkic did look like he did well. So happy. I think he'll do just fine for us for years and in the playoffs whenever we get there.

One question, though: How is Plums career screwed? That's intriguing.

 

[Strenuus]

Neil has been nothing but awesome. He drafted Dame and CJ. He got Lopez for Aldridge and we made second round. When we lost Aldridge, he put together a team that could still make second round. This year, he addresses needs by getting a guy (Turner) who can defend the guards CJ and Dame can't and a big body (Ezeli). Ezeli doesn't work out so he gets us Nurkic. Neil has been fantastic.

Confused how we got lopez for Aldridge? Was that a mistype or am I confusing something?

 

[SIeepwalker]

Confused how we got lopez for Aldridge? Was that a mistype or am I confusing something?

I believe he meant for Aldridge as in, to help him.

 

[Denny Crane]

Nurkic has one of the lowest dribbles I've seen in a big man...he can back about anybody down in the post

 

[tlongII]

I agree with whomever said he reminds you of Duck. He's a little taller and a little less beefy, but has a similar style. I think we hit the jackpot with Big Nurk. I've always been in favor of having an imposing front line and he will help us get there.

 

[crandc]

I think the trade deadline passing will help. When a team is struggling no one knows if he's still going to be around. It's a distraction. Now, the guys know they will be here rest of the year so try to have the best season they can. They can relax, no worries about having to pack up, move their families, learn a new team, or maybe they stay but their buddy goes. Just play ball. Or as we say in Oaktown, just win baby.

 

[Driew]

Nurkic has one of the lowest dribbles I've seen in a big man...he can back about anybody down in the post

The lower the dribble the more of a butt to back the defender down.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think the trade deadline passing will help. When a team is struggling no one knows if he's still going to be around. It's a distraction. Now, the guys know they will be here rest of the year so try to have the best season they can. They can relax, no worries about having to pack up, move their families, learn a new team, or maybe they stay but their buddy goes. Just play ball. Or as we say in Oaktown, just win baby.

Well, it didn't seem to help Crabbe.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Neil has been nothing but awesome. He drafted Dame and CJ. He got Lopez for Aldridge and we made second round. When we lost Aldridge, he put together a team that could still make second round. This year, he addresses needs by getting a guy (Turner) who can defend the guards CJ and Dame can't and a big body (Ezeli). Ezeli doesn't work out so he gets us Nurkic. Neil has been fantastic.

Neil hasn't been perfect, but he's shown that he recognizes backups who are starter quality but aren't because they haven't been given the right chance:
Aminu
Harkless
RoLo
BB27
Ezeli (ouch!)
ET

This is an invaluable skill. He's also very, very good in the margins (getting incremental value) and at drafting. Not so good at choosing free agents. He's a risk taker, which is a great thing - though this is a source of criticism from some, especially recently.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Neil has been nothing but awesome. He drafted Dame and CJ. He got Lopez for Aldridge and we made second round. When we lost Aldridge, he put together a team that could still make second round. This year, he addresses needs by getting a guy (Turner) who can defend the guards CJ and Dame can't and a big body (Ezeli). Ezeli doesn't work out so he gets us Nurkic. Neil has been fantastic.

We have had a lot worse than Neil

 

[BBert]

We have had a lot worse than Neil

Amen, Brother.

And we've had a lot worse than Stotts, IMO.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I know this sounds dumb, but watching Nurkic offensive rebound, and then go back up and score makes me feel like I've just returned from the desert and I've had my first drink of water.

A lot of people liked this post, so I have a question. Who was the last person to do this consistently?

RoLo?
LaMarcus?
Sabas?
Wallace?

I'm thinking RoLo <- Wallace/Sabonis, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

 

[Blazinaway]

Well, it didn't seem to help Crabbe.

he is becoming the "Invisible man", he's been playin but you'd hardly know he's out there

some folks think he really has some value with his contract? hell, what do I know maybe he does but I sure don't see it, is effort level sucks IMO

 

[Pinwheel1]

A lot of people liked this post, so I have a question. Who was the last person to do this consistently?

RoLo?
LaMarcus?
Sabas?
Wallace?

I'm thinking RoLo <- Wallace/Sabonis, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

It takes a quick leaper, or a wide body. Going way back..... Moses Malone was one of the best. Not a the tallest or the most athletic, but for his era he was wide and was hard to move. and hard to get around.

Now a days those wide bodies struggle to stay on the floor (i.e Hibbert) because most of them are too slow to guard anyone that isn't under the basket. Nurk needs to stay in shape. That is my biggest concern for him...injuries and gaining too much weight. Skills won't be the issue.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Amen, Brother.

And we've had a lot worse than Stotts, IMO.

PatterNash and McAssClown

 

[Pinwheel1]

he is becoming the "Invisible man", he's been playin but you'd hardly know he's out there

some folks think he really has some value with his contract? hell, what do I know maybe he does but I sure don't see it, is effort level sucks IMO

Granted he has not had a great February (only 1 of 8 has been good) But he was productive in January with games of 30, 24, 23, 18.
Bench scorers are going to be inconsistent.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Neil has been nothing but awesome. He drafted Dame and CJ. He got Lopez for Aldridge and we made second round. When we lost Aldridge, he put together a team that could still make second round. This year, he addresses needs by getting a guy (Turner) who can defend the guards CJ and Dame can't and a big body (Ezeli). Ezeli doesn't work out so he gets us Nurkic. Neil has been fantastic.

Cmon, king. You know because he's told us, that Dame was already the pick before he got here. We made the second round because Pual and Ginger got hurt. Lopez was here before Aldridge left. Turner is a horible fit for our offense, and if you sing the National Anthem, you'll see more court time than Ezeli. He drafted Leonard, then re-signed him.

Drafting CJ and getting Nurk have been great

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Turner is a horible fit for our offense,

Nurk and Turner are going to have better chemistry than Nurk and CJ.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Nurk and Turner are going to have better chemistry than Nurk and CJ.

You think? CJ seems to have embraced Nurks ability

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You think? CJ seems to have embraced Nurks ability

Nurk is going to make things easier for everyone but the biggest beneficiary will be Turner. It will open his midrange game and once the defense collapses it will open the wings for Dame and CJ. I fully believe that Turner's assists will go back up to what they were in Boston.

 

[BBert]

PatterNash and McAssClown

Maurice Cheeks (shudder/twitch)

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Wow...pleasant surprise. I see that the Blazers won last night. I tried to watch, but they play such ugly, lazy, mindless rat ball, I just can not stand to stay tuned in. Come on Draft, I need something to look forward to.