Let's be honest, it's time to play Nurk more...

[Hoopguru]

I've watched the games. He's rarely actually in "foul trouble" (2 in the first, 3 in the second, 4 in the third). There's also a lot of opportunities to bring him back early in the 4th, but he never happens. It's just Stotts's rotations.

No question Terry is using his platoon rotation consistently. He's got it down regardless of who has the hot hand too. Thats ok because I think he wants others to step up and develop some confidence. He is cutting back on Dame & CJ on the court together too and their minutes some.

 

[H.C.]

If you think this scenario is even remotely realistic, you're missing the point entirely.

You're arguing players should be left in regardless of foul trouble or not, because 2 points is just as valuable in any quarter.
I'll repeat myself AGAIN.
In the Detroit game Nurk picked up 2 fouls in 3:37. Which is on pace for 6 fouls in under 12 minutes.
Obviously it's not unrealistic.

In the Houston game Nurk picked up 4 fouls in the 4th quarter alone.
It's not unrealistic.
In the Cavs game Nurk had 4 fouls in under 19 minutes.
How is pointing out what happened unrealistic?

 

[B-Roy]

You're arguing players should be left in regardless of foul trouble or not, because 2 points is just as valuable in any quarter.
I'll repeat myself AGAIN.
In the Detroit game Nurk picked up 2 fouls in 3:37. Which is on pace for 6 fouls in under 12 minutes.
Obviously it's not unrealistic.

In the Houston game Nurk picked up 4 fouls in the 4th quarter alone.
It's not unrealistic.
In the Cavs game Nurk had 4 fouls in under 19 minutes.
How is pointing out what happened unrealistic?

He ended the Detroit game with 4 fouls. The Houston game with 5 and the Cavs game with 4. As long as he doesn't have 6 fouls there are minutes he could have played left on the table.

You can play with foul trouble. It's not a linear thing.

 

[H.C.]

He ended the Detroit game with 4 fouls. The Houston game with 5 and the Cavs game with 4. As long as he doesn't have 6 fouls there are minutes he could have played left on the table.

You can play with foul trouble. It's not a linear thing.

What kind of response was this.
You actually think Nurk if left in the Detroit game wouldn't have picked up a 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th fouls in the first quarter?
Guy he picked up 2 fouls in 3:37 look at the game logs. You're right just leave him, he's on pace to foul out in under 12 minutes. No problem.

 

[B-Roy]

What kind of response was this.
You actually think Nurk if left in the Detroit game wouldn't have picked up a 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th fouls in the first quarter?
Guy he picked up 2 fouls in 3:37 look at the game logs. You're right just leave him, he's on pace to foul out in under 12 minutes. No problem.

You're right. That's exactly how things work. So if he picked up two fouls in 3:37 he would definitely pick up two more fouls in the next 3:37 he plays. The math checks out right?

 

[H.C.]

You're right. That's exactly how things work. So if he picked up two fouls in 3:37 he would definitely pick up two more fouls in the next 3:37 he plays. The math checks out right?

You can't use this argument because then I can do this.

According to you, when he picked up 2 fouls in 3:37 he would never pick up another foul the rest of the game.

 

[Scalma]

Stotts is super conservative when it comes to Nurkic’ playing time, and his rotations in general. He almost never puts Nurkic back in the game before his usual time. I thought Davis was awful tonight, and OKCs second unit didn’t even have a center.

It’s a big reason we never blow anyone out. Stotts rarely rides the hot hand. If it’s a player’s usual time to sit, they sit. The only guys he makes exceptions for are Dame and CJ.

 

[Pinwheel1]

He ended the Detroit game with 4 fouls. The Houston game with 5 and the Cavs game with 4. As long as he doesn't have 6 fouls there are minutes he could have played left on the table.

You can play with foul trouble. It's not a linear thing.

No doubt Nurk is getting better each game, but you have to admit there were games earlier where he made some poor decisions and did not deserve to come back late in the game when Davis was clearly playing well. Why throw him in late when he has been sitting.....if Ed is doing the job?

But yeah I agree he is playing great right now and Terry has increased his minutes...at least in the last 4 games.

 

[B-Roy]

You can't use this argument because then I can do this.

According to you, when he picked up 2 fouls in 3:37 he would never pick up another foul the rest of the game.

This discussion has gone from talking about Nurk to talking about foul trouble in general. Clearly, you don't think coaches should let their players play through foul trouble.

I think limiting minutes because you're afraid someone is going to foul out is essentially fouling them out yourself. Too many times coaches pull their guys in foul trouble only for them to pick up one or two fouls the rest of the game.

You have 6 fouls for a reason, use them.

 

[B-Roy]

No doubt Nurk is getting better each game, but you have to admit there were games earlier where he made some poor decisions and did not deserve to come back late in the game when Davis was clearly playing well. Why throw him in late when he has been sitting.....if Ed is doing the job?

But yeah I agree he is playing great right now and Terry has increased his minutes...at least in the last 4 games.

Sure, but I'm still baffled how Nurk is playing less minutes since March than his season average, even though he's playing some of his best basketball. It's time to start ramping up the minutes and start trusting him a bit more. Stotts seems to have a short leash with Nurk, as opposed to someone like Aminu who gets away with a lot more.

 

[BlayZa]

if he can stay outta foul trouble, im happy to for him to play as much as he can if he's producing like he has been. i love ed davis, but we can find minutes for him as well.

must say, its great to have meyers so far away from the rotation, really frees up our ability to play real players. the big man rotation of nurk, ed, and collins should be taking up the vast majority of the time

 

[BlayZa]

another thing on nurk, it looks like he has now finally gotten used to being a little lighter and adjusted to his old mindset with some new attributes.

 

[hoopsjock]

Here is what I never understood about foul trouble.

Having 6 fouls means you can't play in the game anymore correct? So what is the difference between not playing because of 6 fouls, versus not playing because the coach is sitting you? I keep expecting this backwards logic to change one of these years but it never does. Coaches still stick to the 2/3/4 in quarters 1/2/3 rule and it boggles my mind.

Here's a question, who fouls out more? The player, or the coach that sits him?

If a player fouls out, whatever. Is a player more impactful if he played 26 minutes and ended with 4 fouls or if he played 30 minutes and actually fouled out? I guess that is the question.

One important factor about foul trouble that you seem to be avoiding is how aggressive one can be when not in foul trouble. That is why the 2 fouls in quarter 1, 3 fouls in quarter 2, and 4 fouls in quarter 3 exist.

If Nurk was left in with 2 fouls in the 1st he would be way less effective because he wouldn't be contesting shots the same way as he would with no fouls. The other team would attack him and force the issue so he picks up a 3rd foul. Or they would try to flop on defense to draw a charge. The rule you mention allows players to play aggressively until they reach those points at those times in the game. You want the 4th quarter to be a time where all of the team is playing as aggressive as possible without worrying about fouls.

Since Nurk doesn't usually foul out I think that prooves that strategy is working.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I thought Nurk played the right amount tonight given his foul situation. If he had 1 less foul I think Stotts would have played him more.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

another thing on nurk, it looks like he has now finally gotten used to being a little lighter and adjusted to his old mindset with some new attributes.

This is what I was going to say. I don't watch the games, just highlights so maybe it is more apparent than if you watch every game.

Like the reverse of how your car wears out over time and one day you realize it is an old car. If you drove a new one one day and one with 200,000 miles you'd notice the difference right away

 

[bobf]

I agree with B Roy's premise that Nurk should get more time in general. Regarding foul trouble - if you are purely trying to maximize minutes, I agree with your logic, you don't sub out. But as hoopsjock points out you need to factor in the quality of those minutes. Being in foul trouble limits a player's aggressiveness. Being tired is also a factor. If Nurk is at risk of playing limited minutes due to fouling out, it makes sense to play him more "rested" minutes than "tired" minutes.

Also IMO Nurk is our 2nd best player. With Nurk, Aminu, Harkless our interior defense is elite.

 

[B-Roy]

Nurk is averaging 29 MPG in the last 5 games. His stinkers over the past month have been far and few between. He's up to 19.2 PER and climbing while playing some of the best defense we've seen from a Blazers in years. The game just looks easy for him. Nurk Fever is back baby!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Nurk is averaging 29 MPG in the last 5 games. His stinkers over the past month have been far and few between. He's up to 19.2 PER and climbing while playing some of the best defense we've seen from a Blazers in years. The game just looks easy for him. Nurk Fever is back baby!

Stotts has been doing the "Carrot and Stick" thing with Nurk... and it's working - he's back to dunking and finishing strong.
With the injury to Davis, I'm sure Nurk will continue to get more minutes.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Stotts has been doing the "Carrot and Stick" thing with Nurk... and it's working - he's back to dunking and finishing strong.
With the injury to Davis, I'm sure Nurk will continue to get more minutes.

Injury to davis? Did i miss something???!!!???!!?!!??

 

[riverman]

another thing on nurk, it looks like he has now finally gotten used to being a little lighter and adjusted to his old mindset with some new attributes.

Good coaching deserves a nod....

 

[riverman]

Injury to davis? Did i miss something???!!!???!!?!!??

He was rubbing his hand often in the Clippers game....seemed like he dunked too hard and smacked the rim ....after that dunk he was checking his hand out whenever there was a stop in play...didn't seem to stop him from playing though

 

[SIeepwalker]

He was rubbing his hand often in the Clippers game....seemed like he dunked too hard and smacked the rim ....after that dunk he was checking his hand out whenever there was a stop in play...didn't seem to stop him from playing though

What are you talking about, he sprained his ankle

Learn the injuries then post

 

[tlongII]

Nurk looked great last night. And Stotts finally played Nurk and Collins together. Awesome.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Injury to davis? Did i miss something???!!!???!!?!!??

You did, he bent his ankle completely over.

 

[Elton]

Nurk looked great last night. And Stotts finally played Nurk and Collins together. Awesome.

That duo has quite a lot of potential.

 

[stampedehero]

Since the All-Star Break, he has been phenomenal though. I don't think people realize just how good his been since the break.

Per 36 Stats:
21.5PPG
14.9RPG
2.8APG
2.1BPG
54.5FG%

This is the type of production I was hoping to get from him this season. If he'd be doing this all-season, he'd be a candidate for All-NBA 3rd Team as the Center.

He really looks confident and able to alter his on the spot situations better than he did before. He is what every team needs. A mobile big man who can grab an assist, score ...and tries to defend in the paint.

 

[Rhal]

Nurk is averaging 29 MPG in the last 5 games. His stinkers over the past month have been far and few between. He's up to 19.2 PER and climbing while playing some of the best defense we've seen from a Blazers in years. The game just looks easy for him. Nurk Fever is back baby!

Dame and Nurk have been clicking on what almost seems an unconscious level recently, its amazing to see.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You did, he bent his ankle completely over.

Ffffffffffuuuuuucccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lanny]

This is what I was going to say. I don't watch the games, just highlights so maybe it is more apparent than if you watch every game.

Like the reverse of how your car wears out over time and one day you realize it is an old car. If you drove a new one one day and one with 200,000 miles you'd notice the difference right away

These days, 200,000 miles is nothing. You must be an old timer. For example, I can remember when getting 50,000 miles out of your car was a big deal.