Nurk doesn't get enough credit

[Natebishop3]

The guy is balling out. I posted this in another thread, but I feel like the Bosnian Beast needs some love.

Nurk is averaging 15 and 10 on 53.6% shooting in 24.9 minutes per game. That's really damn efficient.

Per 100 possessions, he's averaging 29 ppg, 19 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.5 steals and he currently has a PER of 24.

He is still only 24 years old.

 

[andalusian]

The guy is balling out. I posted this in another thread, but I feel like the Bosnian Beast needs some love.

I do not think we appreciate how lucky we are. Between him and ZCo - that is a stout defensive anchor - and they both work well on offense too. Just 2 years ago we were running Plum and Ed Davis - both great guys, but the Blazers sure upgraded their big-men rotation.

 

[illmatic99]

I think he's credited fine. His numbers make him look better than he is and his defense has dropped considerably so far this year. Teams are running him off the floor this year by going small. I'm glad we have him to go against teams with other bigs (because good teams need all different kinds of players/attacks) but feel like his impact will be minimized in the playoffs.

 

[hoopsjock]

What are you talking about? I read the Game Threads and all I see is how Nurk is soft and trash.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think he's credited fine. His numbers make him look better than he is and his defense has dropped considerably so far this year. Teams are running him off the floor this year by going small. I'm glad we have him to go against teams with other bigs (because good teams need all different kinds of players/attacks) but feel like his impact will be minimized into the playoffs.

But this is across the league. Not just Nurk.

 

[Scalma]

What are you talking about? I read the Game Threads and all I see is how Nurk is soft and trash.

Slander.

Nurkic is under appreciated and under paid. To think a guy like Steven Adams makes more than twice as much yet never gets criticized by thunder fans nearly as much as Nurk does by some Blazer fans is hilarious to me.

I actually think the under appreciation extends to within the team. When Dame and CJ are struggling, we should be dumping the ball down to Nurk more instead of hoping the other two “shoot their way out.” Nurk looks much improved in the post..feel free to use him. Also, feel free to run more plays through him like when he first got to Portland. It’d be one way to counter all the hedging teams do against our guards. Stotts mentioned this as a point of emphasis this season, but so far I haven’t seen it.

 

[dviss1]

His numbers make him look better than he is

This literally makes no sense.

 

[hoopsjock]

Slander.

Nurkic is under appreciated and under paid. To think a guy like Steven Adams makes more than twice as much yet never gets criticized by thunder fans nearly as much as Nurk does by some Blazer fans is hilarious to me.

I actually think the under appreciation extends to within the team. When Dame and CJ are struggling, we should be dumping the ball down to Nurk more instead of hoping the other two “shoot their way out.” Nurk looks much improved in the post..feel free to use him. Also, feel free to run more plays through him like when he first got to Portland. It’d be one way to counter all the hedging teams do against our guards. Stotts mentioned this as a point of emphasis this season, but so far I haven’t seen it.

Completely agree, in case it wasn't obvious I was being sarcastic.

 

[illmatic99]

This literally makes no sense.

I see a lot of empty stats. His 24 PER seems unsustainable.

 

[THE HCP]

I see a lot of empty stats. His 24 PER seems unsustainable.

There is no such thing.

 

[THE HCP]

I see a lot of empty stats. His 24 PER seems unsustainable.

I'd rather see "empty" stats, than NO "empty" stats.

 

[Scalma]

Another thing that annoys me is whenever the national media talks about Nurkic, the talking point somehow always reverts back to Denver, and Jokic. Like who gives a fuck about Jokic, did we trade Jokic for him? We traded Plumlee, who’s nowhere near the player, and we also got the pick that allowed us to pick up Collins. Huge L for Denver (who btw also traded Donovan Mitchell for fucking Tyler Lydon, but that somehow never seems to get mentioned)

 

[Natebishop3]

I see a lot of empty stats. His 24 PER seems unsustainable.

Do you put any stock in Per 100 possessions?

 

[illmatic99]

There is no such thing.

He's shooting nearly 78% from the line and is putting up a staggering 15/10 in 25 mpg. He's never shot more than 66% for a season. Doesn't seem sustainable. If Terry found him more valuable as his stats indicate, he wouldn't have been glued to the bench in many of these first ten games.

 

[Natebishop3]

He's shooting nearly 78% from the line and is putting up a staggering 15/10 in 25 mpg. He's never shot more than 66% for a season. Doesn't seem sustainable. If Terry found him more valuable as his stats indicate, he wouldn't have been glued to the bench in many of these first ten games.

Or it's as you said and the league is built for speed and shooting. He plays Nurk when he can, but Collins is quicker and a better overall defender. I don't think it's Nurk's fault that he's a traditional center in a league that doesn't have much use for traditional centers.

 

[Scalma]

Nurkic’ PER in Portland

21.1
19.2
24.0

Seems pretty consistent to me.

 

[illmatic99]

Or it's as you said and the league is built for speed and shooting. He plays Nurk when he can, but Collins is quicker and a better overall defender. I don't think it's Nurk's fault that he's a traditional center in a league that doesn't have much use for traditional centers.

You're making my point for me. His stats so far are amazing, and seem like they're primed for a regression (career high FG and FT), but even if they don't his impact will be minimized because he won't be able to actually play. As a result, I think he's getting the right amount of credit.

 

[THE HCP]

He's shooting nearly 78% from the line and is putting up a staggering 15/10 in 25 mpg. He's never shot more than 66% for a season. Doesn't seem sustainable. If Terry found him more valuable as his stats indicate, he wouldn't have been glued to the bench in many of these first ten games.

I'll take 15/10 in 25 min from my center, ANY time, no questions asked. Could give a shit HOW he gets em.

 

[hoopsjock]

He's shooting nearly 78% from the line and is putting up a staggering 15/10 in 25 mpg. He's never shot more than 66% for a season. Doesn't seem sustainable. If Terry found him more valuable as his stats indicate, he wouldn't have been glued to the bench in many of these first ten games.

I will say that Nurk has pretty good form on his free throws. Maybe he corrected a mental issue or maybe since he is trying to improve his shooting range his free throws are becoming easier. As for the minutes thing, everyone's minutes have been down including Dame. Would you say that Stotts isn't trusting Dame to play as much either? A few games he rode Collins in the 4th that doesn't mean that Nurk's stats are hollow.

 

[Strenuus]

I'll take 15/10 in 25 min from my center, ANY time, no questions asked. Could give a shit HOW he gets em.

Ew. No. Don't give a shit, please.

 

[illmatic99]

I will say that Nurk has pretty good form on his free throws. Maybe he corrected a mental issue or maybe since he is trying to improve his shooting range his free throws are becoming easier. As for the minutes thing, everyone's minutes have been down including Dame. Would you say that Stotts isn't trusting Dame to play as much either? A few games he rode Collins in the 4th that doesn't mean that Nurk's stats are hollow.

Good points. Maybe Nurk has taken a leap. Hope so

 

[hoopsjock]

You're making my point for me. His stats so far are amazing, and seem like they're primed for a regression (career high FG and FT), but even if they don't his impact will be minimized because he won't be able to actually play. As a result, I think he's getting the right amount of credit.

I don't have the exact numbers (@Boob-No-More probably does somewhere) but I am pretty sure the last 40-50 games of last year he had similar stats and shooting percentages (maybe not free throws).

 

[Natebishop3]

You're making my point for me. His stats so far are amazing, and seem like they're primed for a regression (career high FG and FT), but even if they don't his impact will be minimized because he won't be able to actually play. As a result, I think he's getting the right amount of credit.

I guess the difference of opinion is in whether he's getting enough credit. Not so much about how he's playing.

I think he deserves more credit for doing so much in such little time. His efficiency is through the roof. I just feel like that needs to be mentioned. I'm curious why guys like Embiid are able to be so effective in this league though.

 

[Stevenson]

Love Nurk, love how he's playing. No more softness around the rim these days. Total stud. Olshey hit a homerun on this one. And no, Nurk does not get enough credit.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Nurk is my 2nd favorite Trail Blazer. I have always been partial to the underappreciated though. Mo was my 2nd favorite previously.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

My only real issue with Nurk this year has been his defense seems to have regressed, but after some discussions it could just be the “new”, NBA.
Sometimes I absolutely wish he would just dunk the ball or go at guys like whiteside, but honestly he’s overall been really good, maybe their 2nd best player overall all year.

It was a concern to me he kept getting benched in the 4th quarters.

 

[illmatic99]

My only real issue with Nurk this year has been his defense seems to have regressed, but after some discussions it could just be the “new”, NBA.
Sometimes I absolutely wish he would just dunk the ball or go at guys like whiteside, but honestly he’s overall been really good, maybe their 2nd best player overall all year.

It was a concern to me he kept getting benched in the 4th quarters.

Refs have neutered defenders this season. Even Gobert seems less effective.

 

[Scalma]

Good points. Maybe Nurk has taken a leap. Hope so

It’s not inconceivable that a 24 year old big has taken a leap, especially one that’s only been playing the sport for 9 years.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I'll take 15/10 in 25 min from my center, ANY time, no questions asked. Could give a shit HOW he gets em.

I'm just glad we didn't over pay the guy. He's on a good contract. In the future Collins will make him good trade bait.

 

[Blazer Freak]

I guess the difference of opinion is in whether he's getting enough credit. Not so much about how he's playing.

I think he deserves more credit for doing so much in such little time. His efficiency is through the roof. I just feel like that needs to be mentioned. I'm curious why guys like Embiid are able to be so effective in this league though.

I think any knowledgeable basketball fan can see what is trending in the NBA. As much as people shit on Olshey, this offseason he fought back against wholesale changes and had faith in small adjustments and internal improvements to improve on our weaknesses. In today's NBA, no center Nurk's size is playing 30+ minutes a game. The speed of the game today puts him in a bad spot with the wrong matchup. Olshey got him back on a very nice (and potentially moveable deal) and banked on the improvement of ZC to cover for Nurk's lack of speed.

I think we have to look at Nurk/ZC almost as co-starters at the C, as their minutes will vary based on the matchup. There are some teams (and also just some points of each game) where Nurk isn't a good fit and Zach is gonna play big minutes. There are other teams that can't handle Nurk's size and that lets him feast.

Olshey/Stotts really should be commended on the adjustment this season. If we could just have another big that was consistently playable at the 4/5 (or just the level of play we got from Meyers last night), we would be in an awesome position moving forward.