So when should we expect Nurk, CJ, and Zach back?

[blazerkor]

8-5 with CJ/Nurk (and the team was still learning each other)
10-8 without CJ/Nurk

So we did not improve our record by subtracting them. 10-8 is worse than 8-5. I think our record would be improved by two games if they had remained healthy. That's 20-11, good for 4th in West. If we won a third game, we'd be 21-10 good for 2nd in the West. This team will be exceptional when Trent and Kanter return to bench. Before the injuries, we had three bench players in double figures. That is insane depth.

I guess we'll see, that's a lot of conjecture but that's something you specialize in. If I were to make one super fan out of you and @AldoTrapani that fan would be the most realistic fan in sports history. Here's a fact. Our number 2 and 3 players have been out and we've seen very little drop off. While CJ and Nurk were in we got two wins against teams that now have winning records (Lakers and Warriors) 2 and 5 against teams above .500. Since they've been gone we've gone... 2 and 5 against teams above .500. There isn't a serious drop off and CJ was playing the best ball of his career. It's not a matter of CJ and Nurk not being talented, it's a matter of fit with other personnel and also coaching.

 

[BonesJones]

I guess we'll see, that's a lot of conjecture but that's something you specialize in. If I were to make one super fan out of you and @AldoTrapani that fan would be the most realistic fan in sports history. Here's a fact. Our number 2 and 3 players have been out and we've seen very little drop off. While CJ and Nurk were in we got two wins against teams that now have winning records (Lakers and Warriors) 2 and 5 against teams above .500. Since they've been gone we've gone... 2 and 5 against teams above .500. There isn't a serious drop off and CJ was playing the best ball of his career. It's not a matter of CJ and Nurk not being talented, it's a matter of fit with other personnel and also coaching.

What above .500 team have we beaten other than Philly (who's a really good matchup for us) without Dame and CJ?

 

[blazerkor]

What above .500 team have we beaten other than Philly (who's a really good matchup for us) without Dame and CJ?

None I said 2 and 5 against teams above .500 before CJ went down (Lakers and Warriors) and the same 2 and 5 after (Philly being the only two). I'm going off of current records, not records at the time (the Warriors were .500 when we beat them but are .545 now).

 

[wizenheimer]

8-5 with CJ/Nurk (and the team was still learning each other)
10-8 without CJ/Nurk

So we did not improve our record by subtracting them. 10-8 is worse than 8-5. I think our record would be improved by two games if they had remained healthy. That's 20-11, good for 4th in West. If we won a third game, we'd be 21-10 good for 2nd in the West. This team will be exceptional when Trent and Kanter return to bench. Before the injuries, we had three bench players in double figures. That is insane depth.

Portland was 7-5 when CJ got hurt, and they trailed at halftime; won the game without him. in other words, 2 games over .500 with healthy CJ/Nurkic. And 3 games over.500 without them. See? you're not the only one who can split ridiculous hairs in order to spin a story

 

[BigGameDamian]

Probably before one of them gets injured, Again!