What a difference - Bear Nurkic making a BIG impression

[Wizard Mentor]

I absolutely love what Nurk brings to both ends of the floor, but I recently figured out why I like the team so much more with Nurk on it:

Passing and Cutting.
We had some of it with Plumlee in the high post, but it wasn't very effective. After all, it's not like Plums is a threat to shoot or back in from that position. So, all of the cutters were guarded, and the offense sputtered.

With Nurk in the low post, the defense has a choice: get picked apart by cutters, or single team Nurk. Nurk LOVES hitting cutters or players abandoned on the perimeter, but Nurk also LOVES being single teamed and Actually Looks Forward to using his size and strength to back them in. We have seen that he can effectively back in the best post defenders in the league.

tl;dr The ball moves more often and more profitably with Nurk as part of the offense - this is why I am re-energized by the team.

p.s. The Blazers suck a lot less on defense with Nurk, too, which is what I've been really hoping for.

 

[tester551]

That other video with Nurkic is cool too. Says he's never played with anyone who had the ability to motivate him and impact his game the way Lillard has.

That's a nice sign. Hopefully it continues.
Just remember, we are still in the honeymoon period.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I see dame, CJ, Nurk, and Harkless as our core going forward. We're missing a power forward. A power forward that doesn't need the ball, but can rebound and play defense. That really shouldn't be that hard to find. Usually those two things translate from college to the pros.

Assuming we're picking somewhere outside the top 12, a guy like Bam Adebayo. Not only does he fit a need, but he's also got a rather high upside, so it wouldn't just be filling a need. I love his athleticism, his energy, and how he crashes the offensive boards.

I don't know Scalma, I think we need much more to go along with those other 4. I think we need an excellent shooter at PF who can also play D. Otherwise Vonleh should be fine. He can play D and rebound.

 

[Scalma]

I don't know Scalma, I think we need much more to go along with those other 4. I think we need an excellent shooter at PF who can also play D. Otherwise Vonleh should be fine. He can play D and rebound.

Yeah I mean that would be ideal, but is it an absolute must for us to be successful?

Vonleh plays defense and rebounds in spurts. If he consistently played at the level he's shown flashes of, he'd be the answer.

 

[rotary111]

Curious if any of you stat guru's have been tracking our defensive numbers compared to the rest of the league since Nurk arrived.

 

[stampedehero]

Who will crown him "The Second Sabonis" He has such a pure touch in his passing skills, great reaction towards the board and quick feet for a blocking center.

 

[Eastoff]

Ohhh yeah see!!!??? Now I a mon to you. When did you buy it? before me? But passing off the karma onto me huh? What comes around goes around!!!

I think we should burn our jerseys together and both sport Nurkics.

I spent too much money on it to burn it.

 

[theprunetang]

I spent too much money on it to burn it.

No worries. I still have a Telfair jersey. Haha

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah I mean that would be ideal, but is it an absolute must for us to be successful?

Vonleh plays defense and rebounds in spurts. If he consistently played at the level he's shown flashes of, he'd be the answer.

Define "successful". If we got an Ibaka or a Draymond Green type PF to go along with Harkless and Nurk in the front court.......we could be very successful. (assuming we tinker a little with our bench) I think I prefer that scenario over a scoring SF who might need to take the ball out of Dame and CJ's hand. I have done a 180 on my wish list. (Since we added Nurk)

Get the right starting PF and we are good to go.

Ibaka was the 24th pick and Green was the 35th.....

 

[jlprk]

Pretty sure utility center means does a little bit of everything. The writer mentioned the OKC game where he had 6 assists and 5 blocks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_player#Basketball

In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades... basketball uses the terms tweener and swingman to refer to a player who can play two or three different positions, with more specific terms being combo guard, forward-center, and stretch four.

Wikipedia has an article for every link. Good old Wikipedia really covers the waterfront. It's not your father's Britannica.

 

[riverman]

Ohhh yeah see!!!??? Now I a mon to you. When did you buy it? before me? But passing off the karma onto me huh? What comes around goes around!!!

I think we should burn our jerseys together and both sport Nurkics.

what if Kawhi demands to be traded here and wants number 11?

 

[BBert]

Ohhh yeah see!!!??? Now I a mon to you. When did you buy it? before me? But passing off the karma onto me huh? What comes around goes around!!!

I think we should burn our jerseys together and both sport Nurkics.

Please don't.

Please.

 

[riverman]

I really want an old school Drazen Petrovic jersey and an old school Rod Strickland jersey....then an Andre Miller jersey..working my way up since I've never bought a player's jersey before. As to new jersey's...I love the white sleeved ones...good luck jerseys..I'm really surprised no journalist has asked Nurkic about Petrovic...the guy is a legend in Bosnia.

 

[PDXFonz]

Ohhh yeah see!!!??? Now I a mon to you. When did you buy it? before me? But passing off the karma onto me huh? What comes around goes around!!!

I think we should burn our jerseys together and both sport Nurkics.

I think to be safe neither of you should be allowed to buy one!

 

[Mediocre Man]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_player#Basketball



Wikipedia has an article for every link. Good old Wikipedia really covers the waterfront. It's not your father's Britannica.

I get it. I just think because he talks about all the different things he did in that game, he used it that way

 

[Orion Bailey]

Define "successful". If we got an Ibaka or a Draymond Green type PF to go along with Harkless and Nurk in the front court.......we could be very successful. (assuming we tinker a little with our bench) I think I prefer that scenario over a scoring SF who might need to take the ball out of Dame and CJ's hand. I have done a 180 on my wish list. (Since we added Nurk)

Get the right starting PF and we are good to go. (assuming we tinker a little with the bench)

Ibaka was the 24th pick and Green was the 35th.....

I am exactly with you. I think we are good to go with the right PF and some tinkering of the bench. I do think Turner is part of the core too though. We will still need his perimeter ball handling at times, and he was turnign the corner to becoming quite efficient and learning the system before he got injured. I think he will be just what we need as a 6th man.

what if Kawhi demands to be traded here and wants number 11?

Wake up. Just wake up. The odds of me burning the jersey is better than him demanding a trade here. And I am not burning it on the serious, I never would. lol.

I think to be safe neither of you should be allowed to buy one!

Hey, don't start making us out to be the jinxspeeds of the forum now. I am seriously thinking about it and I think that if I don't he will fail. If I do he will succeed, so its almost a must do I am thinking.

Meyers was doomed from the get go. Nurk has already shown foot skills and court awareness that Meyers doesn't even dream about, because he doesn't even know they exist.

The failure was not our jinx, it was our poor assessment of Meyers' future as an nba player! lol

 

[Pinwheel1]

I am exactly with you. I think we are good to go with the right PF and some tinkering of the bench. I do think Turner is part of the core too though. We will still need his perimeter ball handling at times, and he was turning the corner to becoming quite efficient and learning the system before he got injured. I think he will be just what we need as a 6th man.

I agree on ET. Even though Harkless and Turner are two different types of SF's, I put them in the same category when considering a PF to go alongside them. Meaning neither are dependable outside shooters, thus the need to find a PF who is.

Now if we did elect to go with a scoring SF then we can get away with a PF who is more focused on just D and rebounding. Either will work with Nurk, I just think since we already have Harkless ( and ET) getting a good stretch 4 might be easier.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I don't know Scalma, I think we need much more to go along with those other 4. I think we need an excellent shooter at PF who can also play D. Otherwise Vonleh should be fine. He can play D and rebound.

Loving Nurk!!

 

[BonesJones]

I agree on ET. Even though Harkless and Turner are two different types of SF's, I put them in the same category when considering a PF to go alongside them. Meaning neither are dependable outside shooters, thus the need to find a PF who is.

Now if we did elect to go with a scoring SF then we can get away with a PF who is more focused on just D and rebounding. Either will work with Nurk, I just think since we already have Harkless ( and ET) getting a good stretch 4 might be easier.

There's some dudes that could fit that billing that we'll have a chance to take. Markannen, Lydon, and Leaf come to mind.

 

[lawai'a]

I agree on ET. Even though Harkless and Turner are two different types of SF's, I put them in the same category when considering a PF to go alongside them. Meaning neither are dependable outside shooters, thus the need to find a PF who is.

Now if we did elect to go with a scoring SF then we can get away with a PF who is more focused on just D and rebounding. Either will work with Nurk, I just think since we already have Harkless ( and ET) getting a good stretch 4 might be easier.

vonleh is currently at 35 percent and did shoot 48 percent from the college 3pt. line on 1 attempt per game.

 

[Pinwheel1]

vonleh is currently at 35 percent and did shoot 48 percent from the college 3pt. line on 1 attempt per game.

There is no reason that Vonleh can't be the guy. Other than he has not yet shown he can. But he has the body and he has a nice stroke. But time is running out. Regardless I would like to get Leaf or Markannen to see if they can develop.

 

[tester551]

There is no reason that Vonleh can't be the guy. Other than he has not yet shown he can. But he has the body and he has a nice stroke. But time is running out. Regardless I would like to get Leaf or Markannen to see if they can develop.

I don't get the love for Leaf or Markannen. From what I see, they don't contribute much aside from being shooters.

For my money, I'd much rather have Swanigan. He shoots just as good from 3, and REBOUNDS! Also, I think he is a much better defender than the other two.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't get the love for Leaf or Markannen. From what I see, they don't contribute much aside from being shooters.

For my money, I'd much rather have Swanigan. He shoots just as good from 3, and REBOUNDS! Also, I think he is a much better defender than the other two.

I also have a feeling that being older and stronger, he would be more likely to be able to contribute right away than the other two.

 

[tester551]

I also have a feeling that being older and stronger, he would be more likely to be able to contribute right away than the other two.

Not older... just MUCH stronger

Markkenen - 19.7 years old | 7'0" | 225 lbs - (wingspan & standing reach not measured)
Leaf - 19.8 years old | 6'10" | 220 lbs - (6'-11" wingspan & 9'-0" standing reach)
Swanigan - 19.8 years old | 6'9" | 247 lbs - (7'-3" wingspan & 9'-0" standing reach)

 

[Pinwheel1]

Leaf is already up to 225 but I get that he looks like a highschool kid. He looks weak. But if we are looking for a potential star and he adds another 20 lbs, this kids has all types of skills. And lets face it none of the three look ready now anyways. Check out his highlights and disregard his baby face. (And disregard the Kobe intro)

 

[Scalma]

Adebayo for me. Dude has Dwight Howard's shoulders. The size difference between the two isn't much either. I hear the Trob comps but Adebayo is more skilled and maybe most importantly, seems willing to accept who his role. Trob still thinks he's a star that's just being held back by coaches. Adebayo is a team player. He would thrive next to Nurkic cleaning up all the junk.

 

[TBpup]

To have a big guy that can score in the post and hit the open man out of any cut or off a double-team is invaluable. The Blazers ran so much offense through him towards the end of the game and to such good results. They should do that more and more.

Be Aware of the Big Bear!!

 

[Trackjack]

It has been the differents for this team because everyone is feed off of him. When he has the ball everyone knows all they got to do is get open and he will pass them the ball.

 

[illmatic99]

You know who I think could be a decent PF next to Nurk?

Plums.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

We need to hire Sabs as our big man coach.