What to do with Nurkic?

[blazerkor]

I can tell you that either of these next two games or whenever he has 3 points on 1-9 shooting I will NOT be the one who is down on him. I’d expect more games like that than the one he had against the kings last night. Just not as ready to send him to the HOF guide yet like some around here.

I'm not ready to send him to the HOF either. I don't see the kid going 1-9 though. I guess we'll see but when someone turns in a performance like he did in his first NBA game you have him do a little more the next game. Just see how far you can take it with the young guy. If he does have an off game, I'm sure not going to jump off of his bandwagon.

 

[BlayZa]

hasnt been the bosnian beast for years tbh.

 

[mook]

We really do need a big body to go against Jokic, Embiid and Giannis. You just have to have size for these special occasions. It's kind of like how Shaq kept dozens of 7 foot stiffs employed just because you had to have some size out there or you'd get wrecked.

But we don't need that guy night-in-night-out for most teams. That kind of size starts to be a disadvantage when you have to do all the switching it takes to contain modern three point shooting.

Nurkic is actually paid like the specialist he's become in the modern NBA. The problem is it's hard to bring him off the bench most nights because it's not what he's used to. There's no way he handles that kind of demotion gracefully.

He probably needs to be shipped to another team, and we need to find another Nurkic-type (on a Nurkic-type-contract) to fill that role.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Nurk is who he is. Adjust your expectations if you think he's gonna be an all star. He will have nights when he misses shots he rushes; he will have others when he makes everything.

And he's not overpaid. He's getting paid what an average center gets paid.

Probably the best take i have read here. It's frustrating as all get out though.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Nurk is out of shape at the beginning of the season.

As usual.

Nah. He played quite a bit this summer. I don't see him as out of shape?

 

[Fairly-Hard]

against a slow big he should be fine. if the matchup aint there he should sit some, like last night. No he wont be an all star but it is what it is.

Yep. This is the way i see it. There will be times he needs to be a huge factor. Other times he will have to sit.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

20 pts, 17 rbs from Nurkic tonight. And before you say he is inconsistent (yes he is but) all players are. You should see some of Dame and Ant's splits from highs to lows (games).

 

[wizenheimer]

20 pts, 17 rbs from Nurkic tonight. And before you say he is inconsistent (yes he is but) all players are. You should see some of Dame and Ant's splits from highs to lows (games).

if he had a game like tonight for every game like the Kings game, it would be fine. But that hasn't been his M.O. And of course, it doesn't help that he has averaged playing 52 games a season. That's too many nights in street clothes

 

[Tince]

20 pts, 17 rbs from Nurkic tonight. And before you say he is inconsistent (yes he is but) all players are. You should see some of Dame and Ant's splits from highs to lows (games).

All players aren't as inconsistent as Nurk. In fact, I think very few are.

He was great in the 2nd half tonight. We should be thankful when we get good Nurk.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

if he had a game like tonight for every game like the Kings game, it would be fine. But that hasn't been his M.O. And of course, it doesn't help that he has averaged playing 52 games a season. That's too many nights in street clothes

To be fair, there were fewer games played in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

 

[THE HCP]

I can tell you that either of these next two games or whenever he has 3 points on 1-9 shooting I will NOT be the one who is down on him. I’d expect more games like that than the one he had against the kings last night. Just not as ready to send him to the HOF guide yet like some around here.

Bump

 

[THE HCP]

Not down on him at all. I have realistic expectations for a kid out of HS. You should be asking these people on here why their expectations are so astronomical for a kid out of HS. I did get a chance to meet him yesterday. Seems like a shy quiet good dude. Definitely rooting for him.
just when he goes 5-22 over the next two games I won’t be the one freaking out.

Bump

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Fuck Nurk.

 

[Predator]

if he had a game like tonight for every game like the Kings game, it would be fine. But that hasn't been his M.O. And of course, it doesn't help that he has averaged playing 52 games a season. That's too many nights in street clothes

Also, personally, he can be having a good “box score game” then commit some of the dumbest fouls ever that make him virtually unplayable or foul him out.

16/10 … then commits 6th foul 40 feet away from the basket with 5 minutes left in the 4th type of junk.

 

[inconceivable]

Is Nurk the best center we've had since Arvydas?

Kanter
Whiteside
Plumlee
Lopez
Camby
Oden
Pryzbilla
Sabonis

*Aldridge/Sheed played PF

 

[wizenheimer]

To be fair, there were fewer games played in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

that's not changing the picture much

there were 18 fewer games those 2 seasons and if you assume Nurkic would have played them all without getting injured, his total games would have climbed from 411 to 429. His seasonal average of games played would have gone from 51 to 53. That's still somewhere in the range of 230 missed games. That's essentially missing 3 seasons out of 8

 

[THE HCP]

Is Nurk the best center we've had since Arvydas?

Kanter
Whiteside
Plumlee
Lopez
Camby
Oden
Pryzbilla
Sabonis

*Aldridge/Sheed played PF

I’d give my vote to the guy that lead the ENTIRE NBA in rebounding and blocks.

 

[riverman]

Give the team a chance to gel....Nurk is awesome...he's a double double machine. He and Dame had subpar opening games and came back strong at home...the team is only going to get tighter and better the more time they share a court together. We scrambled together two early wins without having everyone play well....imagine when it's all clicking! I think we're building a winner in Portland

 

[Hoopguru]

If Nurk can play like he did last Jan & Feb, he'll be fine.

He did last night!

 

[BankTeller]

If the Jazz keep winning games, he might have to start giving up players for less than they’re worth.

Makes you wonder if we can eventually get Vanderbilt for the two 2nds like we previously hoped. I think that as long as you have a consistent backup, Nurk’s inconsistencies are quite bearable. The problem is we are relying on Eubanks to be that backup. He’s played admirably on defense through 2 games, much better than last year or even preseason, but how long can he keep this up?

I loved seeing Chauncey pull Nurk out early in the 3rd because he wasn’t playing well, Nurk responded well the next game. With Vanderbilt and Watford to spell for Nurk’s bad nights, I don’t think we talk about Nurk as often when he’s not playing well.

Nurk/Vanderbilt/Watford would also be likely the best C rotation we’ve had since Nurk/Kanter with the potential to be much better defensively.

 

[Hoopguru]

20 & 17 against a 30 million dollar a year Ayton, not to shabby.

 

[HailBlazers]

 

[Mr. Robot]

haters can go fuck themselves

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think Nurk might be getting some better coaching and workouts than he ever has before. Hope he keeps listening to them and doing what he learns in practice. I'm just extrapolating this from how he plays. no other evidence......

 

[riverman]

coach Rogers seems really close with Nurk...I think Nurk loves Chauncey's approach to the game.

 

[lamlor]

I still don't think he fits our defensive minded style. And it still bothers me that the Blazers use 10 seconds of the play clock to post him up then he takes one dribble and kicks out without being doubled. He is also too soft around the rim. Adams showed him how to finish last night and was a bruiser like usual. Nurk has the size to do that, but not the mentality.