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

Depends on the score.
If it's tied and you need a stop to prevent the go ahead bucket.
Do you want your rim protector in against Westbrick? Or do you want Ed Davis in who for everything he is, he's not known as a rim protector.

It's on Nurk to not float, and stay out of foul trouble.
Stotts is a good enough coach to recognize both.

 

Don't understood this argument. Let's say hypothetically Nurk can alter one shot in the 1st or the 4th.

In scenario 1, Nurk is playing in the 1st and prevents 2 points. He's not there in the 4th and Westbrook scores. Net 0 points. (2 points saved + 2 points not saved)

In scenario 2, Nurk is not playing in the first and Westbrook scores. He's there in the 4th to alter Westbrooks shot. Net effect on the game score is still 0 points.

So to maximize the time he has to alter shots, wouldn't you rather just have him on the floor......more???

 

Yep, that stat right there is why you have to be cautious with Nurkic as he can pick up fouls in bundles and just when you think he is safe, bam, he has his 5th foul with lots of time on the clock.

 

He played 30 minutes tonight.

 

My gut feeling is that he plays a lot better when he is not tired.

 

That's also a factor as he seems to lose wind easier than most. Pacing him seems to be working as he has been instrumental for the team since the all star break

 

Preachin' to the choir.

 

Get what you guys are saying, but 30 minutes should be perfect. But he MUST be in the lineup in crunchtime. Unless he has fouled out, or the Blazers are crushing it, Nurk must be in there till the end.

 

Sure lets just let Nurk get 6 fouls in the first quarter.
Sounds like a way a coach would keep his job.

Glad you're not the HC, because it sounds like you'd keep the assistants from doing their job.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.