I've been as optimistic with this roster as I can. In fact, I'd say I censor about 40 per cent of what I say, just to give this squad the benefit of the doubt. We have a long season and anything could happen.... I try to keep in that frame of mind. But if you want anything more from me, you're going to have to start giving me mind numbing doses of SSRI's and keep telling me to repeat the lines "What your seeing.... Is not what is happening." Repeating it, over and over again, till George Orwell pops up out of the ground.
Last year Nurk put up basically the same stats as Marc Gasol when he was 25 (Gasol's second year), which was 2 years older than Nurk was last year, and Nurk did it in 9 fewer mpg, in a league that much less emphasizes big men. Nurk's numbers work out to 20/12 per 36mpg. He just couldn't stay on the court long enough due to conditioning (and having a solid backup). I love everything I've seen so far in preseason from him, from hitting threes to even better defense to fewer ugly flip shots to him just looking thinner and more mobile. Portland will definitely be in trouble if Nurk misses any significant time, but eh, there's not much we can do at this point. Dame is coming off a First Team All NBA season, and doesn't look to be losing anything. CJ talked repeatedly on his podcast about drawing more fouls, and has clearly added a little muscle over the summer and is making more interior moves in preseason. Our role players in the front court are worse without Ed Davis, but better in the back court, and Collins is at least a year older and wiser. It's pretty much a wash, but our top 3 players will probably continue to improve. (Yes, even Dame. People forget he's only 28. A lot of guys still improve a little at that age. Dame's PER has improved every single season he's played. Because he's a 4 year college guy people have been predicting he'll level off for at least 3 seasons now. They sleep.) If we can get some reliable shooting from Sauce/Curry/Baldwin, I don't see us doing worse than 50 wins and a decent chance of home court in the first round.
I agree that Nurkic shares qualities with Marc Gasol and may turn out as well. Stotts wants his centers to play like what we used to call forwards. Nurkic is one of the few 260-pounders who can do that.
I agree Nurk looked pretty good against Utah. Still don't like when he puts the ball on the floor but hey Gobert looked like shit when he tried it as well. Centers just need to limit their dribbling as much as possible. It rarely ends well. Same with Aminu, who looked fine with the three ball but not when he put the ball on the floor. I have never seen anyone shoot so many air balls on drives to the basket as Chief. It does look like we upgraded our 3 pt shooting and I think Terry will be playing even more small ball this year.....maybe extending it to PF as well. Maybe using Harkless, ET or Jake? Even Utah went small the other night using Crowder often as their PF. ET can cover PF's in that scenario.
This is true, but Nurk has spent the last two summers working on his body, trimming the fat and adding strength. He's clearly lighter,quicker and stronger than he was in DEN. Last year was his first as a full time starter. He started 79 games and played more minutes last season than the previous two seasons combined. Of course, a freak injury can happen at any time, but I think the strength and conditioning work Nurk has put in the last two summers reduces the chance he will suffer the kind of fatigue related nagging injuries that seemed to plague him in DEN. At least, let's hope so, because if not, as you say, we're fucked. BNM
I totally disagree with this. Last year, in his first season as a full time starter, he completely transformed our defense from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. That alone makes him a savior in my eyes. Last year, he started poorly on the offensive end. He seemed to be rushing things, trying to get used to his lighter, quicker body and that resulted in a lot of weak, hurried flip shots around the basket and a lot of careless, unforced turnovers. Once he slowed down a bit and stopped trying to do too much, his numbers, both shooting percentages and turnover rate, improved dramatically. This year, I expect him to continue to anchor our defense, as well as become a legitimate, reliable 3rd option on the offensive end. Now that he has added the threat of a 3-point shot to his game, I also expect to see the offense flow through him in the high post more, like it did back during Nurk fever. Even if he doesn't take/make a lot of 3-pointers, the fact that he might, pulls the opposing center out from under the basket which creates cutting/driving lanes for his teammates. BNM
33333 I'd like to take this time to proclaim what an idiot I was for saying Nurk shouldn't shoot 3's. Please, to all, accept my apologies.
Apology accepted. But, the key is not how many he takes and makes, it's the threat that he might that opens up the key for his teammates that is the most valuable. Plus, it opens up the possibility of running the pick and pop off the high screen. Last year the high pick and roll between Nurk and Dame was the staple of our offense. Now, we have an added wrinkle. Nurk can either roll to the basket (especially effective if the other team switches), plus now he has the option to step out past the three point line and knock down that shot. Again, it's not really about him becoming the next Kyle Korver, it's that the threat of the Nurk3™ opens up lots of other options. Now teams, can't just key on stopping Dame coming off the high screen, they need to also be aware of the potential pick and pop with Nurk knocking down the 3. BNM
Plus we are playing faster off rebounds that allowing us get in the offensive quicker and not allowing the defense to set.
You can't possibly be serious. I loved Plumlee, but no way in hell do I want to go back to being one of the worst defenses in the league. Plus, Nurk is actually a threat to score the ball beyond 2' from the hoop. BNM
Last game they showed the top 5 teams in the league in term of %age of minutes played last season by returning players. We were not in it.
Actually, running short shots were Plumlee's weakness. He was nervous and found a way to miss every bobble. Much of the cause was Stotts' hyperfast system.
