Game Thread Game #18 - BLAZERS VS NUGGETS - NOVEMBER 23, 2021 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) TNT

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Chris Craig, Nov 20, 2021.

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Who should replace Neil Olshey if he's fired?

  1. Danny Ainge

    12 vote(s)
    29.3%
  2. Brent Barry

    21 vote(s)
    51.2%
  3. Bill Branch

    2 vote(s)
    4.9%
  4. Other (Specify)

    4 vote(s)
    9.8%
  5. He shouldn't be fired

    2 vote(s)
    4.9%
  1. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    I imagine Powell's defensive rating is affected by the guys he has to guard, bigger and stronger.
     
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  2. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    IMHO, we got Zeller to guard Jokic in the playoffs without getting backed into oblivion. I haven't seen this in action, but that's my theory. So, I guess I'm saying regular season doesn't matter as much with Zeller. However, he's been struggling lately.
     
  3. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I'd think defensive ratings fro each player aren't about individual match-ups as much as it is about rotations
     
  4. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    that might be part of it although if Portland is building their roster to beat Denver in the playoffs they are aiming low. They should be thinking about beating the Warriors and Suns. Zeller won't help with those teams. He might with Utah.
     
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  5. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    OR: Trade CJ for Rubio!
    upload_2021-11-24_15-33-27.png
     
  6. Buffalo Custard

    Buffalo Custard Well-Known Member

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    Serious question: was Billups wrong to go with Nance down the stretch?

    Nurk is a good rebounder - but he is only a good defender in a narrow set of circumstances. He isn't mobile enough to be effective against many line-ups, and he isn't good enough to stop a really good center like Joker. (if Joker had played, we likely lose that game) He has his uses, but is hardly irreplaceable.
     
  7. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

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    nurkic guarded jokic pretty well in the playoffs
     
  8. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    If they were shooting over our guards then I would agree. But for the most part, teams are moving the ball around the perimeter to open 3 pt shooters. By the 3rd pass, there is no defender close. Not saying there aren't some elite shooters who can shoot over a shorter guard (especially at the end of games) but for the vast majority, 3 pt shooters will pass the ball if someone is close. They might be taller but the ball is not always above their head.
     
  9. Buffalo Custard

    Buffalo Custard Well-Known Member

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    I'm not all that impressed with Sexton, but Rubio would be an improvement over CJ for playmaking and defense. Kind of a blue-collar Ben Simmons!

    I will now go hide in my bunker. Please address all bombs "to whom it may concern."
     
  10. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Lest we forget: in last season's Nuggets playoff series, Nurk had a positive plus/minus, Jokic had a negative one. The main thing that cost us that series was that Nurk was perpetually in foul trouble (something he's managing better this year, and perhaps the new rules help). If there were 10 fouls instead of 6 we might have won that series.
     
  11. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Is "blue collar" code for "short, white, unathletic, but can actually shoot"?

    (Agree about Sexton, but I think he might make a chip for later and without him I think no Portland GM would have the nads to make that trade, despite CJ for Rubio actually being pretty fair.)
     
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  12. Buffalo Custard

    Buffalo Custard Well-Known Member

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    Isn't defending without fouling part of being a good defender? Can't blame everything on the refs.

    I'm not saying Nurk is a "bad" defender, but he and Zeller don't provide the mobility and versatility you ideally want in the current NBA.
     
  13. bobf

    bobf Well-Known Member

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    Nurk Defense 2017-2021. Blazers allow -5.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Nurk on the floor than off. That's pretty huge when you consider that when Nurk is ON it's usually vs starters and when OFF it's often 2nd unit.

    Breaking down the source of that difference:
    Fouling Less -1.7 pts/100 (surprisingly, even though Nurk fouls a lot Blazers foul less as a whole)
    Shooting -1.6 pts/100 (opponents shoot worse from every distance, including 3's, but markedly so at the rim)
    Turnovers -1.4 pts/100 (opponents turn the ball over more)
    Rebounding -1.2 pts/100 (opponents get fewer points following an initial missed shot)

    By Year
    2017 -6.1
    2018 -4.9
    2019 +13.8 (injury year, small sample)
    2020 -6.0
    2021 -8.9
     
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  14. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

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    I disagree with pretty much everything you said, except the first question. The numbers say he isn’t very replaceable. So does the teams record/play without him. They are objectively better with him on the court. If you don’t like it or see it, oh well.
     
  15. Buffalo Custard

    Buffalo Custard Well-Known Member

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    I notice you didn't actually answer the question. If you believe Nurk is not replaceable and that the team is better with him on the court, that would imply playing Nance is a mistake.

    I would suggest that using Nance in place of Nurk in many situations is making the team better. If you don't like it or see it, oh well.
     
  16. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    Have to agree with this. Problem was he was in foul trouble a bit much. So if he was on the court yes he did pretty well but because he was out matched he picked up cheap fouls.
     
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  17. bobf

    bobf Well-Known Member

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    Nurk routinely defends every NBA team’s starting lineup where the Blazers hold those top lineups to fewer PPP then when Nurk is off the floor and opposition is weaker. He defends along side CJ and Dame, and undersized Powell. That’s a wide set of circumstances where Nurk defends quite well.

    Despite Nurk being less mobile than others, opponents score less efficiently from every shot distance with Nurk on the floor vs off. Maybe his rim protection allows teammates to play the perimeter more aggressively.

    We also rebound better, foul less, and create more turnovers with Nurk on the floor. So while Nurk has deficiencies you can point to, I believe these are more than offset by Nurk’s strengths. I believe the circumstances are few and far between where the Blazers would be better defensively with Nance in place of Nurk. Neither Nurk nor Nance can play 48 minutes though so you put in each when it’s most suited for them. It’s a nice luxury to have.
     
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  18. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    Nurk is far from my favorite player - but he is a very good defender - can't take that away from him. Unfortunately, until he becomes someone that you can actually play through on the block - he is a role player. A very good role player, but that's about what he is.

    As for closing with LNJ when the situation requires it - that's just the modern NBA. When other teams go small, Nurk's defensive advantage is lessened. Not something I will hold against him - that's the definition of a role player. Star players make the opposing teams adjust. Role players come in and out as the situation requires. If having Nurk was an absolute terror in the post - you make the other team adjust and they can't play small. If they can - you replace him as the situation requires. It's really that simple.
     
  19. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Blazers are trying to become a defensive team. If we obtain a new player that player must be an average or better defender. Priority on better. Kanter is a no.
     
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  20. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    I thought we were told this dude was a difference maker remember.
     

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