All season long, almost everyone here has said that if we make the playoffs, we'll just get blown out and swept by the Warriors or Spurs. Has the emergence of Nurkic changed your mind? Does the addition of a dominant center give us a better shot than you thought a few days ago?
It makes me more excited for the season - but Nurk can't guard all the perimeter shooters and mid range shots we'll give up.
This. If playing against a non-playoff-team like Philly was any indication, then GS would flat-out kill us if they complete even 60% as a team. I think Philly was shooting 80% in the first half. Don't get me wrong: I love me some Nurk, BIG TIME. And I hope we make it to the playoffs. But I'm also realistic about our potential opponents, and what their skill level is overall compared to ours.
We are still going to lose but for the first time all season this team is consistently FUN to watch and if we are fun to watch then i'll be rooting for a playoff spot.
No, sadly. We still lack talent coming off the bench and on defense. But this outcome is better than we ever could have hoped. Nurkic gives a potential third scoring threat/possible star to go with Dame/CJ. Every playoff contender needs at least three stad type players to build a team around. Now we add another low post player who can be a scoring threat (dump Beibs) and an athletic wing who can cancel out the other teams star shooter.... And as my father says.... we are cooking with gravy! I would say that adding Nurkic is a lot like adding a play making center midfielder in soccer. He's a threat to hold the ball and push it up to assist on goals. He can patrol the midfield and dribble in space as well as track back and defend. Basically, influence the game in all areas.
Watching our perimeter defenders last night, basically mailing it in on defense, Whatever Nurk does against a real team won't matter.
I think there's a good chance Nurk puts together a game like last night, preventing a sweep. GS just doesn't have anybody who can match up with him, and they can have a cold shooting night. We pull off one win, which is much, much more than I had hope of until now.
Teams should start attacking his body after they blow past our shitty perimeter defense. Get him in early foul trouble and then get to pummel Fabio
I understand this thread is about Nurkic but bear with me here. I personally think that the team has changed it's total concept of both offense and defense. First on the offensive side the open looks and opportunities that other players are getting around the rim seem to be the kind that will help players like Harkless and Vonleh. I personally am looking for Noah to have a huge game here pretty quick as teams start to look for ways to stop Nurkic. Vonleh is just starting to grow into that awesome physical specimen that he is mentally. Eventually he is going to be the more experienced player and better all around athlete than who he is matched up against. That day is coming is the way i see it. Also Meyers Leonard's game has completely changed since the addition of a true center. Maybe its the plays they are running and maybe it could also be the fact that he is practicing against a beast every time they are in the gym. Whatever it is Meyers Leonard is no longer a joke out there. He is shooting passing and rebounding like a 7 footer that can play the game. He is just making good decisions and plays that make the rest better. Now on defense. The entire team seems to be getting used to the fact that they have the biggest baddest player on the court. They are playing tougher because they know they are tougher now. They are taking a few more chances in the lanes because if they get beat there is a big man in there to keep the other team honest. This is leading to steals and fast breaks. It is also helping Lillard and CJ take the long range shot away from other teams at times. The defensive glass is becoming easier to clean because both the SF and PF position can cherry pick around a solid rebounder in the middle. They are also cleaning up on offensive rebounds they didn't used to get. Of course this leads to second chance points. Ultimately the entire look has changed on both sides of the ball. And i think the entire "Scouting Report" on this team has changed. Teams can no longer simply let Plumlee shoot from outside because they know he isn't going to make it. Teams can no longer always double Dame so he can't make a play. Teams cannot go 5 on 4 every time Aminu touches the ball. They have to stay honest and they have to respect the outside shooters. This is why i think playing Crabbe over Aminu is working so well. Looking at matchups is what the playoffs is all about. The Blazers still would be underdogs against either the Spurs or Warriors but those teams can no longer expect a sweep and will have to take this team seriously. Just my take on it.
I think the instant success of Nurk in Portland makes Meyers look like even more of a joke out there.
This is the height of Nurkic's game. He's excited, playing really hard. He won't be able to keep it up, and there'll be a natural decrease. However, that will be balanced by him actually learning our playbook, and getting into shape. So, the net effect is that he'll be effective in the playoffs (assuming we get there) and beyond.
Not sure i agree with that. Because he is not only playing well but his overall effort seems to be improving.
Meyers is playing better...I know it's hard to fathom but he is...as usual when he makes a mistake out there, it glares at you but he's making fewer since Nurk showed up and I think it's motivation and competition
In the OK game Meyers had 4 straight stops on Kanter. Never have I seen this from him. He will develope.
Meyers is in a current happy place where the defense think they have to guard him like they do Nurkic. Common sense will eventually prevail, and they guard him at the 3 point line, and no where else.
And with the way he has been playing recently. Making mid range shots and passing well while running the court very well also exhibiting very good overall footwork he will make them pay if they do this. Meyers is a smart player. His body needed to catch up to what his brain was telling him to do. this guy is going to be a steal at 10 mil in the next 2 years. He is exactly what this team needs for 16-18 mins a game backing up Nurkic.
I think in a series vs. GS we would be more helped by Durant being out or rusty than we would be with the addition of Nurk. If both Durant is out and Nurkic is beasting like last night, I would probably say we have about a 5% chance of upsetting the Warriors. But hey, that's why they play the games.
I would like to see us make the playoffs. We will probably lose to golden state, but we will make them sweat and it will be fun to watch. I like being an underdog
If we make the playoffs, I want SA. I want Nurkic to dominate Aldridge. If we're gonna get swept, I'd at least like 2 chances for the home crowd to boo his ass.
