NURKIĆ MAKES TOP 10 OF ESPN'S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER RANKINGS

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Oct 30, 2017.

Moderators: 6

Moderators

  1. BrianFromWA
  2. Chris Craig
  3. Darkwebs
  4. Ed O
  5. PtldPlatypus
  6. SlyPokerDog
Page 1 of 2
  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,210
    Likes Received:
    145,434
    Trophy Points:
    115
    by Casey Holdahl
    Posted: Oct 30, 2017

    It’s been an uneven start to the season for Jusuf Nurkić. In his first six games, the 7-0 center from Bosnia and Herzegovina is averaging 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks in 26.0 minutes, which aren’t bad numbers by any stretch, but he’s shooting just 39 percent from the field and is averaging 3.7 turnovers and 3.5 fouls per game. So there’s still quite a bit of room for improvement.

    But even though he hasn’t duplicated this season his performance during his first 20 games with the Trail Blazers, at just 23 years old, Nurkić is already one of the best international players in the NBA according to ESPN. In their most recent ranking of players born outside of the United States, Nurkić comes in at No. 9, which is 12-spots better than his ranking last season…

    Nurkic showed flashes that he's capable of becoming the third cog the Blazers so badly need. An untimely injury and doomed opening-round matchup with the Warriors in the playoffs last season may have delayed enthusiasm, but there's reason to be optimistic in the Northwest as the Blazers outscored teams by 11.3 points per 100 possessions in more than 400 minutes with Nurkic on the floor alongside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. That pair was a whopping 15 points per 100 possessions worse when sharing the floor without Nurkic.​

    At No. 9, Nurkić comes in ahead of Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams at No. 10 and behind Boston’s Al Horford at No. 8. Nurkić also ranks higher than the likes of Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons (No. 22), Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson (No. 19), Toronto’s Serge Ibaka (No. 17), Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (No. 14) and Miami’s Goran Dragic. ESPN’s Top 3 internationals are Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Nurkić former teammate.

    http://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/nurkic-makes-top-10-espns-international-player-rankings
     
    SlyPokerDog, Oct 30, 2017
    #1
  2. Jon

    Jon mr. 300

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2015
    Messages:
    1,770
    Likes Received:
    2,528
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Jon, Oct 30, 2017
    #2
    SlyPokerDog likes this.
  3. GrandJury

    GrandJury Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2017
    Messages:
    1,139
    Likes Received:
    445
    Trophy Points:
    83
    I just hope this guy doesn’t cost max money
     
    GrandJury, Oct 30, 2017
    #3
  4. SportsAndWhine

    SportsAndWhine Dumbass For Hire

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    2,140
    Likes Received:
    3,105
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It'll depend way more on what he does in April than what he does in October.
     
    SportsAndWhine, Oct 30, 2017
    #4
    BonesJones likes this.
  5. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2014
    Messages:
    22,403
    Likes Received:
    23,014
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I don't see a max in the future for him at this point. A real good contract yes. Max no.
     
    kjironman1, Oct 30, 2017
    #5
  6. Strenuus

    Strenuus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2013
    Messages:
    50,512
    Likes Received:
    35,810
    Trophy Points:
    113
    You do realize, given how common sense works in the world, that he only gets max money if he actually earns it, right? So if he gets it, that means HOLY SMOKES HE DID GOOD FOR US.


    Nice try, though. Back to the drawing board, I suppose. :dunno:
     
    Strenuus, Oct 30, 2017
    #6
  7. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2013
    Messages:
    21,056
    Likes Received:
    10,366
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Probably in between 4/70 and 4/98
     
    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94, Oct 30, 2017
    #7
    GrandJury likes this.
  8. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2008
    Messages:
    26,643
    Likes Received:
    20,336
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Poster Boy
    Location:
    Blazerlandia
    First the bad: Nurk's hands of stone and turnovers were evidenced last season. He has no touch around the basket, at all. He just tosses the ball in the general direction of the hoop. Sometimes it goes in; usually it doesn't. He often tries to play too fast; and he seems to play better when he slows down. His focus at the foul line isn't great. It seems like half of his fouls are of the stupid bonehead variety. The decision making on some of his passes is not good.

    The good: I expect Nurk will improve in all those areas over the next year. He just turned 23 years old, and has a few more years before he hits his peak. He seems to want to be good; and he seems to be willing to work. Nurk looks to have the size, strength, tools, ego and work ethic to become a top big man in the league. His outside shot and touch look good, so that should improve. His passing is stellar, even if his decision making throwing some of them is bad.

    I can't even think of the last time we had a center as good as Nurkic is right now; and he's only going to get better.

    Wish we could sign Zach Randolph to maybe teach him some touch around the basket though.

    :cheers:
     
    BBert, Oct 30, 2017
    #8
    Wizard Mentor and BonesJones like this.
  9. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Messages:
    63,206
    Likes Received:
    22,399
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    actor
    Location:
    New York
    Robin Lopez was pretty good for us. Before that, you got Joel who was limited, and then Sabonis.
     
    KingSpeed, Oct 30, 2017
    #9
  10. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    Messages:
    59,619
    Likes Received:
    60,021
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Nikola beat him out? What a jokic.
     
    Chris Craig, Oct 30, 2017
    #10
    e_blazer, Wizard Mentor and BBert like this.
  11. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2008
    Messages:
    26,643
    Likes Received:
    20,336
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Poster Boy
    Location:
    Blazerlandia
    I certainly thought about Robin, and an argument could be made for him. Sabonis was a looooonnng time ago ;)

    :cheers:
     
    BBert, Oct 30, 2017
    #11
  12. GrandJury

    GrandJury Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2017
    Messages:
    1,139
    Likes Received:
    445
    Trophy Points:
    83
    4/70 would be godsend

    I’m afraid somebody will fuck us and give him max for his “potential” then we have no choice to match
     
    GrandJury, Oct 30, 2017
    #12
    SIeepwalker and Wizard Mentor like this.
  13. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,210
    Likes Received:
    145,434
    Trophy Points:
    115
    If Nurk finishes in the top 10 for points and rebounds for centers he will get a max contract.

    Currently he's 18th in points.
    26th in rebounds.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Oct 30, 2017
    #13
    BBert and Wizard Mentor like this.
  14. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    44,783
    Likes Received:
    27,542
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Maybe it's me getting old, but I've lost track. Is ESPN reliable? I've heard both ways....by the same people, depending on the article. I just want to know if I should be excited or not.
     
    Mediocre Man, Oct 30, 2017
    #14
    Wizard Mentor likes this.
  15. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    44,783
    Likes Received:
    27,542
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Crabbe, Leonar_, etc, prove we have a choice
     
    Mediocre Man, Oct 30, 2017
    #15
  16. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2017
    Messages:
    4,482
    Likes Received:
    4,114
    Trophy Points:
    113
    stats arent everything, although I expect him to have at least 15/10 this season

    theres other valuable things about him, like: defense, making teammates better, great fit for the team... free agents dont want to come here, so youre gonna want to pay the man you have, his current quality and upside, and he can use other contracts around the league for argument, or our own ones, like Leonard, Turner or Crabbe

    of course, you can offer him max or lesser contract, or you can wait till he gets other offers, whether its max or lesser contract, then you match it, but the thing is: do you really want him to be unhappy about his contract, is it worth a risk

    so far his attitute in Portland was great, but Im not sure that couldnt change...
     
    Mr. Robot, Oct 30, 2017
    #16
  17. handiman

    handiman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Messages:
    5,881
    Likes Received:
    3,916
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Really? I thought he showed a tremendous touch around the basket last year, much like Ed Davis two years ago. It always felt a bit lucky, but those quick, sneaky shots went in at a high enough clip, I have to attribute it to skill.
     
    handiman, Oct 30, 2017
    #17
    BBert, SportsAndWhine and kjironman1 like this.
  18. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2014
    Messages:
    22,403
    Likes Received:
    23,014
    Trophy Points:
    113
    And rightfully so. I would be fine with that. Top 10 in both would be awesome.
     
    kjironman1, Oct 30, 2017
    #18
    Wizard Mentor likes this.
  19. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2017
    Messages:
    4,482
    Likes Received:
    4,114
    Trophy Points:
    113
    where did he rank after those 20 games with us
     
    Mr. Robot, Oct 30, 2017
    #19
  20. SportsAndWhine

    SportsAndWhine Dumbass For Hire

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    2,140
    Likes Received:
    3,105
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Nurkic is per 36 minutes bout the same as last year save for three big things: he’s down 1.7 offensive rebounds, he’s up 1.9 shots, and his FG% is down about 11%... we’re seeing the growing pains of a former hustle garbage man becoming a guy who gets plays called for him.

    You could say he should go back to bring a garbage man but we’re already leading the league in offensive rebounding so there’s plenty of garbage men doing work right now. He just needs to calm down a bit. By March he and Stotts will know what his real role is. It’ll be just in time too.
     
    SportsAndWhine, Oct 30, 2017
    #20
    BBert likes this.
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page