Lillard expects Melo, Nurk, and Collins to start

I would also be surprised if Nurk started ahead of Whiteside. I like Nurk's game a LOT more, but Whiteside has played all season and that counts for something. Stotts keeps a pretty stable starting lineup and you'd have to be Dame or CJ to come in and start right off after missing a year.

 

Stotts pretty much confirmed Nurk will start, so be surprised. As he should btw. That’s Nurks job.

 

Evidently Hoard will also be with the team in Orlando. No mention of Moses, so I’m assuming he’s not going.

 

The reason Nurk starts because he sits better picks then Whiteside and he better in pick n roll with Dame. If Melo start at the 3 that doesn't bother me if Zach and Nurk sitting behind to defend the goal and plus there not a 3 in the league that can guard Melo if he post up.

 

We'll see, won't we.

 

Here’s the confirmation.

 

Yeah, I'm with you and Dame. The other options don't seem realistic. Going with Trent at the three with Dame and CJ leaves us pretty undersized on the perimeter plus still not that quick. So we stay kinda slow but a little longer on the perimeter defensively with Zach and Nurk to clean up when guys get blown by. Obviously the Melo option makes us a beast of an offense to cover because Melo can spot up to stretch the floor or be another iso option on the wing, elbow or even the post. As far as starting Nurk and Hassan together, like I've said before I don't think that works because so many if not all teams now have a stretch 4 and I don't think either of our great centers can cover a stretch 4. So I'm hoping Stotts goes with Dame, CJ, Melo, Zach, Nurk, Hassan, Trent, Rio and Ant as our rotation with the first five guys definitely starting. I don't know if we'll see much Nas during meaningful minutes even though he is such a great athlete and energy guy, with great instincts.

 

What I like about a possible whiteside Nurk pairing is how they compliment each other offensively. Whiteside isn’t a very good screener/playmaker but Nurk is elite. So you play through Nurk/Dame and camp whiteside down low for easy buckets and offensive rebounds. The question is defensively, but whatever Whiteside loses in foot speed he’ll make up with his elite length.

But you can say a lot of the same things about Zach and he’s more mobile, so he’s probably a better fit. Still, I like the option and could make it easier to justify paying him this offseason.

 

So we see that he's having the same debate that's been going on in here but I really think he'll come to the conclusion that if all are healthy our best starting lineup is Dame, CJ, Melo, Zach and Nurk. Since he is saying that Melo could do the job but he'd need help; I think Zach's versatility defensively is more capable of helping Melo than both Nurk and Hassan just laying back on the low block.

 

I think we'll see Nurk and Hassan together on the floor at some point and then we will have proof one way or the other. I just really doubt that Stotts will want to lead the game with that experiment but I obviously could be wrong.

 

I could see it used alot, especially against the Lakers. Gonna be fun.

 

Maybe certain opponents lineups in the game you might get away with it on defense side of the ball with Nurk and Whiteside. But I don't see to many minutes with that pair on the floor especially if the opponents coach adjust against us really quick.

 

I hope Nurk gets a standing ovation from all the fans in the stan........ohhhh that's right.

 

HELLLL NO

 

His nba career is over. Hope he is okay, dude posted some bizzare things during shutdown

 

The only reason the Blazers got Jusuf Nurkic is because he couldn't play on the court at the same time as Jokic. What makes Blazer fans think he can play on the court at the same time as Hassan Whiteside?

 

Were going to be a big team. A big team that gives up 140 points per game