The Return of Nurkic

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by damianlillard, Jul 24, 2020.

  1. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2008
    Messages:
    28,243
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Merchant Banker
    Location:
    Denver, CO & Lake Oswego, OR
    I didn't think Nurk would look this good, this quickly. We've missed him.
     
  2. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    23,215
    Likes Received:
    28,650
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Consultant
    Location:
    Oregon City, OR
    Same. Hassan has been a decent bandaid at the 5, but Nurk is sooooo much better.
     
  3. SIeepwalker

    SIeepwalker The lone sane poster

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    Messages:
    6,453
    Likes Received:
    9,551
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Strasbourg, France
    Nurk is back babyyyyyyyyyy
     
    RickyJoe and GoBlazersGo like this.
  4. Almir

    Almir Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2018
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    662
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Nurk is back def....
     
  5. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    16,455
    Likes Received:
    10,935
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Systems Analyst
    Location:
    Beaverton, Oregon
    Nurk is great. I think he’s one of the best players in the league.
     
  6. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2014
    Messages:
    23,631
    Likes Received:
    34,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    In some ways Portland’s most valuable player. You just can’t replace what he brings and it was unfair to expect it from Whiteside. And that’s not a shot at Whiteside, he actually had a good season, one of his best as a pro. But...levels.
     
    RickyJoe, AmirIcon and illmatic99 like this.
  7. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2018
    Messages:
    6,346
    Likes Received:
    7,214
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The future is bright in rip city.
     
  8. Cugel

    Cugel The epitome of mediocrity

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2019
    Messages:
    5,265
    Likes Received:
    5,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Canvas Repairman
    He was truly a fucking beast.
     
    RickyJoe, Hoopguru and KSF-ERIC like this.
  9. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    56,114
    Likes Received:
    53,918
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
    Really wanna see how Whiteside handles the benching.
     
  10. KSF-ERIC

    KSF-ERIC Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2019
    Messages:
    8,659
    Likes Received:
    6,450
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I have so much confidence in our team when he's on the floor.
     
  11. SheedSoNasty

    SheedSoNasty Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    4,215
    Likes Received:
    4,576
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It didn’t look all that great today. He seemed apprehensive and lost.
     
  12. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,997
    Trophy Points:
    113
  13. tiredhunter

    tiredhunter Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Messages:
    359
    Likes Received:
    453
    Trophy Points:
    63
  14. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2008
    Messages:
    13,539
    Likes Received:
    10,874
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    un-retired
    Location:
    Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine
    Hopefully Lillard will have a good talk with him and find out what the problem is.
     
  15. damianlillard

    damianlillard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2013
    Messages:
    838
    Likes Received:
    697
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Nurk had another huge game. He continues to be elite especially on the offensive side of the ball. Even though it’s a small sample here is how he’s doing after 2 games so far
    24 point a game
    9 rebound a game
    5 assist a game
    3.5 block a game
    2 steal a game
    Shooting 54.8%
    100% on free throw, 13 for 13
    1/4 for 3 pointers
     
  16. KSF-ERIC

    KSF-ERIC Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2019
    Messages:
    8,659
    Likes Received:
    6,450
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Unbelievable. All Star caliber.
     
    Chris Craig likes this.
  17. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2014
    Messages:
    23,631
    Likes Received:
    34,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The talent and instincts this guy has for someone that only picked up a basketball ten years ago is ridiculous. It doesn’t matter what center he goes up against, it always feels like we have the better guy, or at worst, a guy just as good. He just glides around the court so effortlessly. And man, how we missed his screens.
     
  18. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    56,114
    Likes Received:
    53,918
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
    I think it's really going unnoticed how great he has been in such a short period of time. I don't want to jinx it given how much he falls to the ground, but he is better now than he was last year in these first three games.

    He's putting up 22/12/4 while averaging 3 blocks and 2 steals a game in only 31 minutes. He's also shooting 50% from the floor and hasn't missed a single FT in 21 total attempts. That has translated to a 32 (!!) PER. All this with super impactful defense, and no empty stats.

    Did anyone anticipate him being this far ahead only 3 real games in? Paul George really struggled in his return after 10 months post-surgery from his leg break. The extra 6 months Nurk has had, and his increased focus to maintain his mental strength has been unbelievable.

    knock on wood.
     
  19. 42N8Bounce

    42N8Bounce Red Hot And Rebuilding

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2011
    Messages:
    2,575
    Likes Received:
    7,118
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    West Linn, OR
    I did not expect this out of Nurk. It looks like he isn't forcing anything and letting the game come to him.

    Totally agree with this article -

    https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbareturn29594655/what-seeing-hearing-nba-bubble#por

     
    illmatic99 likes this.
  20. damianlillard

    damianlillard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2013
    Messages:
    838
    Likes Received:
    697
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Nurkic has been playing like a top 5 center so far. He’s legit! He has been averaging
    22 point a game
    12.3 rebound a game
    4.3 assist a game
    3.3 block a game
    1.7 steal a game
    All on 52.4% shooting a game and 100% free throw shooting!
    And his PER has been 31.5
    So far he has been elite! Looking forward to the Nurkic vs Jokic battle
     
    42N8Bounce likes this.

Share This Page