Exclusive "One skill each Blazer player needs to work on between now an training camp"

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by PtldPlatypus, Aug 2, 2022.

  1. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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  2. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Watch the video, but here's a list with no detail:
    • Walker: ball-handling
    • Sharpe: first-step/ball-handling
    • Brown: Defense
    • Watford: shot speed (3-point)
    • Johnson: PG skills
    • Eubanks: PnR defense
    • Winslow: 3-point shooting
    • Little: Off-ball defense/shot-creation
    • Payton: 3-point shooting
    • Hart: 3-point shooting
    • Grant: Rebounding/Getting through screens
    • Nurkic: 3-point shooting
    • Simons: Finishing at the rim
    • Lillard: Perimeter defense
    He wasn't mentioned in the video, but I can only assume that the skill Didi Louzada should be working on is packing a suitcase as tightly and efficiently as possible.
     
  3. SharpeScooterShooter

    SharpeScooterShooter SharpeShooter

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    I cant find anything wrong with this, other than Nurk. Many other things he could improve over 3pt shooting. Attacking the rim. Changing his ugly shotput floater from three feet to something else. Etc.
     
  4. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    Nurk needs to focus on finishing with dunks at the hoop instead of flip shots. Learning a nice hook like Eubanks has is top priority as well. 3 pt. shooting is the last thing that should be on his list.
     
  5. SharpeScooterShooter

    SharpeScooterShooter SharpeShooter

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    You call it a flip shot. I call it a shot put. Either way, it needs to go!:cheers:

     
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  6. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    I'm with both of you; that was the first thing in the video that made me say, "Huh, really?". Torey's logic was that with GP/Hart/Grant all being questionable from the perimeter, having a center who is a perimeter threat would be beneficial to the offense as a whole, but I'm with you guys in thinking that Nurk finishing at a 65-70% rate at the rim would have a much bigger impact.
     
  7. SharpeScooterShooter

    SharpeScooterShooter SharpeShooter

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    I also feel Grant and Hart have a better chance of improving their 3pt shooting than Nurk does.
     
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  8. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    First off...the video was a good listen.
    My one nit-picking comment for discussion purposes is that I am not sure I care about how quickly Watford shoots the 3-ball. I just want him to be comfortable out there. IMO he should only be shooting them when he is wide open and his feet are set. I think stretch 4s and centers can get away with a slower release because their defenders are not as quick to close out as say a wing or PG.

    What Torey said about Winslow shooting 3s is kind of how I view Watford. He just needs to shoot it well enough to keep the defender from cheating off of him in order to help out on other players. So if that means taking a little more time to release it I am ok with that if he is making them......at least for this year.

    And because he is a decent ball handler for his position I feel good about his ability to get around other PFs if they are playing him tight on the perimeter, so I see no need for him to be shooting 3s when he is well-guarded.
     
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  9. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    Try to become PJ "Mother" Tucker good from outside. Classic , undersized guy who can defend, and when left open, drain the open 3. If Winslow could become that, money.
     
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  10. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

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    nurk really annoys me with his shooting workouts (itd be ideal if he could develop reliable 3-pt shot for a center)

    however, id like to see him post workouts of him working down low, learning & perfectioning moves, practicing finishing at the rim, especially given hell play down low more than ever
     
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  11. Wade Garrett

    Wade Garrett Exactly right.

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    Coach Billups on line 1.
     
  12. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

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    Agree with most of the points, but have thoughts on Nurk and the 3 ball...

    Really tough to become a shooter that matters at center, especially at the level Nurk is starting from. If he isn't drawing closeouts or stunts in pick and pops, the value to the overall offense just isn't there.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2022
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  13. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    I would like to see Lillard be like Homelander and Nurk be able to talk to fish just as long as he doesn't start having sex with octopi.
     
  14. SlyPokerCat

    SlyPokerCat cats rool dogs drool

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    Nurk is only human. Could you turn down the seduction of that many arms?
     
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  15. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Staying healthy
    Defense
     
  16. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Look closer.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    I choose 3pt shooting because I honestly don't think Nurks finishing is all that bad (had his best season finishing just last year without Dame being himself and without him at all for stretches), and being aggressive around the rim seems like more of a mentality and less of a skill. I feel like he has a chance to be respectable from 3 which would make things easier on everyone else, and would be the one thing that he has a legitimate chance to improve in the most. That was my thought.
     
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  18. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    I didn't want to be mean to him and say everything. Felt like a bad way to start the video.
     
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  19. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    He could improve his willingness to put down the fork. Think he might be able to attack (& protect) the rim better if he was only 260 lbs instead of 290? It's the small ball era & teams are constantly running pick and rolls at him because he can't shadow smaller guys.

    STOMP
     
  20. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    I agree to a point. Yes it probably should be last on the list but it still needs to happen. If he can keep defenses honest then that adds quite a bit of space for cutting to the rim. He passes the ball pretty well.
     
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