The Blazers got beat down by the Nuggets last time we met in the playoffs, BUT: a major factor was ticky-tack fouls on Nurk. Nurk had a positive +/- for the series, and Jokic actually had a negative. Plus Nurk is one of the few people who have the legit bulk to stop Jokic just battering into the post.
When you say "value", are you specifically referring to "trade value"? If so, I can only hope that the answer is yes, but I personally doubt that Jokic's performance has any impact on GMs' perception of Nurkic's potential impact on their squads.
Here's a kind of heartwarming moment: Jokic spots his old pal Monte Morris (who KILLED us in the series I mentioned above) in the crowd:
As much as Nurk drives me crazy with his play he has untapped potential. The Denver coach took the Joker to another level when he said he needed to be in better shape. Nurk should look at the film of the joker and finally get into better shape. He drives me crazy when he just saunders down the court. Also consistency falling down on the floor to try and get calls. You never see the joker on the floor. The coaching staff needs to light a fire under him or we just give up on him. He could be a joker light version if he was in better shape and that would also give him better balance. The guy is carrying to much weight and needs to improve his running condition.
Another thing about Jokic is he seems to cry a lot less than he used to. It was the only thing I did not like about him. He has gotten way better about it. Nurk can drive me crazy as well, but he looks like he did drop weight last season. His roster weight never changes from the 290 so it is hard to know for sure
Nurk just does not work as hard as the joker. The joker may have more finely tuned skills but one thing he has over Nurk is his work ethic and conditioning. If Nurk ever figures that out he might be a very serviceable center in the NBA. However to much of the time he looks like he just going thru the motions and a paycheck.
Naw, i don't think so. Unless Nurk decides he's tired of bringing it half ass, and focus on getting better. And playing with the heart he had in the Euros for his native country, i just don't see it. Dame was amazing in that series. 34 pts, 10 asst. avg per game in that series. The rest were meh, including Nurk who played like a cupcake vs. Jokic. But he looked happy with his buddy Joker after the games.
Read a story about how Jokic turned himself into a better player after losing to the Blazers. It was pretty impressive. Here is another thing. Nurk has worked hard to get back after a horrific injury. This tells me he has the drive to get better. I just wonder if someone can get ahold of him and stop the flopping for fouls and constant nagging the refs? I was watching last night. Yes there were times Jokic and even Butler were jawing at the refs but they were never caught on the opposite side of the floor while play was going. Happens to Nurk quite a bit being out of position because he is complaining about a no call on the last play or even two or three plays before. You got to stay in the game.
there is such an obvious difference in talent, skills, BBIQ, consistency, and durability I don't think there's any Jokic magic rubbing off on Nurk Nurkic obviously has some skills and some talent. But he simply hasn't built on that foundation like Jokic has. Nurk has no consistency and unfortunately, I think his accumulated injuries have robbed him of lift and reaction time. That shouldn't prevent him from becoming a smarter player or leaning how to better finish in the paint
I just wonder how come Jokic always seems to make those shots he flips at the rim and Nurk can’t get a favorable roll to save his life?
shooting touch in the paint is definitely a skill that Jokic has perfected. And it's a skill that Nurkic hasn't learned after 9 years in the league
Watched a lot of centers thru the years the joker has the softest touch of any center I have ever seen. His shots hit the rim so softly and always seem to bounce his way. Surely there is technique and many hours of practice to accomplish it. I think Nurk would say practice the way Iverson use to talk about practice. However the skill level nurk is working with is much different a lot more practice would help him if he put the effort in.
I think if Nurk could defend Jokic better than the smaller centers the league is trending towards, then yes it would increase Nurk's trade value. But has anyone really defended the Joker well?
Finesse takes strength. Core strength leads to balance and the ability to manipulate your body in ways to give you that finesse. Nurk lumbers up and down the court and throws himself at whatever or whomever he is targeting. It's why he's on the floor quite so much.
the first part for Nurkic should be shot selection and patience. The percent of his shots around the rim that he rushes and just throws at the basket is ridiculous. I've never seen any big man have such a high rate of shots that don't come close to the rim. A lot of thos shots he starts his shooting motion before he's even looking at the basket. And that's after 9 years in the league career FG% at the rim (0-3'): Kessler .813 (only one season) Nic Claxton .801 Evan Mobley .792 Ayton .762 Jarrett Allen .752 Embiid .744 Mitchell Robinson .743 AD .741 Gobert .741 Wendall Carter Jr .739 Adebayo .730 Poeltl .724 Jokic .717 Sabonis .716 Kevon Looney .715 KAT .710 Capela .710 Myles Turner .708 Maxi Kleber .705 Porzingis .693 Zubac .689 Jaren Jackson .687 Valanciunas .684 Brook Lopez .676 Steven Adams .667 Vucevic .667 Zach Collins .662 Nurkic .611 Whiteside .740 Trendon Watford .722 Plumlee .714 Eubanks .709 Jerami Grant .656 I tried to find C's/Big's with worse shooting around the rim. Couldn't do it. To me, efficiency at the rim comes from touch, patience, shot selection, recognition...all are facets of BBIQ and this kind of defines Nurk's weaknesses and flaws. He simply hasn't improved his mental game
