by Casey Holdahl Posted: Feb 14, 2017 The Portland Trail Blazers flew to Utah Tuesday afternoon for their final game before the All-Star break versus the Jazz in Salt Lake City (tipoff scheduled for 6 pm on KGW Channel 8 and 620 AM). But before heading out, the team held practice at their facility in Tualatin, a practice that heavily emphasized getting center Yusuf Nurkic, who the Trail Blazers acquired from Denver along with a 2017 first round draft pick in exchange for center Mason Plumlee, a 2018 second round pick and cash considerations, up to speed with his new team. "We do some core stuff before the practice, lifting, some play four-on-four, catch up on plays and learning a lot," said Nurkic after his first practice with his new team. "It was kind of fast, trying to pick it up as quick as possible, but it was fun, I like." Learning a new system and how to fit in with new teammates, both on and off the court, is always a bit difficult, but for Nurkic, there's also the issue of conditioning. Nurkic had seen his minutes steadily declining in Denver, with the 7-0 center collecting four DNPs and playing fewer than 10 minutes in five of his final 16 games with the Nuggets, so Tuesday's practice was an opportunity to introduce part of the playbook while getting in a first run with his new team. "He’s a very skilled young guy, he has nice touch around the basket, he has a good feel for the game and he needs to get in better shape," said Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. "What we saw today was four-on-four and his four-on-four was more about, we incorporated sets so he learned some of our offense through four-on-four, obviously to get him a good run. It was more about that than seeing what he could do." With Tuesday's practice trending toward the lighter side the day after losing a nationally-televised overtime game to the Atlanta Hawks, Nurkic's new teammates didn't spend get to spend a lot of time working out with their new center, but they did see the initial stages of what they're hoping will be the answer to some of their persistent issues on both sides of the ball. Read the rest here - http://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/trail-blazers-start-process-getting-know-nurkic
Why 4-on-4 rather than 5-on-5? Is there a coaching strategy there, or did they just not have enough guys? barfo
I'd like to say it's coaching strategy so I could say I'm doing it right. But if Jokic's conditioning is really an issue I'd lean more towards that being the reason.
I know they said something about his conditioning maybe this all star break he can get in better shape for the rest of the season. Wes. you might see him for 15 to 17 minutes for the game.
He seemed pretty gassed in the video in that link Sly provided. I'm thinking it's just conditioning, and I'm not expecting much from him tomorrow. Like Track said: over the all-star break, he can get himself into shape and be ready for when they get back to it. If he's currently 280, it might help his speed and his knees to drop down to 270. I don't think he'll have any less a problem backing guys down at that weight.
"he needs to get in better shape" This guy needs a personal trainer, a personal big man coach and a personal psychologist.
I think there may be more running involved with 4x4; also more ability to sub guys out, so they can run harder while they are on the floor. So...a conditioning thing.
We just were showing him only 4 guys are involved in any play anyway.....the 5th guy is there to share the experience
Wow, how about that! He sure as hell doesn't LOOK 245 lbs. Or maybe I'm just going on his highlight videos. Hopefully he keeps it up here in Portland, and I hope he doesn't lose his ability to back guys down in the post. I know Aldridge was getting the snot beat out of him by other PFs and Centers, until he went during an off-season and gained 41 lbs of muscle. He immediately stopped getting bullied in the paint. Sigh....if only Meyers would do that. Can you imagine him at 265 or 270 with additional muscle? Put him in the paint and watch him destroy guys.
