He looks "lean" there. I wonder how much he weighs. Not sure what his ideal weight needs to be, but he does not look close to his listed 290. (nor did he last year) I would say he looks closer to 270. I liked when he was bigger and in beast mode, but I think from a health-wise standpoint he is better off being lean (and hopefully mean)
His posts have actually mentioned his weight loss? So he is actively trying to lose weight? I wonder what his goal is and if the team has recommended a specific number. I think that is great as long as he is not losing strength as well.
I don't remember if he specifically mentioned weight loss, but it sure looks like it was a goal because he's down a ton.
Wonder if it improves his mobility, since that's one of the biggest concerns many have over his defense.
he has seemed a lot more floor-bound than his Nurk-fever/beast-mode days. I've been thinking that it's mostly accumulated leg injuries...a severe fracture like he had can be hard to come back from, especially for somebody his size. But some of it may be due to weight. If he's been carting around 25-40 extra pounds, that can keep him glued to the floor. It can also increase the chances of another injury
I am not sure I saw that. I thought he was looking more mobile In December-Jan last year before he got hurt. He put up some big rebounding numbers. I am not saying he looked better than when he was in beast mode because he bullied people more when he first came here. But if his weight was a factor in his brutal injuries then it doesn't matter......he needed to lose weight because he doesn't help at all if he is on the bench hurt.
Weight loss will always contribute to Nurk's mobility. Just as long as his lower core strength is in great condition. Seems to me that with Ant and Joe at his wedding he must have bought into his role this season already. I'm glad to see it because the best teams have a guy you need to throw Nurk at in the post. He's a good passer and is starting to stretch the floor as well. With Nurk I think it comes down to coaching. The right guy in his ear can keep him engaged.
rebounding is more about mass and positioning, and anticipation I was thinking more about his blocks and rim-protection; and I was gauging by his 'healthy' years vs his last two seasons... blocks/100-possessions: 2014-15 3.1 2016-17 2.6 2017-18 2.6 2018-19 2.5 2021-22 1.1 2022-23 1.5 block rate: 2014-15 4.8% 2016-17 4.2 2017-18 4.3 2018-19 4.2 2021-22 2.1 2022-23 2.8 he also had the lowest offensive rebound rate of his career last season. And his rim-protection numbers are down from the 2018-19 season
I suspect that drop coverage helps a lot in blocks for a player like Nurk. It is hard to get the same kinds of block attempts and conversions when he also has to defend in space. Nurk is not the kind of guy that gets his blocks by coming at someone from behind and catching them unprepared because of his speed.
