The Trail Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic left Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz with injuries and did not return. Will he be available for Wednesday’s tilt against the Golden State Warriors?
In the midst of being pummeled by the surging Utah Jazz on Sunday at the Moda Center, Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic left the game with an injury (or two).
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Joe Freeman, Nurkic “tweaked his lower back and right hip early in the third quarter.”
But how serious is it? We haven’t been able to find out, since, as Freeman reports, Nurkic “was dressed and out of the locker room before reporters were allowed to enter, so he was not present to offer details about the nature and extent of his injuries.”
The official word is that “Nurkic is battling soreness in his lower back and pain in his right hip. It is unknown if he will play Wednesday against the Warriors.”
Nurkic and the Trail Blazers
It’s been a year since the Trail Blazers acquired Nurkic from the Denver Nuggets.
One year ago today, Blazers agreed to acquire Jusuf Nurkic in trade with Denver. Since then, Nurkic has played in 74 games with averages of 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 27.2 minutes. Portland is 44-30 in those games.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) February 12, 2018
Since then, reviews have been mixed. Check out those stats in Quick’s tweet; at a glance, the numbers look pretty good: 14.3 points and 8.7 rebounds during his time in Portland.
Some might look at those numbers and decide they represent a solid start for a center who’s still learning the game and is, after all, just 23 years old. Critics, however, argue that although Nurkic’s baseline stats are OK, it’s his effort and attitude that stifle his growth and limit his potential.
Nurkic vs. the Jazz
From the opening tip Sunday against the Jazz, it was clear that this was going to be another lackadaisical performance from Nurkic.
The Trail Blazers, who led by 11 at one point, go to halftime with a 44-43 lead over the Jazz. Lillard still with 13. Napier and Aminu with 8. Nurkic a nonfactor, playing just nine minutes and not scoring. Ed Davis with 7 boards. #ripcity
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) February 12, 2018
Nurkic played just 14 minutes Sunday before leaving the game with injuries. He finished with zero points (on 0-for-4 shooting) and three rebounds.
How much of that poor performance can be attributed to injury? As I said, we don’t know yet, because reporters haven’t had a chance to speak with the big man.
But if Nurkic is able to suit up and play big minutes Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, then it’s reasonable to wonder whether his early exit against Utah was less a case of injury and more a case of a player getting dominated and fleeing to the safety of the locker room.
It wouldn’t be the first time Nurkic’s effort has been questioned.
Here at the RCP, whenever we write or tweet about Nurkic, there are people who respond with accusations that Nurkic is “soft.” And that type of criticism is not limited to fans; members of the media sometimes say the same thing.
That was tweeted during Sunday’s game against the Jazz. But suggestions that Nurkic is “soft” or that his effort is “lackadaisical” have dogged him since he entered the league in 2014.
Is Nurkic ‘Soft’?
So far, there’s been radio silence from the Trail Blazers as to the extent of Nurkic’s injuries. As Freeman writes, “After the (Jazz) game, multiple teammates and coach Terry Stotts said they didn’t know how Nurkic injured himself and were uncertain about his status for the Blazers’ Wednesday night matchup against the Golden State Warriors.”
Unless and until we hear otherwise, I’m going to assume that Nurkic plays against the Warriors. If he doesn’t suit up, however, then it looks like he truly is too banged up to perform. In that case, it’s a good thing the All-Star break is almost here. It gives Nurkic time to recover.
Also, if Nurkic doesn’t play Wednesday, it should serve as a reminder for all us basketball loonies and critics. Sometimes things are not as they may seem. After all, we’re not out there scuffling with giants. We’re not expected to play a bunch of minutes in pain, withstanding the agony of any number of lingering injuries that often occur during the course of a long and grueling 82-game NBA schedule.
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But it’s worth asking: Why are critics unwilling to give Nurkic the benefit of the doubt? Why jump to the conclusion that Nurkic isn’t really that hurt? That he’s just too “soft” to play with injury?
Get well, Nurk. The Trail Blazers need you.