Portland Trail Blazers: The Second-Wave of Nurkic Fever Ends Abruptly (and Grotesquely)

The Portland Trail Blazers won over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, but they lost an important piece of their team in the process.

After beating the Brooklyn Nets in double overtime on Monday, the Portland Trail Blazers notched their 46th win and a playoff berth. What should’ve been a party in their home building, was mostly a somber affair.

Halfway through the second extra period, starting center Jusuf Nurkic went up for a rebound and came down with his left leg bent the wrong way. He laid and grimaced in pain before being carted off by team trainers. Soon after, the team announced he had suffered a compound fracture to his tibia and fibula and would not return for the rest of the season. He may miss time into next year, too.

With Nurkic being a key part of Portland’s identity both offensively and defensively, his injury spells trouble for the Trail Blazers’ playoff hopes. But while it’s easy to hold your face and scream about the future, the Bosnian Beast’s high quality year deserves some reflection.

In 2018-19, Nurkic reinvented himself. Less was he tinkering with flip shots and attempts at finesse and more was he using his beastly frame inside. The Bosnian worked to create a more defined identity.

His more specified play has resulted in averages that mirror Nurk-Fever Nurkic, when he first came over to Portland from the Denver Nuggets midway through the 2016-17 season:

2018-19 Nurkic: 15.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 bpg, 1.0 spg

Nurk-Fever: 15.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, 1.3 spg

But while 2017’s Nurkic was a wave that encapsulated Rip City for 20 games, this year’s version was an epidemic for 72 contests. His incredible production was becoming less of an outburst and more normalized.

This season, Nurkic has matched or put up season-highs in field goals made (13), rebounds (23), assists (10), steals (5), and blocks (6). He also secured his first triple-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16 (10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and had a rare 5×5 game against the Sacramento Kings (24 points, 23 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks) on January 1.

https://twitter.com/DefPenHoops/status/1080326225913098240

This year’s Nurkic was a legitimate force and created matchup nightmares for groups skewing small.

And his effect goes beyond just his performance on the court. As Enes Kanter told reporters:

"“This [injury] is bigger than basketball.”"

Nurkic has become more than just the big Beast on the court. He is a major part in making Portland’s locker room such a warm, respected, and highly-regarded place.

The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman quoted second-year big man Zach Collins after the injury:

"“It’s terrible. Obviously you never want to see that happen, especially with your own teammate that you go to war with every night. Nurk, he’s been having a hell of a season. He had an amazing game tonight. And for it to end like that for him, it’s just tough. All we can do is be there for him and hope he’s in as little pain as possible and knows that we’ve got his back.”"

As a premier rim-protector, Nurk has had his guys backs – quite literally – all year long. Now, as he recovers, the team will support him. They will attempt to finish strong in the playoffs and use their positioning in the standings, that Nurkic was vital in helping them attain, to prevent this devastation from defining the group’s whole season.

After so many years of playoff disappointments, it is easy to look back on the Beast’s success this year and feel like it was all just a tease. Setting us up for yet another disappointment. It is easy to look back at that Brooklyn game and wish it had just ended after 48 minutes, or even 53.

But what’s done is done. Right now, Nurkic needs support – not Blazer fan self-pity.

The Bosnian Beast’s best season has come to an abrupt end. There’s nothing more to do now than remember how great he was, cross our fingers for the playoffs, and hope that Nurkic comes back next year with a healthy leg and a forehead warmer than ever.

A third-wave of Nurk-fever is coming. I can already feel myself getting sick.