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Trail Blazers: Interesting X-Factors to look out for in the NBA Bubble

By Ryan Gaskin

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 08: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers smiles from the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during their preseason game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 08: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers smiles from the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during their preseason game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Will Whiteside and Nurkic share the court?

Now THIS is an interesting one.

According to Blazers insider Casey Holdahl, Jusuf Nurkic expects to play some minutes at the power forward position.

Nurkic and Whiteside both on the court at the same time? In the modern NBA, this would likely mean that one of them would be spending a bit of time outside of the paint, and closer to that three-point line.

Whiteside is not a regular shooter from deep by any means, but is actually at 57 percent for three-point percentage this season, making 4 of his 7 attempts. The center has done well to extend his range, but never really looks comfortable out there – besides, Nurk seems to have a much better shooting touch.

The Bosnian seems to used his recovery time to work on his shooting, and is now looking dangerous from outside the paint. Numerous workout videos have surfaced of Nurk draining jump-shots from all over the court, and Terry Stotts told reporters that Nurkic is shooting “55 percent from three in an empty gym.”

I’d be surprised if we see a ton of this combo, but against the size of the Lakers, why not give it a shot? LeBron, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard is a difficult set of players to stop on the inside, so maybe the Nurk/Whiteside combo is what the Blazers need?

Even if we don’t look ahead to the playoffs, the Blazers will be facing Nikola Jokic, Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid in that initial 8-game schedule, all dangerous big men. The game against the Rockets could be one to try and play completely on the inside, and look to exploit Houston’s small lineup.

I think we’ll see this combo in short bursts, and I’m still not to convinced by the idea. But hey, it’s certainly an X-Factor. Add in Zach Collins, and the Blazers have an extremely interesting defensive trio.