Jusuf Nurkic is the backup facilitator that the Portland Trail Blazers need

Rookie Head Coach Chauncey Billups and the Portland Trail Blazers are still figuring things out as they go. After a seven game losing streak, the team — and Damian Lillard, especially — seemed to get some stuff to click together, downing the Charlotte Hornets, 125-116, to end their victory drought. Another player who may have found renewal was Bosnian big man, Jusuf Nurkic.

While Nurk could not avoid his infamous foul trouble in this one, finishing with only 15 minutes played before fouling out, there was a stretch in the second quarter where he looked downright dominant.

With Dame taking a much needed breather after going off for 17 points in the first quarter, Nurkic came back into the game in the second period after exiting early with two quick whistles against him.

Jusuf Nurkic can be the backup floor general the Portland Trail Blazers need

With Lillard on the pine, the offense ran through the Bosnian Beast and he responded well. In under two minutes, Nurk directly created six quick points for the Blazers, acting as a hub from the high and low posts.

This rare miss from Ben McLemore last night would have given Nurkic another assist and nine points created in under 120 seconds.

With Lillard out of the game, the responsibility to create offense rested solely on Nurkic’s wide shoulders. He went away from constantly running screens to spring his All-NBA point guard free and instead, planted his feet at the foul line or on the block and went to work.

This was one of the first sets that the Portland Trail Blazers ran in the second quarter. The Bosnian Beast finds McLemore for a wide-open layup off a slip-screen, with a beautiful bounce pass from the top of the key. With Dame in the game — especially when he’s en fuego in the way he was against the Hornets — Nurkic’s skills as a high-post passer are underutilized and not as needed.

With Lillard resting, Nurk was freed to do what he does best.

Here, he gets the ball while posting near the corner. The Portland Trail Blazers attempt to run off-ball action around him to open up a shooter or cutter, but to no avail. With the shot clock winding down, Nurk lowers his shoulder and decides to take the onus upon himself to get a bucket. He easily backs Mason Plumlee down into the paint and finishes with a gorgeous baby hook.

The Portland Trail Blazers should stagger Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic’s minutes

At this point in his career, Nurkic is almost assuredly better with his back to the basket than rolling to the rim. With Dame in the game, and CJ McCollum when he returns, it would seem counterproductive to give Nurk a ton of post touches.

But with the Trail Blazers lacking a true backup floor general behind Lillard, it makes perfect sense for Chauncey Billups to use Nurk in that role.

Larry Nance Jr. is a better screener and finisher/playmaker on the short roll. This season, when Dame and Nance share the court together, they have a net rating of +9.4 per 100 possessions, according to stathead. That figure drops to +2.8 when it’s Lillard and Nurkic.

When Lillard shares the court with Nance and Robert Covington in the front court, the Blazers outscore opponents by over 12 points per 100 possessions.

Pairing Nance at the five to set screens for Dame as often as possible would be the best way to maximize the former Cleveland Cavalier’s talents.

Pulling Nurkic a little early and letting him get more run with the second-unit would allow the Bosnian Beast to spread his wings on offense, and give the Trail Blazers reserves a true number one option on that end of the court.

Chauncey Billups can kill three birds with one stone by staggering Dame and Nurk’s minutes: unlocking Larry Nance Jr., giving the bench the facilitator it needs, and feeding Jusuf Nurkic the post touches he desires. Coach might even be able to drop four birds with this one if Nurk can keep himself out of foul trouble running more with the bench squad.

At least until CJ McCollum returns, I’d like to see a lot more “Nance at the five” and “Nurkic with the second unit” lineups from the Portland Trail Blazers.