Nurk thread

[JCSunsfan]

I feel like this is potentially beating a dead horse, but Ayton's biggest problem is between the ears. He HAS the skills and athleticism to be dominant, but not the will nor the attitude to follow up on it. So yes, at his theoretical best, Ayton can be a far better player than Nurk. The Suns are trading potential (which they've been waiting on for several years now) for fit/chemistry/consistency.

And that is because their window is now. The real question is "Who is more likely to help this team win a championship this year? Nurkic and the depth they got in this deal or Ayton?" They chose Nurkic and the depth. Kinda hard to argue with that.

 

[BirdGangThing]

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Some good stuff from Book on Nurk.

Sounds like Book and KD know they have more than enough offensive firepower on this team - and that they're focusing on /leading by example with the defense - which is fantfreakingtastic to me because defense wins championships

 

[Finito]

Let me get this straight. The bad version of Ayton that is just going through the motions on both ends and doing very little that helps the team is just as good as the best version of Nurkic? Yeah I'm gonna call BS on that one.

Sure Ayton is on average the better player, but I will take a locked in Nurk over a complacent Ayton on this team.

Nurkic isn’t some locked in dog on the court. Matter fact he’s had his share of attitude problems himself. Yes bad Ayton gets you 13/9.

There are a ton of centers I would have rather had starting with Jonas or Zubac but here we are.

 

[Mainstreet]

Nurkic isn’t some locked in dog on the court. Matter fact he’s had his share of attitude problems himself. Yes bad Ayton gets you 13/9.

There are a ton of centers I would have rather had starting with Jonas or Zubac but here we are.

Ayton is the better player if he wanted to stay in Phoenix. The problem is he didn't. It would have been a toxic situation.

Zubac and Valanciunas were better options, but I don't believe they were available.

It's kind of like a test question and one can't find the perfect answer. Pick the best one.

 

[Hoop Head]

Ayton is the better player if he wanted to stay in Phoenix. The problem is he didn't. It would have been a toxic situation.

Zubac and Valanciunas were better options, but I don't believe they were available.

It's kind of like a test question and one can't find the perfect answer. Pick the best one.

I don't think Zubac is the better option. He has zero range offensively while Nurk has developed a legit 3pt shot. I'd take Nurk over Zubac and probably call it a push with Jonas. I like Jonas a lot but the more I've researched Nurk the more I like him and have them close to equal.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't think Zubac is the better option. He has zero range offensively while Nurk has developed a legit 3pt shot. I'd take Nurk over Zubac and probably call it a push with Jonas. I like Jonas a lot but the more I've researched Nurk the more I like him and have them close to equal.

I've wanted Zubac for the Suns since he came into the NBA. I think he is more athletic than Jonas.

If Nurkic could stay healthy and wanted to play for Portland, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. I really liked him in Denver.

Ayton's value had to be really low. Probably the same for Nurkic, but hopefully he is a better fit.

 

[SunsTzu]

I don't think Zubac is the better option. He has zero range offensively while Nurk has developed a legit 3pt shot. I'd take Nurk over Zubac and probably call it a push with Jonas. I like Jonas a lot but the more I've researched Nurk the more I like him and have them close to equal.

Peak Jonas was better but he looked like a traffic cone on defense last year.

 

[Phrazbit]

Ayton is the better player if he wanted to stay in Phoenix. The problem is he didn't. It would have been a toxic situation.

Zubac and Valanciunas were better options, but I don't believe they were available.

It's kind of like a test question and one can't find the perfect answer. Pick the best one.

What a shame.

I'm not sure if Ayton and Zion's mutual love of video games and low rate porn stars would be something they bonded over or if it would drive a wedge between them.

 

[95pro]

What a shame.

I'm not sure if Ayton and Zion's mutual love of video games and low rate porn stars would be something they bonded over or if it would drive a wedge between them.

I’m sure they’d go with an Eiffel Tower

 

[Yuma]

Don't expect Nurkic dunks. Eubanks is our center dunker.

 

[Yuma]

Nurkic really changed his game lately by adding a 3 ball. He makes good reads and is an excellent screen setter. He's going to be someone who doesn't bog down the offense. I saw someone else mention before that management likely got tired of seeing Booker trapped passing to an open DA in the midrange and either DA fumble the catch or go nowhere. Nurkic will make the right read when he gets it.

Too me Nurkic is like a bigger Saric. Similar games. They aren't going to beat you with elevation.

 

[JCSunsfan]

What a shame.

I'm not sure if Ayton and Zion's mutual love of video games and low rate porn stars would be something they bonded over or if it would drive a wedge between them.

When you draft children, well, you get children--with only rare exceptions.

 

[Yuma]

I love the nickname too. We had the Polish Hammer, Dominayton debacle, and now we have the Bosnian Beast.

All said and done, I don't know how much further ahead Ayton is than Gortat as all time Suns centers. There is time for Nurkic to snag the "Best Suns Center Ever" title over the duration of his contract though. Not sure if that speaks to Nurk's talent or the Suns woes. Probably more the latter.

Ayton arguably was our best center just going by stats.

 

[Proximo]

I am convinced that the primary issue with Ayton being more efficient around the basket is the surrounding teammates. Ayton is still better, but the difference is not as great as it seems. And I am not a big Nurkic fan. I am just trying to be objective. Ayton scored a lot on OOps. Not sure Nurkic will. Nurk will draw some attention at the three-point line though and he sets much better screens.

I don't think that's true, because Ayton was also outstanding in his rookie year when there was mostly trash players surrounding him.

 

[Proximo]

I don't think Zubac is the better option. He has zero range offensively while Nurk has developed a legit 3pt shot. I'd take Nurk over Zubac and probably call it a push with Jonas. I like Jonas a lot but the more I've researched Nurk the more I like him and have them close to equal.

Personally I would rather have Zubac, but it depends on what you value I guess. I think Zubac is better defensively, and that's what I want out of my center.

 

[BirdGangThing]

This dude is looking really really good

 

[Goldfield]

This dude is looking really really good

For half price

 

[AzStevenCal]

This dude is looking really really good

For half price

Well, let's not get too excited here. I don't think the league is going to let Nurkic face off against Ayton every night.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Well, let's not get too excited here. I don't think the league is going to let Nurkic face off against Ayton every night.

So much this.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Can we take a minute to appreciate the Bosnian blessing bestowed upon us? Dude gets a bad wrap a times but we've seen Ayton and Nurk face off two times now - and Nurk is undefeated

But beyond the comparison - is the benefit

Being able to accept - understand - and work on his mistakes

Book and KD have zero hesitations letting Nurk know where he should've been or what he should've done - this is exactly what needs to take place before the chaos that is the NBA playoffs

And Nurk takes these criticisms to heart - visually and audibly frustrated - dropping f-bombs and throwing the ball down - this is good anger - this is nothing could make me happier anger

So he works on it - never gives up - he does have some quiet nights - and he does have some major match up issues but he's up for it and he's working on it

4 blocks is what I'd consider rim protection

12 boards is what I'd call top shelf Center

18 points after starting out slower than my ex-wife is the definition of resiliency

Zero assists last night - which leads me to believe a discussion took place at halftime - probably with Book and KD - because my man wasn't pass first after that

Excellent trade - much more the stocked soda machine I would've asked for

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Nurk is just going to be a rollercoaster. But his acceptance of his roll, his desire to be a good teammate, his basketball IQ, the inclusion of Nassir and Grayson, and his disparity in contracts with Ayton likely make the trade a win. But it all crumbles if his injuries resurface.

 

[Mainstreet]

Can we take a minute to appreciate the Bosnian blessing bestowed upon us? Dude gets a bad wrap a times but we've seen Ayton and Nurk face off two times now - and Nurk is undefeated

But beyond the comparison - is the benefit

Being able to accept - understand - and work on his mistakes

Book and KD have zero hesitations letting Nurk know where he should've been or what he should've done - this is exactly what needs to take place before the chaos that is the NBA playoffs

And Nurk takes these criticisms to heart - visually and audibly frustrated - dropping f-bombs and throwing the ball down - this is good anger - this is nothing could make me happier anger

So he works on it - never gives up - he does have some quiet nights - and he does have some major match up issues but he's up for it and he's working on it

4 blocks is what I'd consider rim protection

12 boards is what I'd call top shelf Center

18 points after starting out slower than my ex-wife is the definition of resiliency

Zero assists last night - which leads me to believe a discussion took place at halftime - probably with Book and KD - because my man wasn't pass first after that

Excellent trade - much more the stocked soda machine I would've asked for

I think you hit the nail on the head. Especially like the comments in bold.

How I wish the Suns had the more athletic version of Nurkic before injuries robbed him of some of his mobility.

 

[Yuma]

Nurk is just going to be a rollercoaster. But his acceptance of his roll, his desire to be a good teammate, his basketball IQ, the inclusion of Nassir and Grayson, and his disparity in contracts with Ayton likely make the trade a win. But it all crumbles if his injuries resurface.

I throw out that injuries part, because Ayton was never playing 82 games for us. His suspensions and injuries, etc. mean he was not always available to us either. I could see this argument if Ayton was a rock and we always knew he was playing night in and night out.

Ayton's POTENTIAL upside is enormous! That's why he will be around for a while in the NBA. His motor is why fans will be disappointed. I think for good reason. You see a guy with talent AND athleticism BOTH, but he just doesn't ever want to motor past 18 and 10 in games for the most part. We never got to see that 40/20 monster game he has BOTH the talent and skills to pull off.

 

[Yuma]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Especially like the comments in bold.

How I wish the Suns had the more athletic version of Nurkic before injuries robbed him of some of his mobility.

But Nurkic's playing style the way it is, is a result of his injuries and he has learned to play below the rim. His style of play will give him extra years in the NBA.

Saying that, I am now convinced when we do go for a younger center, we should look to the Euro league to get one. The style of center play from the European players is just a way better fit for Suns teams that always have skilled smaller guys.

 

[Mainstreet]

But Nurkic's playing style the way it is, is a result of his injuries and he has learned to play below the rim. His style of play will give him extra years in the NBA.

Saying that, I am now convinced when we do go for a younger center, we should look to the Euro league to get one. The style of center play from the European players is just a way better fit for Suns teams that always have skilled smaller guys.

The Suns have no alternative with Nurkic' style of play because of injuries. My hope is he can stay healthy.

I'd like for the Suns to expand their scouting to Europe as well, if they already haven't.

The Suns do not need a star at the position, however, they could use another athletic 4/5 on the roster beyond Eubanks and Metu.

I do not know what the Suns were thinking with Bol Bol.