Jusuf Nurkic has finally returned to the Denver Nuggets! The big man has slowly been brought back since being cleared to play, but all Nuggets fans should be hoping he’s back to 100 percent sooner rather than later.
The Nuggets were in Minnesota on Wednesday night, and we got a glimpse of what the big man brings to the table when he’s on the floor. Nurkic played 22 minutes and registered a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, showing that he may one day be capable of becoming a 20-point, 10-rebound per game player.
I feel like I mention it every time I write, but think about this core: Mudiay, Harris, Jokic and Nurkic. Add Joffrey Lauvergne and guys like Will Barton off the bench, and you’re just a piece away.
Nurkic can play in half court sets, and he still needs a lot of work under the basket, but he wants to play with his back to the basket, and when Mudiay misses opportunities to run the floor, “Nurk” is a great option to get the offense started.
Who would of thought I’d miss the good ole “Thuggets?” Not me. But more often than not this season, I have found myself questioning the Nuggets toughness. Kenyon Martin made sure opponents knew there was a price to pay when coming into the paint. That old school mentality is a rare trait these days, but Nurkic possess it. He’s not only willing to bang with the big boys under the basket, but he wants to do it.
This team has been punched in the nose early and often in a lot of games; with Nurk, they would of been able to sustain that punch and punch back!
When he is 100 percent healthy and a little more polished along with the two other young big men, Nikola Jokic and Joffrey Lauvergne, the Nuggets will be able to force teams to adjust to their lineup. I have a lot of faith in the future of Nikola Jokic, as you can read here; as for Lauvergne, I like what he can provide as a sixth- or seventh-man off the bench. Make teams adjust to the way you want to play instead of the other way around.
I am in no way trying to compare Jusuf Nurkic to DeMarcus Cousins, because Cousins is arguably the second- or third-best big in all of the NBA, but if Malone could get the most out of “Boogie,” there’s no reason to believe he won’t do the same with Nurk.
I recently wrote about Michael Malone saying he cannot coach effort, and before we all criticize his job not even half way through his first year, we need to keep in mind the Nurkic and Wilson Chandler injuries. It will take another week or two until he can get back into the regular rotation and contribute the way the team needs him to, but when he does, the Nuggets will instantly improve.
