Jusuf Nurkić delivers a statement after a statement
Nurkić told reporters his grandma Hana is in a coma due to coronavirus
The Portland Trail Blazers got a crucial win on Friday afternoon on the shores of Lake Buena Vista, but Jusuf Nurkić delivered an even bigger statement after the biggest win of Portland’s season.
Immediately after this game ended, I thought I would be writing about Carmelo Anthony, his big 3-pointers, and crucial play on both ends at both forward spots, which we will get to eventually. But in Jusuf Nurkić’s first real game in over 16 months, he somehow made an even bigger statement than he did with his momentous play of 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, six blocks, and two steals, helping get the Blazers going on a second-half run that eventually sent the game to overtime, where Portland’s experience and grit eventually won out. Nurk fouled out late in the 4th quarter, but his impact helped get the ball rolling up the aggrocrag that are the electric Grizzlies. But after the game that Nurkić played, he made perhaps the biggest statement he could have made, illustrating the very true reality of the coronavirus and the situation of players in the bubble.
In a place where Lakers center Dwight Howard said he doesn’t believe in vaccines or wearing a mask, and Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. says he believes the coronavirus is a hoax for population control, Nurkić delivered the sobering reality of the virus unfortunately reinforced by family tragedy.
“Friday I couldn’t sleep at all,” Nurkić said. “It was in my mind to leave my family and just not play. She finally goes to the hospital in the first place. I told her if you don’t go I come. But I did have the thought not to play. Hopefully, she’s okay, I don’t know if I can help there more if I can help her from here.”
Nurkić even went on to describe the difficult nature of confronting your loved ones when they won’t do what is best.
“I was Facetiming my grandma in her house and told her to go to the hospital,” Nurkić said about his 67-year old grandmother Hana. “I’m not trying to get attention with all this. I’m just sure this little thing can save lives.”
The platform of NBA players has been justly used as a place to ask for Justice for Breonna Taylor and an end to the rampant willingness of police officers to shoot at Black citizens. But it has also unfortunately been used to diminish science by the players mentioned above, even as they sit in a science controlled environment, as Nurkić pointed out on Friday. Also, in addition to this game having been Nurk’s first in 16 months, it also seems like he kept the situation close to the vest. At least, Carmelo Anthony had no idea that Nurk’s grandmother had fallen ill.
But hey, instead of coronavirus, like we’ve talked about for the last four months, how about Jusuf the Hooper.
Nurkic did everything
I mean, come on. Physical screens, meeting Ja Morant at the peak of his jump, swinging the ball, Jusuf did it all today and was instrumental in helping swing the tide back in Portland’s favor late in the second half.
Before he fouled out, Dame made sure to get Nurk the ball in the post and it worked out to help get Portland going on the run they needed to after trailing by 11 in the 2nd half.
Carmelo Anthony, Top-20 scorer, worthy of your fucking respect
For the past, I don’t know, five years, I have been trying to get Carmelo Anthony on the Portland Trail Blazers. Hell, I remember going on a work trip to New York and recording a podcast with my pal in basketball and vegetarian cuisine, Corbin Smith, about how bad it was needed for Anthony to be a Trail Blazer. After all, burning out in New York and coming to Portland is a time-honored tradition with legendary results. I have wanted Anthony on this team for so long, after years of watching Moe Harkless, Al-Farouq Aminu and Evan Turner take that wide-open 3-pointer. In the last two minutes of the game, he hit two crucial 3-pointers and came dangerously close to hitting a game-winner in the final seconds before Ja Morant stumbled in the Grizzlies the last attempt.
Olympic Melo. Prime Knicks Melo. Prime Portland Melo. Summer Melo. Whatever it is, keep doing it.
Nevertheless, Carmelo finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, including the biggest shots the Blazers needed when the Grizzlies worked hard to take away the clearest avenues for Dame and CJ. Did I yell in my apartment and risk a noise complaint with the statement “MELO DA GAWD”? Who's to say?
Guard Play Still Reigns Supreme
The Blazers guards were incredible tonight and in terms of scoring CJ McCollum deserves top billing. Aka Game 7 CJ. Aka Big Game CJ. Aka Money McCollum. Aka CJ Billions. He led the way tonight with 33 points and in every way was the best guard on the court this evening. Ja Morant, rookie of the year, sit down. Damian Lillard, consummate leader, and MVP candidate, still not at the level CJ was at tonight. CJ gets Player of the Game tonight. But Dame, being the leader he is didn’t let the game get away from him even without a 3-point shot.
Lillard had 29 points and nine assists while only accumulating three turnovers and also coming through with a clutch lay-up that he finished through contact. Not to mention he caught a knee to the calf that should receive 24-7 attention from the Blazers medical staff as they prepare to face an even better Boston Celtics team on Sunday.
And finally, Gary Trent Jr. continues to show that he’s ready to be a big minute player. When Nurkic fouled out of the game, rather than go to Whiteside, Stotts went to the 2nd year guard who has shown a flair for strong defense and big-time shot-making. With 17 points, 4-5 on 3-pointers, and incredible defense on Ja Morant, as well as Grayson Allen and DeAnthony Melton, the Blazers guards had a clean sweep tonight in the battle of the backcourts.
More importantly than anything else, Portland has cut their deficit on the Grizzlies to 2.5 with seven to play. If they wanna get greedy, having the upper hand in the 8-seed play-in isn’t out of reach.