Blazers’ historical hole in the middle
As the great Jusuf Nurkic mystery leaves a cloud over the Warriors-Portland series, the Trail Blazers aren’t crazy about historical reminiscence. He’s a big man, he’s got some injury issues, and that’s a little too familiar for those convinced there’s a long-standing curse hovering over Portland centers.
If you want to go back to 1977, that’s fine. Bill Walton was a sparkling revelation that year, leading a cast of mostly obscure players to the championship (knocking off the 76ers of Julius Erving and George McGinnis) in a ball-movement symphony not unlike the Warriors’ brand today. Beyond that ... yikes. Sorry to bring this up now, Portland fans, but it’s a thing, downright depressing in its scope. Walton suffered a serious foot injury in 1978 and played only two more games in a Portland uniform. In 1984, with a chance to draft Michael Jordan after Hakeem Olajuwon went first overall, the Blazers chose center Sam Bowie, who could never get past an onslaught of debilitating injuries. In 2007, with Kevin Durant available, they instead drafted center Greg Oden, who turned out to have century-old knees.
Fabricio Oberto, an Argentine center who’d had some nice moments in Sacramento, signed with Portland as a free agent in 2010, played just five games and retired with a heart condition — and at this point, even the players felt the franchise was haunted. “When I was there (2010-12), people were saying, ‘Are we really cursed?’ ” center Marcus Camby told ESPN. “It’s hard to argue when it keeps happening year after year after year.”
Longtime Portland fans recall the sad case of LaRue Martin, a 6-foot-11 center drafted first overall — and a total bust over four awful seasons — ahead of Erving and Bob McAdoo in 1972. When the Blazers landed Russian center Arvydas Sabonis, one of the greats of international play, injuries and international commitments kept him abroad from the year Portland drafted him (1986) until the year he actually arrived (1995). He was 31, with a bit of magic left, but there was always a tinge of regret to his seven seasons with the club.
Now there is Nurkic, working through a fractured leg at the worst possible time. Perhaps uncertain, perhaps deliberately keeping Golden State in the dark, the Blazers still haven’t confirmed his availability for the series opener Sunday at Oracle Arena. At stake: merely Portland’s chances to make it competitive. Without the creative, multitalented Nurkic, there is no chance.
The always opinionated Rick Barry, appearing on John Canzano’s radio show in Portland, said he wouldn’t run the risk of Nurkic returning too soon and doing extensive damage to the leg. “I would never take the chance with somebody you knew was valuable to your future,” Barry said. “Especially in a series you knew your chances were remote to win, even if everything was going your way. I’d look to the future.”
What would be nice: Nurkic plays, and excels, throughout the series. The Warriors get a much-needed test after coasting through the stretch drive. Enough with the curse, already.
Around the NBA
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