NBA: 5 x-factors heading into the final 20 games of the regular season

Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are desperately trying to catch the 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies, and in this final stretch, they’re getting back one of their better players, Jusuf Nurkic. Though, it’s difficult to project what they’ll be able to get in Nurkic.

It’s been almost a full year since we last saw Nurkic in a Blazers uniform, and it’s difficult to gauge how he’s going to look and what type of shape he’ll be in. Not to mention what type of role he’s going to be given. However, when he was healthy, he was an extremely effective player for the Blazers.

Last season before the injury, Nurkic averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists per game on 51 percent shooting from the floor. He will add much-needed depth to the team’s frontcourt and will give the Blazers another true center option next to Hassan Whiteside.

He could jumpstart this team and could lead them into the playoffs (with a little help from the Grizzlies in the process).