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NBA Awards Watch: Rookie Of The Year

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Nov 3, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) controls the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. The Rockets defeated the 76ers 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) controls the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. The Rockets defeated the 76ers 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 89-79. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

10. Jusuf Nurkić – Denver Nuggets/C

Last Week: No. 8

It’s tough to play inside of the paint for the Denver Nuggets. There are so many players on the front line who make a contribution nightly that coach Brian Shaw has to make difficult decisions each and every night. More so, it’s tough being Jusuf Nurkic.

The rookie finds himself as the last option in the platoon system that Shaw was implementing earlier in the season. 

Since Shaw has started to shy away from his platoon system, the minutes Nurkic was seeing earlier in the year are starting to go to JaVale McGee and Timofey Mozgov. The rookie still plays hard even in the limited minutes that he gets.

Against the Sacramento Kings, in five minutes Nurkic managed to score three points, grab five rebounds and get a block. The following game against the Sacramento Kings (it was a home and away), Nurkic only played one minute. 

The rookie is now averaging 3.3 points, and 4.7 rebounds per game. Best of luck to you attempting to get minutes. 

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