Nazr: I'll Never Be A Shotblocker

[timvp]

NAZR SAYS HE WASN'T RIGHT FIT
By MARC BERMAN

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/40859.htm

March 8, 2005 -- Former Knicks starting center Nazr Mohammed doesn't want to hear team brass claim he wasn't a shotblocker, a low-post scorer or worth building around.

"I thought I played a good first half of the season and then tried to play hurt," Mohammed told The Post in a telephone interview from San Antonio. "I couldn't give it my all. It's a lesson I learned.

"I feed off what my teammates give me. I care about rebounding and defense. I always kept my man off the glass. I played help defense. You can't look at the (scoring) numbers."

When the Nets play in San Antonio tonight, Mohammed will be glued to the bench, as the Spurs will rest him until his groin injury heals. Mohammed had a huge December before tailing off in 2005. In early February, he strained his groin and became inefficient. Still, the trade was panned because it left the Knicks center-less.

"I knew I could be traded but I thought it would be for a center," Mohammed said. "Isiah [Thomas] told me he wasn't looking to trade me but because he got two first-round picks, he felt it was the only way he could rebuild the team."

Thomas' thinking was that because Mohammed couldn't post up, he clogged the middle. As such, Isiah preferred a more versatile power forward. "I happen to like Malik Rose better than Nazr Mohammed," Thomas said last week.

On Sunday, Herb Williams noted the club hasn't had a shotblocker this season.

"I'll always be a good defender," Mohammed said. "I'll never be a shotblocker. If that's what the team needs, I was not the right center for them."

[timvp]

How can you be 6'10.75" and come out and say you'll never be a shotblocker? He's fairly athletic, has long arms and plays the center position. How come he's already given up?

Odd.

[waly.mg]

Sometimes the players say thing like that, but after make another things

Manu always sayed, that he´s not a Shooter

[ggoose25]

does not sound like good news coming from the horse's mouth...

But even if he concedes that he's not a natural shotblocker, I still have hope that his +4 inches on Malik translate into a helluva lot more blocks than we were getting before.

Plus I think the spurs defensive scheme puts him in position to succeed as a decent blocker if he can get it down.

Maybe its just wishful thinking, but I'm ready for him to get his feet wet and for Pop to play him already!

[exstatic]

In the right system (translate, SA) he can block shots. It's not like he's Kevin Willis, with those 2 foot arms.

The Spurs system is designed to do two things: funnel guys along the baseline to the bigs, and rotate to cover. Once he learns the system and trusts his teammates, he'll be comfortable committing to the shot block, knowing that someone will rotate to take his man

[timvp]

Blocking shots is 90% effort, so if he's given up ... there's little hope that he'll ever be a shotblocker.

Another thing that is odd to me is Nazr is out for these last few games with a pulled groin. That's all fine and dandy but then why is he dressed out and going through the layup line throwing down tomahawk and reverse dunks? If he's so injured, why isn't he in an Armani suit resting up?

:wtf

[Kori Ellis]

That's all fine and dandy but then why is he dressed out and going through the layup line throwing down tomahawk and reverse dunks? If he's so injured, why isn't he in an Armani suit resting up?

Yeah I thought that was weird last game. He was throwing down dunks right and left in warmups. But then when someone asked Pop in the locker room after the game if he would have gotten in if the game was a blow out, Pop said, "No, he's injured." :wtf

[bigzak25]

that's a damn good point timvp.
it's no wonder you are saying Pop is in full coddle mode.


wassup Pop? can the kid play or not? :wtf

[Jimcs50]

Shot blocking is an art form, it relies more on timing than pure height. Not every tall player is a shot blocker. Artis Gilmore and Will Perdue were not shot blockers when you look at their height. I do not think Artis who was 4 inches taller than Nazr, averaged 2 blks a game.

[ggoose25]

pop is just waiting for the heat to cool down about the malik trade. the groin injury is the perfect cover... hes scared Nazr is a bust and is delaying his debut as long as possible. Grow a pair and play him already

[Solid D]

He doesn't have the numbers of a shot-blocker. This article is not news to me.

What Nazr does do well, he's done since he was at KY. He rebounds well, especially on the offensive boards, he defends and he can score. He was a better scorer at KY than Magliore the year they won the Championship. He was moved to the starting lineup that year after a few games when Tubby Smith thought he injected more points into the offense.

That's what he does. He do what he do.

[bigzak25]

do not say hedo... thanks. :p

[Solid D]

That's my Moses Malone speak. :fro

[boutons]

"never" is a strange comment. I don't give it full credibilty as his complete, inatlerable position.

Rasho isn't that athletic and he blocks well enough, which does take some co-ordination and timiing. Nazr is probably a more coordinated player (somewhat darket complected than Rasho) and could pick up shot blocking "if that's what his team requires".

the groin injury is the priority issue 1,2,3 with Nazr now. Glad to see his stats collapse after the first of the year was injury related. If he could give us the Spurs his Knicks stats of nov/dec, not a "bust', but gangbusters!!

[FromWayDowntown]

It almost sounds like there are some who are secretly hoping that Nazr will be a bust. I can't fathom that sentiment, but if it exists, so be it.

I have the sense that the article recounts Nazr's frustrations with the Knicks (particularly Isiah) and is a blast back at them. I'd hope that he's frustrated by people thinking his game is limited and inclined to show that they're wrong.

Besides, does it matter that Nazr isn't a shot blocker if he proves to be a shot changer and an aggressive rebounder? Would you rather have a guy who can block 3 shots a night, but who is passive on the boards; or a guy with length who blocks a shot every other night, but can get you 10-12 rebounds almost every night? I realize that the ideal is a shot blocker who rebounds, but that's not an option right now.

I'd take the shot changer/rebounder every night.

[Kori Ellis]

I'd take the shot changer/rebounder every night.

I'd settle for anyone who gets on the court at this point.

The regular season ends in six weeks. I'm becoming worried that if Nazr doesn't heal quickly, he's not going to have time to acclimate to the system. I'm not advocating him playing hurt, but I'd like him to heal very fast.

[PM5K]

I have to disagree with what he's said. I think averaging one block per game this season makes him a shot blocker, not a great shot blocker but a shot blocker. Malik Rose was not a shot blocker (0.2).

You also have to understand that Tim Duncan (2.7) and Rasho Nesterovic (1.6) help make us the best shot blocking team in the league (6.5) and you can only imagine how many shots they alter so having a guy that can come off the bench and give you one block per game in twenty-five minutes is pretty damn good.....

I think without Nazr's .50 as a Spur we would be tied with Miami at fourth in the league....

[Solid D]

Nazr Mohammed
San Antonio Spurs
Position: C
Height: 6-10 Weight: 250
College: Kentucky '99
2004-05 Statistics
PPG 10.7
RPG 8.0
APG .5
SPG .95
BPG .96
FG% .507
FT% .703
3P% .000
MPG 27.5


Like he said. He's not a shotblocker. He does pull down over 3 offensive rebounds per game which puts him in a Tim Duncan category on the O-Boards.
He gets garbage buckets too.

Just get healthy, dude.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'd settle for anyone who gets on the court at this point.

The regular season ends in six weeks. I'm becoming worried that if Nazr doesn't heal quickly, he's not going to have time to acclimate to the system. I'm not advocating him playing hurt, but I'd like him to heal very fast.

I agree with that, but if its a nagging thing, Pop is probably doing the right thing to rest him now. Why not give Nazr some practice time to get acclimated while saving that groin from the wear-and-tear of game situations right now. Better to rest him now and let it get healed than to rush him out there and have him aggravate it to the point of his missing substantial time later. It's frustrating, but I think it's the right move.

[timvp]

It almost sounds like there are some who are secretly hoping that Nazr will be a bust.

I don't see any of that in this thread. I, for one, really want Nazr to do well. This team needs another big man in the rotation if they want to win the championship. I don't think that Rasho and Horry next to Tim will be enough. They need a guy who can go in there and get seven points and five rebounds in 15 minutes per game.

I think Nazr is the guy for that job.

[Mr. Body]

Being a shot blocker isn't "pure effort." It's a talent like any other. Some guys simply anticipate better than others. I would think an ineffective shot blocker simply "trying harder" would wind up with more fouls and less rebounds, due to being out of position.

Yao Ming only gets 1.9 blocks a game. Brad Miller gets about 1.5. Neither are known for being shot blockers.

Theo Ratliff and Samuel Dalmbert are 'shot blockers.' That's what they're known for, that's their designation.

Nazr Mohammed, who has blocked one shot a game this year, nothing to sneeze at, is saying that he will never be known as a 'shot blocker.' It doesn't mean he'll never block shots, but that it's not something he'll ever be known for.

[Jimcs50]

my question again, is WTF did we trade for another broken down Knick???

Did we not learn anything with Charles Smith?

This is looking like a horrible mistake. At least Rose was available to come in and get rebs at a high clip.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't see any of that in this thread. I, for one, really want Nazr to do well. This team needs another big man in the rotation if they want to win the championship. I don't think that Rasho and Horry next to Tim will be enough. They need a guy who can go in there and get seven points and five rebounds in 15 minutes per game.

I think Nazr is the guy for that job.

I'm not accusing you of being in that group, timvp. I just read that into some of what is posted around here concerning Nazr -- and I should clarify that I'm not talking exclusively about this thread. It seems fairly pervasive to me.

Some of the Malik-o-philes are almost giddy, it seems, at the idea that Pop will be proven wrong and pay dearly for having traded Malik.

I think Nazr, all things considered, brings more to the table when healthy than Malik did. On that basis, I think it was a great move.

[FromWayDowntown]

Brad Miller gets about 1.5.

* * * *

Nazr Mohammed, who has blocked one shot a game this year, nothing to sneeze at, is saying that he will never be known as a 'shot blocker.' It doesn't mean he'll never block shots, but that it's not something he'll ever be known for.

I think Brad Miller is the poster boy for a guy becoming a legitimate shot blocker/shot contester. When he played in Chicago and Indiana, Miller had horrendous defensive numbers for a guy of his size -- he was tough, but he did very little to affect shots. Since he moved to Sacramento, though, his shotblocking numbers have gone through the roof. Even an old dog can learn some new tricks. If Brad Miller can multiply his blocked shots per game by a change of scenery, Nazr can do the same. If he just maintains his current pace while in San Antonio, he'll add to the Spurs' defensive prowess.

[smeagol]

Even though a good blocker always comes in handy, we have the best blocker in the league, TD, and a fairly decent one, Rasho.

[ducks]

rose was not avaiable when he was in pop's doghouse

[Jimcs50]

better to be in the doghouse every now and then, than sitting on the bench taking up space with a broken wheel the whole year.

[ducks]

atleast he has a tradeable contract if he fails to produce
he only has one year left after this year
spurs tried to trade rose for a long time but could not

[FromWayDowntown]

better to be in the doghouse every now and then, than sitting on the bench taking up space with a broken wheel the whole year.

isn't that a bit of hyperbole? Nazr has missed two games, and will likely miss a few more. He's got a nagging injury that's been hampering him since December because it hasn't gotten any rest. It's not like he's got some chronic affliction that will shorten his career.

[Solid D]

It's not like he's got some chronic affliction that will shorten his career.

http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/todd_macculloch.jpg

Oh no, Nazr MacCulloch Mohammed! :wow :wow :wow :wow

[mookie2001]

nazr is 6-10
he'll get a clutch putback
he'll dunk and jump (off the ground)
and pop will be like "aw, i thought it gonbe He-Man"

[Jimcs50]

isn't that a bit of hyperbole? Nazr has missed two games, and will likely miss a few more. He's got a nagging injury that's been hampering him since December because it hasn't gotten any rest. It's not like he's got some chronic affliction that will shorten his career.

yes, I am exaggerating, I hope. I am bored.

[ChumpDumper]

Well, he had an 8 block game earlier this season. I suppose it depends on your definition of shotblocker. Isiah definitely needs someone to erase all their perimeter defenders' mistakes and just plain lack of effort on D; Nazr definitely is not that kind of blocker. In this system I could see his block numbers going up. If he ever gets healthy [/Bring Back Rose Brigade].

[Solid D]

I'd like to think Nazr is sort a "Renascence Man". :hat

[picnroll]

He got a nice block on Jalen Rose where he elevated to wipe away a jumper. He seems to have the tools to be a decent shotblocker.

[exstatic]

OK, medical folks, isn't a groin injury more susceptable to lateral movement than jumping? I don't think dunking would be all that big a deal. Setting screens or moving laterally on D would be.

[exstatic]

my question again, is WTF did we trade for another broken down Knick???

Did we not learn anything with Charles Smith?

This is looking like a horrible mistake. At least Rose was available to come in and get rebs at a high clip.

Jim, take a deep breath (of NO2). A nagging groin, which Pop is smart enough to rest, is NOT EVEN CLOSE to a bone on bone knee, which is what Charles Smith the first had. If the Knicks had been smart enough to shut him down for a week or 10 days, we never would have gotten him because his production would have gone back up.

[blackbucket]

Pop said on the Ticket that it is better that Nazr be healthy than knowing what is going on out there. I take that to mean even if it takes until the playoffs to get healthy, so be it. That is a disaster waiting to happen. I really hope he has a resilient sack and nuts up (so to speak). A good, solid month of 15 to 20 mpg before the playoffs begin should be sufficient.

[sickdsm]

I'd rather have a good defender than a good shotblocker. Eddie Griffen is a great shotblocker but a horrible defender. Kandi is a good shotblocker but a poor defender (alot of the time). Great shotblockers pick up fouls and go for pumpfakes more than great defenders. Griffen blocks more shots than KG but he's still a poor defender.

[milkyway21]

if Nazr can't block, then what happened to his season high 8 blocks against New Jersey on 12/14/04?
i think he can, he's not just as good or consistent as Ratliff, AK, TD or Rasho.

[ShoogarBear]

I'm not specifically concerned about shotblocking. Bill Laimbeer, for instance was a good defender who didn't block a lot of shots.

But he's got to be a physical presence in the paint on D. And in Pop's system, he'll get his share of blocks.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I think Nazr will become a shot blocker in the Spurs system. I still don't get why some here are looking for any proof that he's a bust.

He's a Spur now, and everyone needs to be getting behind him like they get behind everyone else. I can't fathom how people already want to say he's this or that when they really haven't even seen him play in the Spurs system.

[milkyway21]

..we need a big man who can shoot. That's what we are getting from Nazr. Let's leave the shot blocking to Rasho, that's his forte anyway.

regarding Nazr's playing time I'm really excited to see him play alongside TD. Hope Pops will let him play soon(NOT on PLAYOFF time, Pops :) ).

[ShoogarBear]

Rasho's theoretically a better shooter than Nazr. He certainly has more range.

[sickdsm]

.we need a big man who can shoot. That's what we are getting from Nazr. Let's leave the shot blocking to Rasho, that's his forte anyway.

Rasho was a shooting center before he left MN. If as a spur he can't shoot now i wouldn't expect Nazr or anyone to come in and do it. That would point to a coaching issue.

[exstatic]

That would point to a coaching issue.

The only team that HAD a coaching issue was Minnesota, and their Penthouse to outhouse fall. They've dealt with it, at least temporarily. Rasho had more room to operate in the paint in Minny, since Garnett was allergic to posting up. He doesn't have that room in SA since Tim lives there. It's not a coaching issue, it's a system issue.

[milkyway21]

The only team that HAD a coaching issue was Minnesota, and their Penthouse to outhouse fall. They've dealt with it, at least temporarily. Rasho had more room to operate in the paint in Minny, since Garnett was allergic to posting up. He doesn't have that room in SA since Tim lives there. It's not a coaching issue, it's a system issue. :p
CHOKED
:lol

[violentkitten]

man what the fuck kind of crackhead trade did the spurs make? i dont give a fuck how much $$$$ peter holt saved what a dumb fucking trade. this fucker is supposed to be better than malik because he's 3 inches taller but the pussy doesnt want to be a shotblocker. man fuck all ya'll.

[atlfan25]

Back in the day b4 Ken Griffey Jr. got hurt he always said he wasn't a home run hitter. Then he goes and hits 50+

not saying nazr is gonna be a top notch shot blocker, just that when athletes say things like that, it doesn't mean they have given up.

[Rummpd]

I believe there is more to him not playing now then the groin, Pop is trying to figure out whose minutes to "steal from" etc.

Although, it is obvious to us he should get some from Rasho it seems Pop has honed in on Horry and Massenburg again.

Hard to figure. They guy looks healthy enough to go in there and at least take up space and this would have seemingly been the week, but hey we are not the coach.

[ShoogarBear]

Could Mass get suspended for throwing the elbow?

If so, then Nazr better get his butt off the bench tomorrow night.

[boutons]

'suspended for throwing the elbow"

isn't any hit above the shoulders a suspension?

[Go-spurs-Go]

Whether Narz is a shotblocker or not is NOT the point. Blocking shots is just ONE way of defence. Sometimes, boxing out, getting offensive board, or being able to alter offender's shot is even more effective. Thus, even if Narz isn't a shotblocker, he can still be a good & tough defender! And, that's what the Spurs is looking for - a tough defender.

[Kori Ellis]

Pop said Nazr is likely to play Saturday against Denver.

[grjr]

'suspended for throwing the elbow"

isn't any hit above the shoulders a suspension?

I thought so.