Kori Ellis
04-13-2005, 01:17 AM
Mohammed grabs rebounding role
Web Posted: 04/13/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Finger
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041305.5E.BKNspurs.mohammed.1d115eeb5.html
Nazr Mohammed has a checklist when it comes to rebounding, and grabbing the ball isn't the only desired result on it.
Sometimes, shots carom off the other side of the rim where he can't reach them. That's when he has to get creative.
"When I don't get them," Mohammed said, "I like to cause a little ruckus so my teammates can get there."
In the Spurs' 95-89 victory over Portland at the SBC Center on Tuesday, Mohammed's rebound-grabbing and ruckus-raising skills were in peak form. He finished with 14 rebounds — seven on offense — and caused enough mayhem to help the Spurs out-rebound the Trail Blazers 51-38.
Mohammed's 12 first-half boards were as many as Rasho Nesterovic — the injured center he replaced in the Spurs' lineup — had collected in any full game this season. In two games as a starter, Mohammed has racked up 29 rebounds, with 17 on the offensive end.
"We brought him in to rebound, and that's what he's doing," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's starting to feel comfortable in his role."
Some of that comfort has been due to his increased minutes. With Nesterovic out with a sprained ankle, Mohammed is seeing the most playing time he's had since being traded to the Spurs from the Knicks on Feb. 24.
After playing 34 minutes at Golden State on Sunday, he played 31 against Portland. Teammate Tony Massenburg said it's no coincidence that Mohammed is enjoying some of his best performances with the Spurs.
"All he needed was minutes," Massenburg said. "Basketball's a rhythm game, whether it's shooting, rebounding, defending, whatever. He's getting his rhythm back."
Mohammed said he knows he's in for a good night when he gets a few offensive rebounds early. That happened Tuesday, when he put back his miss with a dunk in the first quarter, then grabbed four more offensive boards in the first half.
"I'm one of those few guys who has a knack for where the ball is going to come off, especially offensive rebounds," Mohammed said. "Once I get a few of those, I get into a rhythm where everything else gets a lot easier."
But not necessarily his scoring touch. Mohammed, a 53-percent field-goal shooter this season with the Knicks, has made fewer than 40 percent of his shots with the Spurs.
On Tuesday, he scored 10 points but went only 5 of 14 from the field.
"I've been kind of disappointed in how I'm shooting the ball," Mohammed said. "I'm usually a high-percentage guy."
Still, he's not going to get too worried about a part of his game that he admits isn't a big reason why the Spurs acquired him.
"I'm here to rebound and defend," Mohammed said. "Anything else is just a throw-in."
Web Posted: 04/13/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Finger
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041305.5E.BKNspurs.mohammed.1d115eeb5.html
Nazr Mohammed has a checklist when it comes to rebounding, and grabbing the ball isn't the only desired result on it.
Sometimes, shots carom off the other side of the rim where he can't reach them. That's when he has to get creative.
"When I don't get them," Mohammed said, "I like to cause a little ruckus so my teammates can get there."
In the Spurs' 95-89 victory over Portland at the SBC Center on Tuesday, Mohammed's rebound-grabbing and ruckus-raising skills were in peak form. He finished with 14 rebounds — seven on offense — and caused enough mayhem to help the Spurs out-rebound the Trail Blazers 51-38.
Mohammed's 12 first-half boards were as many as Rasho Nesterovic — the injured center he replaced in the Spurs' lineup — had collected in any full game this season. In two games as a starter, Mohammed has racked up 29 rebounds, with 17 on the offensive end.
"We brought him in to rebound, and that's what he's doing," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's starting to feel comfortable in his role."
Some of that comfort has been due to his increased minutes. With Nesterovic out with a sprained ankle, Mohammed is seeing the most playing time he's had since being traded to the Spurs from the Knicks on Feb. 24.
After playing 34 minutes at Golden State on Sunday, he played 31 against Portland. Teammate Tony Massenburg said it's no coincidence that Mohammed is enjoying some of his best performances with the Spurs.
"All he needed was minutes," Massenburg said. "Basketball's a rhythm game, whether it's shooting, rebounding, defending, whatever. He's getting his rhythm back."
Mohammed said he knows he's in for a good night when he gets a few offensive rebounds early. That happened Tuesday, when he put back his miss with a dunk in the first quarter, then grabbed four more offensive boards in the first half.
"I'm one of those few guys who has a knack for where the ball is going to come off, especially offensive rebounds," Mohammed said. "Once I get a few of those, I get into a rhythm where everything else gets a lot easier."
But not necessarily his scoring touch. Mohammed, a 53-percent field-goal shooter this season with the Knicks, has made fewer than 40 percent of his shots with the Spurs.
On Tuesday, he scored 10 points but went only 5 of 14 from the field.
"I've been kind of disappointed in how I'm shooting the ball," Mohammed said. "I'm usually a high-percentage guy."
Still, he's not going to get too worried about a part of his game that he admits isn't a big reason why the Spurs acquired him.
"I'm here to rebound and defend," Mohammed said. "Anything else is just a throw-in."