Solid D
11-03-2005, 09:57 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110305.1C.BKNspurs.mohammed.214ee727.html
Web Posted: 11/03/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Less than a minute into the second half of Tuesday's season opener against Denver, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had seen enough. He barked at Rasho Nesterovic for helping allow a lob dunk, then turned to the end of his bench and summoned Nazr Mohammed.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/images/2005-2006/1103spurs_mohammed_jl.jpg
(Jerry Lara / Express-News)
Nazr Mohammed averaged 6.2 points and
6.4 rebounds last year in 23 regular-season
games with the Spurs.
Mohammed had not appeared in a game in almost two weeks, so Nuggets center Marcus Camby promptly welcomed him back, barreling through him on a misguided charge to the basket. The collision knocked Mohammed off his feet.
No one, however, would have been surprised to see the Spurs' center absorb the contact with a smile. Considering the carnival ride of emotions he experienced in October, Mohammed was happy enough to be back on the court, no matter the position.
"It's been a very hectic, up-and-down month to start the season," Mohammed said. "But my mind is at ease, and I'm ready to play ball."
Mohammed flew to Kentucky for the birth of his son, Nasir, the day after the Spurs opened exhibition play in Miami. He stayed with his family through the next three exhibitions before re-joining the team for games in Indiana and Louisiana.
Mohammed's wife, Mandy, however, developed a fever and had to be re-admitted to the hospital, forcing him to fly back to Kentucky. Almost as soon as she recovered, the couple's newborn son became sick, leading to another round of tests.
"Just waiting for the results to come back and find out what was wrong was tough," Mohammed said. "It was a 48- to 72-hour process."
Nasir and Mandy are both doing better, Mohammed said, allowing him to return to San Antonio last weekend. All told, he missed six of the Spurs' nine exhibition games and about two weeks of workouts.
In addition, Mohammed spent four weeks fasting during daylight hours in observance of the Islamic holy month, Ramadan. From sunrise to sundown each day, he abstained from food and liquids.
Wednesday was Mohammed's final day to fast. He lost almost 10 pounds, and the Spurs' training staff worked with him to ensure he stayed hydrated when allowable.
A lifelong Muslim, Mohammed has fasted each of the past six years. Last year, when he was with the New York Knicks, Ramadan overlapped with the first two weeks of the season. His play improved noticeably after the end of the holy month.
While fasting shrinks his stomach and occasionally saps his energy, Mohammed doesn't want to make a big deal of his commitment. Millions of Muslims — including a handful of NBA players like former Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon — do the same each year.
"It doesn't matter whether you're fasting playing basketball," he said, "or just fasting with your everyday life."
For now, Mohammed looks forward to getting re-acclimated with his teammates. During Tuesday's victory over the Nuggets, he had four points and one rebound in nine minutes. He also missed a couple of defensive assignments, earning a sharp rebuke from his coach.
Still, Popovich doesn't think Mohammed will need too much time to get back in the flow.
"He's in better shape than I expected after coming back from getting his family squared away," Popovich said.
Mohammed also had to learn on the fly last season after the Spurs acquired him on the day of the trade deadline in a deal that sent Malik Rose and a pair of first-round picks to New York. He started every game of the playoffs and played well for stretches, but he didn't expect to regain his job immediately after missing so much of training camp.
"I missed a lot of the mental work and physical preparation," Mohammed said. "It wouldn't be fair for guys who were here every day, practicing every day, playing in every game, for me to just go out there and play more minutes. It's only fair to let the guys who did the work get the opportunity to help us win games."
Although Mohammed lacks Nesterovic's soft hands — he fumbled away dump-off passes from the Spurs' guards several times last season — his aggressiveness eventually should help him win back his place in the lineup. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, he hopes to give the Spurs incentive to re-sign him. He already has told general manager R.C. Buford that his first choice is to remain with the team.
"I'd be lying if I said (the contract) wasn't in the back of my mind," Mohammed said. "But I know winners are always rewarded. That's my goal: To win, play hard and play well."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Web Posted: 11/03/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Less than a minute into the second half of Tuesday's season opener against Denver, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had seen enough. He barked at Rasho Nesterovic for helping allow a lob dunk, then turned to the end of his bench and summoned Nazr Mohammed.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/images/2005-2006/1103spurs_mohammed_jl.jpg
(Jerry Lara / Express-News)
Nazr Mohammed averaged 6.2 points and
6.4 rebounds last year in 23 regular-season
games with the Spurs.
Mohammed had not appeared in a game in almost two weeks, so Nuggets center Marcus Camby promptly welcomed him back, barreling through him on a misguided charge to the basket. The collision knocked Mohammed off his feet.
No one, however, would have been surprised to see the Spurs' center absorb the contact with a smile. Considering the carnival ride of emotions he experienced in October, Mohammed was happy enough to be back on the court, no matter the position.
"It's been a very hectic, up-and-down month to start the season," Mohammed said. "But my mind is at ease, and I'm ready to play ball."
Mohammed flew to Kentucky for the birth of his son, Nasir, the day after the Spurs opened exhibition play in Miami. He stayed with his family through the next three exhibitions before re-joining the team for games in Indiana and Louisiana.
Mohammed's wife, Mandy, however, developed a fever and had to be re-admitted to the hospital, forcing him to fly back to Kentucky. Almost as soon as she recovered, the couple's newborn son became sick, leading to another round of tests.
"Just waiting for the results to come back and find out what was wrong was tough," Mohammed said. "It was a 48- to 72-hour process."
Nasir and Mandy are both doing better, Mohammed said, allowing him to return to San Antonio last weekend. All told, he missed six of the Spurs' nine exhibition games and about two weeks of workouts.
In addition, Mohammed spent four weeks fasting during daylight hours in observance of the Islamic holy month, Ramadan. From sunrise to sundown each day, he abstained from food and liquids.
Wednesday was Mohammed's final day to fast. He lost almost 10 pounds, and the Spurs' training staff worked with him to ensure he stayed hydrated when allowable.
A lifelong Muslim, Mohammed has fasted each of the past six years. Last year, when he was with the New York Knicks, Ramadan overlapped with the first two weeks of the season. His play improved noticeably after the end of the holy month.
While fasting shrinks his stomach and occasionally saps his energy, Mohammed doesn't want to make a big deal of his commitment. Millions of Muslims — including a handful of NBA players like former Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon — do the same each year.
"It doesn't matter whether you're fasting playing basketball," he said, "or just fasting with your everyday life."
For now, Mohammed looks forward to getting re-acclimated with his teammates. During Tuesday's victory over the Nuggets, he had four points and one rebound in nine minutes. He also missed a couple of defensive assignments, earning a sharp rebuke from his coach.
Still, Popovich doesn't think Mohammed will need too much time to get back in the flow.
"He's in better shape than I expected after coming back from getting his family squared away," Popovich said.
Mohammed also had to learn on the fly last season after the Spurs acquired him on the day of the trade deadline in a deal that sent Malik Rose and a pair of first-round picks to New York. He started every game of the playoffs and played well for stretches, but he didn't expect to regain his job immediately after missing so much of training camp.
"I missed a lot of the mental work and physical preparation," Mohammed said. "It wouldn't be fair for guys who were here every day, practicing every day, playing in every game, for me to just go out there and play more minutes. It's only fair to let the guys who did the work get the opportunity to help us win games."
Although Mohammed lacks Nesterovic's soft hands — he fumbled away dump-off passes from the Spurs' guards several times last season — his aggressiveness eventually should help him win back his place in the lineup. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, he hopes to give the Spurs incentive to re-sign him. He already has told general manager R.C. Buford that his first choice is to remain with the team.
"I'd be lying if I said (the contract) wasn't in the back of my mind," Mohammed said. "But I know winners are always rewarded. That's my goal: To win, play hard and play well."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]