NY POST: Nazr says he wasn't right fit

[spurscrazed]

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."

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

[pjjrfan]

Well, heres hoping he is the right fit for the Spurs.

[spurscrazed]

Originally Posted by pjjrfan

Well, heres hoping he is the right fit for the Spurs.

Amen, not only TD makes everyone around him better, but I do feel Nazr is in the right place too, we need a rebounder and defensive physical presence in the paint and he has that.

Hopfully he gets healthy soon.

"I'll always be a good defender," Mohammed said

[SpursErie]

So the Knicks, with the largest payroll in the league, are just rebuilding!

[knownalien]

shotblocking is overrated . . there are better ways to contribute.

[Spurd_On]

It must be an empty feeling for Nazr right now.

Your former GM speaks of being happy about acquiring draft picks and Rose.
Your new team's primary intention was not to acquire a starting center.
You are injured and can do nothing about it.
Sometimes a chain of bummer events in one's life can be the turning point.

It could be most interesting to see how Nazr handles it and what he becomes.

[Buzzsaw]

Originally Posted by knownalien

shotblocking is overrated . . there are better ways to contribute.

Don't agree with the first part, but agree with the second. Easy for a Spurs fan to say because we've always had shotblocking in recent years. David, Perdue, Tim, Rasho, Horry.

[WhiteChocolateJr]

Rasho IS a shotblocker.
Tim IS a shotblocker.

All we need is for Nazr to play smart D, clog the paint, grab boards and keep up with his rotations and he will get the minutes.

[knownalien]

Originally Posted by Buzzsaw

Don't agree with the first part, but agree with the second. Easy for a Spurs fan to say because we've always had shotblocking in recent years. David, Perdue, Tim, Rasho, Horry.

for someone of his "status" a shot block attempt is just another opportunity for a whistle.

we need him on the floor not in foul trouble.

[ProjectGSX]

Originally Posted by Spurd_On

It must be an empty feeling for Nazr right now.

If Nazr didnt feel appreciated in New York, then he came to the right place.

[bo spur]

It could be most interesting to see how Nazr handles it and what he becomes.

Well what I got out of the whole thing is the fact that he's already questioning if he should be here, thats not a good sign.

TD is the only true SHOT BLOCKER we have on the team, and thats enough for the best defensive team in the league. Just clog up the middle like Rasho does change a few shots and Nazr will be fine.

[ALSPURS]

I would like to see more of Nazr....

Can not get a feel of what he brings to the Spurs yet.

[Mikesatx4]

Originally Posted by JimmyFatSak17

To to your way of thinking...wouldn't that still make him a Spurs player?

Isiah better like Malik over Nazr, most of the league already thinks he is a jacka5s. More motivation for our guy when he is ready to play.

[lonestr]

There's more to all of this than what we are seeing. Don't take it to heart. Nazr was brought in for a very good reason and not just to test some sort of experiment. This organization bankrolls it's reputation on how each player fits in the team. I feel he will be a great fit, but right after he goes through the process of learning our plays and building that special chemistry all too unique in San Antonio. Problem is, we must all be patient with him. Don't expect Nazr to pick up where Malik left off because it will take time.

[ProjectGSX]

Originally Posted by ALSPURS

I would like to see more of Nazr....

Can not get a feel of what he brings to the Spurs yet.

Hard to see more with him injured. Given his stats in NY dropped off while he was playing injured, I think the best course of action is to let him rest and recover.

[ro_50]

Isiah ran the CBA into the ground and will do so w/ the Knicks, a run that began w/ Chicketts then Layden and now Isiah.

[Grego]

Originally Posted by ro_50

Isiah ran the CBA into the ground and will do so w/ the Knicks, a run that began w/ Chicketts then Layden and now Isiah.

He's competiting with the Yankees payroll. That's his goal.

[JimmyFatSak17]

Originally Posted by SpursErie

So the Knicks, with the largest payroll in the league, are just rebuilding!

Eeeeeek, I'd hate to see what happens when they start investing in the future !!!!

[Drachen]

Originally Posted by knownalien

shotblocking is overrated . . there are better ways to contribute.

Actually the first part of that is a main contributor to the second. If player a is driving in for a layup on player b (who just happens to avg 4 blocks a game) then player a will have to think a lot more about his shot selection.

[Supernatural Anesthetist]

Shot blocking isn't some innate talent. Though it does require certain skills it CAN be taught and cultivated. Rasho is MUCH more of a blocking presence and shot intimidator now than when he was with the Wolves. The first step is for Nazr to get 100% healthy, learn the basics of the offensive/defensive schemes, and get comfortable with his teammates---only then will we really begin to see his full potential.

The Spurs have been very successful at investing in talent that has not been given sufficient time/resources to develop fully and providing that time and investing the energy to make the player the best they can be. Nazr will reach his full potential as a player on the Spurs and I will be excited to see just how good he can become.