<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NY Times 1/1/04 "Nazr Mohammed has never given himself a clever nickname or made a rap CD, and he would not know how to start a superstar feud. Shaquille O'Neal he is not. But Mohammed has, unexpectedly, become perhaps the best Eastern Conference center not residing in south Florida. Or the most consistently productive one, anyway. Mohammed, the Knicks' starting center, is averaging career highs of 12.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. He is also shooting 53.2 percent from the field. His hustle and grit have helped the Knicks (16-13) to first place in the Atlantic Division. And his steady production has put him squarely in the conversation about who should back up O'Neal in the All-Star Game on Feb. 20 in Denver.</div> Link (NYT - Subscription Required Hey I know I agree with the article and just wanted to see what everyone else thinks. <font color="Red">EDIT: Do not ever post the article in it's entirity. Post simply 2-3 paragraphs of the article, then provide a link. Future violations may result in a suspension or a banning from JustBBall.com</font> - Thanks, <font color="Blue">Knicks Analyst</font>
I think Nazr deserves to be an allstar but there is already Shaq Diesel, and Big Ben. What are they going to do with three centers? Nazr has improved a lot though, I wish he played for ATL...
lol Josh smith lookin kinda .... white. But yeah i dont want nazi to be in the allstar game (Hes not very entertaining) but he is playin like an allstar and should be a reserve
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 02civic:</div><div class="quote_post">i think there are other people more deserving. Though he has improved tremendously</div> Such as? ______ BobbyEscobar, you said you'd rather Nazr not be an all-star. Yet you think he deserves to be one and you're a Knicks fan. Why wouldn't you want him to be an all-star? :suspicous
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Who do you think is more deserving 02civic?</div> I know I'm not 02civic...to be fair Big Z comes to mind as does Big Ben. But he is a better offensive player than Big Ben and a better defensive player and rebounder than Big Z. But other than those two there is noone else. Truth is he does deserve to be an All Star but he probably wont make it because he isnt as popular as those two guys. But really...who cares? I know it's nice and all but it isnt a big deal. Alot of players are on the All Star team who dont deserve it. It isnt so much as the best players in the league competing againt each other as much as the most popular. As long as he keeps on putting up those all star numbers for the New York Knicks I'll be happy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">I know I'm not 02civic...to be fair Big Z comes to mind as does Big Ben. But he is a better offensive player than Big Ben and a better defensive player and rebounder than Big Z. But other than those two there is noone else. Truth is he does deserve to be an All Star but he probably wont make it because he isnt as popular as those two guys. But really...who cares? I know it's nice and all but it isnt a big deal. Alot of players are on the All Star team who dont deserve it. It isnt so much as the best players in the league competing againt each other as much as the most popular. As long as he keeps on putting up those all star numbers for the New York Knicks I'll be happy.</div> First off I'm assuming that Wallace would be taken at the 4. I didn't know he was listed for the center position on the ballots. Then again I simply checked Shaq's name as soon as I saw it so I wouldn't know. But If I had to choose between Illgauskus and Mohhamed at this stage in both of their careers, I would take Nazr with no hesitation. Just my 2 cents.
If the New York Knicks don't hold a respectable record come February, I don't think Nazr Mohammad will get picked, simple. If they do have a respectable record, there is a chance ......
Z would get the nod over Nazr, he's simply a more complete player. Older yes, but this the all-star game isnt about "up-side" or "potential" its about numbers, total skill and the aplication of that skill, so Z gets the node. Wallace....of course he's a center, he's always been. What is Rasheed gunna play the C? Wallace goes before Nazr, regardless of what Tribute to H20 thinks about Bens offense. Fact is Nazr's offense, while improving, isnt exactly ground breaking. Ben's defensive presence and his ability to rebound the ball, along with his nighly intensity make him a much more valuable player, and i would think an obvious selection to play ahead of Nazr. Who would you have start for the Knicks? Thats what i thought. And regardless, after the starting line up is choosen by fans its up to the coaches to pick the rest of the team. Chances are they'll only take 1 center, and they might not even do that since there are a few PF's of interest. Personally i would take Bosh over Nazr. There are alot of really good players that might not make the allstar selection that probably would deserve it more than Nazr. Look at the gaurds for example. With Kidd, Francis, Marbury, Hamilton, Hinrich, Hughes, LBJ, Pierce, Redd, Wade.....no way they're selecting 3 centers, and if they did, Nazr would still be the 4th option to most people.
I still think the logical thing to do, if coaches want to play to the East's strengths, is pick Okafor as a back-up centre, and then pick Pierce as a forward along with Jefferson and Jamsion, who seem assured. We saw a farce last season with Magloire being picked just because they felt they had to pick a back-up centre, and he was only getting around 11 and nine. I really like Mohammed, and I have him on my fantasy team so I am enjoying his success, but 12 and nine aren't really All-Star numbers, even by 'default'. Okafor is getting 16 and 12, pick him as your back-up big man and run with a smaller line-up.
I just think its too bad that 12.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg can get you allstar consideration as a center.Where the big men at?!
In as much as he is not scoring due to the offensively loaded team he is on, he still is 3rd in the NBA in FG%, and should atl east be considered. He made an all-star improvement no question.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">I still think the logical thing to do, if coaches want to play to the East's strengths, is pick Okafor as a back-up centre, and then pick Pierce as a forward along with Jefferson and Jamsion, who seem assured. We saw a farce last season with Magloire being picked just because they felt they had to pick a back-up centre, and he was only getting around 11 and nine. I really like Mohammed, and I have him on my fantasy team so I am enjoying his success, but 12 and nine aren't really All-Star numbers, even by 'default'. Okafor is getting 16 and 12, pick him as your back-up big man and run with a smaller line-up.</div> little off topic, but i just wanted to say that magloire ASG performance last season showed that he deserved to be there. if the east had won...he'd have been the mvp. he had a huge game and the coaches voted him in...how is that a farce? he deserved to be there cuz he got voted to be there...and he played well. but i do agree...his stats were hardly all-star material as for nazr, he deservs mention, but shouldnt go ahead of the ill gah-gah or big ben. even though ben's numbers arent huge...there is no question that he is a better player then nazr.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dj_premium_plus:</div><div class="quote_post">little off topic, but i just wanted to say that magloire ASG performance last season showed that he deserved to be there. if the east had won...he'd have been the mvp. he had a huge game</div> His numbers in the ASG are irrelevant to him getting there in the first place. Magloire did not put up All-Star numbers up to when the coaches vote, no matter how well he did after he was voted in. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">and the coaches voted him in...how is that a farce?</div> Coaches were/are told to go by position, therefore he basically got in by default.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">His numbers in the ASG are irrelevant to him getting there in the first place. Magloire did not put up All-Star numbers up to when the coaches vote, no matter how well he did after he was voted in.</div> sure...his performance in the game obviously have nothing to do with him getting there...i didnt need you to tell me that lol. im just saying he put up an all-star performance when he was there...anyone who said that he didnt deserve to be there kind of ate their words considering he was the easts mvp that game (if there is such a thing...and there isnt...but you know what im saying) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Coaches were/are told to go by position, therefore he basically got in by default.</div> i dont get it...how is he there by default? they had to vote on a center...they voted him as the center...seems pretty clear cut to me. default is like when antonio davis was an all-star. he replaced someone who was injured...thats default.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 02civic:</div><div class="quote_post">i agree with supersonic....okafor deserves the nod ahead of Nazr.</div> He's not a particularly large powerforward so he cant play center. What is so wrong with Nazr being in the All Star game when so many other players who dont belong there make it? His numbers are certainly good enough. In terms of efficiency I believe only two centers in the league are better than him, Yao and Shaq. I dont really care for the All Star game but it's obvious that Nazr has a strong case to back up Shaq in Denver. Big Ben is offensively challenged, we all know that, and Big Z is a weak defender and isnt as good of a rebounder. So Nazr probably does "deserves the nod".
I'd say Nazr has REALLY improved this season, but come on, he's not better than Big Z other than in rebounding. Biz Z is the better scorer, passer, and shot blocker. Then, you've got Emeka, who, even if Ilgauskas doesn't get in, will probably go ahead of Nazr. Or at least he deserves to much more. Plus, I don't think there will be more than 2 centers when you've got the east with more than enough excellent guards and forwards. And we ALL know that, pound for pound, Wallace is better than Nazr. As 02civic said, who would you rather have starting for you, Nazr or Ben? And even if Wallace's offensive numbers aren't good, neither are Nazr's. He isn't exactly amazing on offense either. And Wallace is better on defense, rebounding, and passing. Even Jeff Foster should get the nod over Nazr. His stats are better, he's averaging 11 points and 12.5 rebounds. I think that better than 12 points and 9 rebounds.
