Nazr Mohammed apparently has a case of Darko-itis and would rather not suffer the indignity of “garbage time.” From the Detroit News:
“I don’t like the garbage minutes, I can tell you that,” Mohammed said. “If he calls on me, I will play. But they might as well have Amir (Johnson) out there. He would get more out of those minutes than I would.”
Flip Saunders, meanwhile, doesn’t approve:
“As I have told players before, if you are willing to pick up your paycheck, then you should be willing to play when you are called upon to play.”
For more on this, check out the Detroit Free Press, Oakland Press and my post on the FanHouse.
Flip isn’t really being fair.
Shorter Nazr: “It is annoying, but I will play garbage time.”
Shorter Flip: “I can’t believe he said he wouldn’t play garbage time.”
I doubt Nazr reads this site at all, and if he does, then he should take this next statement to heart.
Nazr, you’re quite possibly the most hit or miss big man in the Eastern Conference. One game you make us forget about Ben Wallace but then the next 3 you make us regret not overspending to keep him. One game you have a double-double, the next 3 you have more fouls than points or rebounds.
You made the decision to sign with Detroit knowing that the shoes you were filling were going to be big. You lack the ability to play solid D against below average post players in the EAST. Jason Maxiell gives more effort on both ends of the court in 1 game than we see out of you in 3.
Nazr, you’re making $5+ million a season to ride the pine. While riding the pine is not the best position to be in considering you’re still relatively young, CWebb is only signed through this year so let’s look towards the future eh?
Nazr, I only have one other question for you though, since you’re so valuable. How come really the only value you held was for the right obtain a player like Marko Jaric? Noone wanted Marko Jaric, not even Cleveland, and Cleveland is where point guards go to die.
Think about this, and get back to me if you’d like.