Interesting Stats

[Lipoli390]

Two interesting Shabazz stats:

1. He has the 3rd highest FG percentage among the Wolves rotation players -- behind KAT and Gorgui.

2. Bazz has played 30 minutes or more in only 5 games. In those 5 games he's averaged 22.8 points.

I understand his weakness on the defensive end. But gives effort on that end of the courts and he rebounds. Bottom line is that Bazz can be a terrific scorer while also helping on the boards. And we're running out of time on his rookie deal to evaluate him.

We have 26 games left this season. Bazz should play 30 minutes minimum in every one of those games.

[bleedspeed]

Great stat. There is no reason he can't get 30+ a night. We need to determine is his stats a product of how he is played at the right time or his overall talent.

[Shumway]

Two interesting Shabazz stats:

1. He has the 3rd highest FG percentage among the Wolves rotation players -- behind KAT and Gorgui.

2. Bazz has played 30 minutes or more in only 5 games. In those 5 games he's averaged 22.8 points.

I understand his weakness on the defensive end. But gives effort on that end of the courts and he rebounds. Bottom line is that Bazz can be a terrific scorer while also helping on the boards. And we're running out of time on his rookie deal to evaluate him.

We have 26 games left this season. Bazz should play 30 minutes minimum in every one of those games.

The bold is one of the really frustrating things here. If it's genuinely a development year, there should be some plan around things like this.

From memory, the pairing of Wiggins and Bazz at the wings worked really well last year. Disappointing we haven't been able to see it enough this year to know if it's genuinely a combo that works.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

One play was emblematic of Shabazz's downside: That awful pick and pop pass that he threw ridiculously off target to KAT. It's simple plays like that which largely sabotage the good things he does. Yes, he scores with solid efficiency and has a high motor, but he is so bad with passing and defense that it's just tough to see him ever becoming a 30+ MPG starting wing in the NBA.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Great stat. There is no reason he can't get 30+ a night. We need to determine is his stats a product of how he is played at the right time or his overall talent.

Well, I am never fan of one dimensional scorers no matter who it is. In his 3 years here and in college, he was pretty much a one trick pony. Scorers who can't pass or defend shouldn't be major rotation players and should be role players if anything. While I've never been much of a fan of Bazz, he was at least ok last year--but he has regressed this year. I am not convinced he's ever going to substantially improve on his deficiencies. I would have liked to have moved him this year while he may have still have some trade value. Tonight he played well on the offensive end to have some positive impact on the game for the Wolves, but he sporadically teases us with these games. Most games his defensive lapses and poor passing end up hurting us more than the scoring he does. Have I completely written him off? Maybe only 95% so as perhaps there is some coach who could get through to him. I would want to see substantial improvement from him in overcoming his deficiencies before I would ever consider extending his contract.

[Duke13]

I go back and forth on Bazz. However even when I have doubts about his game I absolutely agree he needs to play 25-30 minutes consistently. Injuries prevented this from happening last year, I have doubts it would of happened without the injuries tho. I love his spirit, determination and the way he appears to work on his game. I think the most important thing for Bazz going forward is to play under a coach who believes in his skills sets and encourages him to just play. He hasn't had that here. I will say, I like watching Bazz but his tunnel vision is tough to watch. He gets the ball on that right wing, his head goes down and it's straight to the rim, he missed Lavine for a wide open stand still 3's twice last night as he was doing that move. Frustrating he didn't make that pass. I think part of that is coaching because nobody on the team makes that pass.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Does the fact that he scores well when given minutes a byproduct of more minutes...

... Or does he earn more minutes in those games by scoring enough to offset his other flaws?


(Note: I thought his "battle" with Carmelo was misguided. Anthony was only moderately engaged Up to that point. That changed.)

[bleedspeed]

Does the fact that he scores well when given minutes a byproduct of more minutes...

... Or does he earn more minutes in those games by scoring enough to offset his other flaws?


(Note: I thought his "battle" with Carmelo was misguided. Anthony was only moderately engaged Up to that point. That changed.)

My thoughts exactly. Either way play him or trade him. If Sam keeps playing Prince I would pull a "Money Ball" move and cut Prince so he has to play Shabazz.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Bazz can't play 30+ MPG's because he's an atrocious defender and frankly it doesn't matter if he tries hard or not, he's still really bad. No defense, no passing, no 30+ minutes. We know what he is and he is isn't good enough to be more than a 6th man scoring punch off the bench for 20-24 MPG's. His game doesn't fundamentally change when he gets more minutes. He just keeps hunting for buckets and offensive rebounds with tunnel vision while he gets torched from behind the arc on the other end of the floor. You can't play that guy 30+ minutes and expect to win the game because of his contributions. The only way he should even stay on this team is if he changes his game to match the few and far between performances he's had this year where he actually moved the ball. If he can't do that more times than not he has to go.

[Coolbreeze44]

Shabazz does not have the attributes you want to see in a starting wing, or one that gets at least 30 minutes per game. That being said, he is a valuable piece of a puzzle that can be a contender. The reason he occasionally gets big minutes is because he gets the hot hand in that particular game. Just giving him more minutes doesn't necessarily mean he's going to average 20 points per game. He's one guy that I think Sam handles properly. When he's got it going he rides him, when he doesn't he won't give him as much run.

Shabazz's biggest problem is coming to this team at the same time as Towns, Wig, and Lavine. If he were to come along a few years later, I think his value would be obvious and his role more clearly defined. But now he's kind of caught in this intra team competition while he's still trying to find his way in the league. It's a bad dynamic for him with the Wolves. Unfortunately, I think he will probably have to move on eventually. And when he does, he will find the same role with another team that he should be happy to have with the Wolves today.