Minnesota Sports Forum

I find it ridiculous that Shabazz Muhammad can only get 4 minutes a game this year. I have waited patiently for "his turn" because I mistakenly thought that we had a legitimate playoff team, and that the veteran players ahead of him deserved their chance to lead this team to the playoffs. I was wrong. The last two weeks have proven to me that the Wolves are still most likely a lottery team. And they have also proven to me that the guys playing ahead of Shabazz just aren't good enough to freeze him out. Here are some of the reasons he needs to start seeing the court...starting tonight.

1) The players ahead of him just aren't that good. Brewer, Hummel, Budinger and LRMaM have all gotten regular minutes at the small forward at times, unlike Shabazz, even though each has significant weaknesses. I would argue that, except for Luc defensively, all are below average offensively and defensively (Corey's thin frame and inability to rebound makes him, at best, an average defender). If any one of them had elite skills, I could continue to be patient...but they don't.

2) Shabazz has shown an ability to score everywhere he has played, including in the pros in his recent D league stint. I recognize that he was not the most efficient scorer in his one year in college, but there were reasons why I think that should be overlooked (primarily his poor relationship with his point guard). And you cant ignore the fact that he is the all-time freshman scoring leader in the Pac 12.

3) All other NBA coaches are giving minutes to last year's first rounders...everyone of them. I'm going to document this in more detail in another thread, but if you look at the 27 2013 first rounders (not including injured Noel and two Euro-stashes), the fewest minutes per game is Shabazz with 4, and the second fewest is Dieng with 5! 20 of them are averaging double digit minutes. And please don't argue that they are getting minutes because they are playing better than Shabazz or Dieng...I will document in another thread some of the horrible stats certain rookies are putting up, while their coaches allow them to gather some valuable NBA experience. Adelman's refusal to play his two rookies is way out of the NBA norm, and not good for the Wolves long-term.

4) The Wolves are losing their fans. Misty and Lip have commented on how dead Target Center has felt recently, and it's only going to be worse in March as another playoff-less season winds down. I know that my interest is beginning to wane. Three things keep a fan base interested: 1)Winning (apparently not going to happen this year 2) A charismatic, flashy star player (Love puts up incredible numbers, but he does it mostly with determination and grit, and isn't the type of player that keeps fans motivated), and 3) a rookie, or new player to provide some hope. We need some hope, and most savvy fans aren't seeing it in the 9-10 players getting the minutes. Fans need to see what Shabazz can do.

5) I recognize we are over stocked with small forwards, but Adelman has said that offensively the 3 and 4 positions are interchangeable. I would rather see Shabazz at the 2, allowing Shved to move to his more natural point guard position, than continuing to go with Barea and Shved as our backup guards.

I will be watching at least the first half tonight, and will be disappointed if Shabazz doesn't start getting some floor time starting tonight.

Free Shabazz. I am with you LST. Give the fans something to cheer about.

@LST

Overall I agree the future is what our team should revolve around seeing how we are no where near a team that can make a playoff run. I'm sorry for those that see the playoffs as a possibility...OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE.

1. I think your a little off in #1 down playing the ability of some of these players a little much. However your main point of they shouldn't hold back Shabazz is spot on!

2. All points are good but don't be surprised if Shabazz doesn't translate the same in the NBA.

3. Adelman is X & O's type of guy that can put an offesive system in place, however there are tons of flaws to his overall coaching. Not just here in MN, his HOU and SAC days were good unless you really look at the teams he had and realize they should have done more.

4. Another valid point please give me something to watch other than bad chemistry and players complaining to refs!

One last note, I want to see Shabazz play because if he can improve mostly on defense or with not always going to his left then I have hope that he might become a good player. If I see no improvement and he's as rank on defense as I think then I can totally forget about him. Either way for the love of god please give our long term players some time or make a trade, make a starting lineup change. Something to generate interest!!!!!!!

Long -- I have serious doubts about Shabazz and have little confidence in his prospects as a productive NBA player. But I think you make a persuasive case for playing him at this point in the season. If nothing else by all accounts he'll play hard. and he has demonstrated a knack for scoring and offensive rebounding at every level he's played before coming to the NBA. We drafted him, now let's play him.

Your analysis makes me happy

I'd like for us to play Shabazz a bit more

Markkbu and Lipoli, I sense the reservation in your endorsement of Muhammad, and I have to admit that I share it. My plea for him to play more is based more on the ho-hum quality of the guys getting minutes ahead of him and the excitement that a "new guy" provides, than it is based on my hopes for Shabazz becoming a star. I know it was only garbage minutes in the last game, but I was disappointed in his last game. There were a couple times he could have gone to his right hand, but he stayed with his left and was stopped. This was really disappointing to me because of all the work he did in the offseason incorporating his right hand into his game. He just hasn't shown any improvement here, and NBA defenses will be able to take advantage of this weakness more than NCAA defenses did.

That said, I'm convinced that if he is given 15-20 minutes a game, he can put up numbers at least as good as the other 2013 first rounders (not a very high bar), and show the front office whether he has a future or not.

Much like Budinger... and Derrick Williams before him and Malcolm Lee before him and Chris Johnson and Rashad McCants, et al... I just want to see Muhammad get minutes, so we can put the next great hope hype to rest.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Much like Budinger... and Derrick Williams before him and Malcolm Lee before him and Chris Johnson and Rashad McCants, et al... I just want to see Muhammad get minutes, so we can put the next great hope hype to rest.

I agree that we need to see what we have with Muhammad...practice and D League games don't tell us enough about his potential or lack thereof.

Just speaking for myself, I never had much hope for any of the names you mentioned. Oddly enough, I have to admit I held some hope for Wes Johnson before I realized how soft he was. I recognize Muhammad's flaws, but the combination of his prior success plus his relentless work ethic (Derrick and Wes, are you listening?) gives me more hope for him than that collection of ne'er-do-wells you listed.

Adelman on Shved:

"You see things in practice and everything else," Adelman said. "If you see a young guy who has talent? And there is a spot there, for minutes? You have to put him on the floor and you've got to let him make mistakes. Because that's how they're going to learn. I've always thought this was a game of mistakes. It's just that you don't want too many. But you have to try things, to work through it."
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/241220861.html

Clearly according to Adelman's logic Shabazz just doesn't have talent like Shved.