Closer look at: Shabazz Muhammad

[MYoung23]

I see Shabazz Muhammed and I see a player who will have to defend SGs in the NBA.

 

[The Process God]

I dont get why people are saying Shabazz needs the ball to be effective? Ive only watched a few of his games along with tonight's and I rarely saw him stop the ball movement. Most of his shots this game were spot up shots or on a fast break

I think people just look at a box score and think that anyone who scores a lot must've automatically had the ball in their hands a lot in order to do so.

 

[chrisrich91]

I'm not all that impressed by him. Seems like a very poor man's James Harden without the PG skills. So basically only Harden in terms of his scoring style, body type, and left handedness I guess.

I like McLemore a lot more as a SG prospect, but I'm still hoping teams that draft ahead of us take the smalls and leave us with our pick of the big man litter.

 

[The Process God]

I'm not all that impressed by him. Seems like a very poor man's James Harden without the PG skills. So basically only Harden in terms of his scoring style, body type, and left handedness I guess.

I like McLemore a lot more as a SG prospect, but I'm still hoping teams that draft ahead of us take the smalls and leave us with our pick of the big man litter.

Giving up on the 1st overall pick so soon? We fought pretty hard for that pick last season, and we had a lot more ground to make up for than we do this season. Once Varejao is moved and Wall comes back, we'll really start rolling in the losses. Nene has already made a big impact on making the Wizards not suck as badly. Now the Hornets just need to pick it up, and we're golden.

 

[Shack]

Can't help but see Wesley Matthews in this guy. Big SG/SF who can hit shots. Not sold on the rest of his game. He has the two things you don't really want in a slashing prospect, weak footspeed and middling ballhandling.

 

[BDaddy]

Is Shabazz is there, you take him. This draft isn't strong enough to draft for need. Dion can help us where we need it the most- the bench. Lord knows, he'll never be a starter on a contending team. It was no great miss taking him 4th, anyway. He's still better than Beal and TRob.

 

[*L-Train*]

a nice scouting report on Shabazz:

Freshman Prospects Before New Year's: Shabazz Muhammad


In the third edition of “Freshman Prospects Before New Year's”, I explore UCLA’s standout freshman Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad came to UCLA as the most highly touted recruit not named Nerlens Noel.

On top of being investigated and suspended by the NCAA for accepting impermissible benefits, Shabazz Muhammad was slowed by lingering shoulder and ankle injuries coming into this season. As a result, much of his early season production for UCLA has been more indicative of his time off from basketball, and thereby is less relevant in assessing his prospects as a future professional athlete. With that said, some information can be gleaned from his play early on, particularly if one takes into account the fact that he is/was out of shape.

First, it must be noted that Muhammad makes his greatest impact scoring the basketball. He has a variety of moves that should translate at the next level, and his outside shooting- which had been the subject of much criticism during his high school days- has shown some promise early on. Even with his injuries, he has managed to post the 17th best Offensive Rating in the country for those with usage on at least 28 percent of their team’s possessions.

Muhammad is effective offensively due to his prowess as a slasher. Standing at a solid 6’6, 223 lbs, Muhammad possesses elite strength for the collegiate level. On top of his brute force maneuvering towards the basket, Muhammad also has a 6’11 wingspan, which allows him to get his shot off in a variety of ways and shoot runners over defenders. While he did not show it early on, Muhammad does have a fairly quick first step and long enough strides to get to the basket in a hurry. He is a good vertical athlete is well, capable of finishing demoralizing dunks out in transition.

In addition to his physical tools, Muhammad does a nice job angling his body to shield the ball in order to finish at the rim. He attacks the body of shot blockers and draws fouls at a high rate. Specifically, he currently is averaging 6.3 fouls drawn per contest, which is the 73rd highest total in the nation. And, because of his superior physical profile, he is capable of finishing through contact at both this level and in the NBA. With that said, Muhammad must do a better job of keeping the ball high and not showing it on some of his drives. This bad tendency has enabled defenders to disrupt his offensive fluidity, by either tying him up or temporarily deflecting the ball.

And while Muhammad does have a serviceable enough handle, this area of his game could use some improvement. For starters, he only drives with his left hand. This allows defenders to angle him whichever way they want. For instance, early in the season when he was still out of shape, defenders were able to force him into difficult jump shots by cutting off the lane. With that said, Muhammad is typically strong with the basketball. He is effective on straight line drives to the hoop and is able to find and create seams in the defense. He implements an occasional Euro step, which is obviously most effective when he is out in transition. Overall, Muhammad must work to develop a more advanced handle so that he can create his shot off the dribble more effectively and not be so predictable off the bounce.

It is clear that Muhammad’s handle alone is not what makes him such a dynamic slasher. What allows him, then, to get in the lane and attack the basket apart from his overwhelming physical profile is the threat that he will pull up and utilize his solid in between game. When attacking the basket, Muhammad is capable of stopping on a dime and elevating over his defender for an open jump shot. He has a fairly quick release and his stroke continues to improve. Additionally, Muhammad does not always have to get all the way to the rim. Instead, he implements an effective running left hander in the lane, which freezes his defender and allows him enough room to get his shot off.

In terms of his decision making with the ball in his hands, Muhammad makes winning plays and willingly finds open teammates on the break. Still, his passing ability must be kept in context. Muhammad is a pure scorer who does not usually create for his teammates. Another area in which Muhammad must progress is with his shot selection. When he was struggling early in the season prior to dropping 15 lbs, Muhammad shot far too many contested mid range jumpers. In one-on-one situations, he is creative enough to get his shot off against virtually anyone at the college level. This means that he will often settle for difficult shots. In particular, he has a tendency to shoot a spinning, turnaround jumper to create separation from his defender. On this specific move, he does a nice job of squaring his body. However, while many players at the next level utilize such moves, Muhammad must come to realize that this is not the best shot selection, particularly for someone who is still improving as a shooter. Also, whenever Muhammad secures the ball on the offensive glass, he looks to put the ball back in, even when he is facing a double or triple team. In these instances, Muhammad must learn to kick the ball out and reset the offense.

While he is still coming into his own as a shooter, Muhammad is beginning to develop his long range shooting stroke. In early action, he has connected on 47.8 percent of his 23 attempts from three. While this is not a large sample size, Muhammad shows some promise coming off of screens. He curls baseline and is able to adequately use screens to free himself. When he is in the position to shoot, Muhammad does a nice job of squaring his body to the basket. He must continue to progress in these sets if he hopes to add a new wrinkle to his offensive game.

Further, due to his physical profile, Muhammad projects as a guard who can post up at the next level. When he gets the ball in the post at UCLA, he does a nice job of backing his man down and overpowering him for a basket. When UCLA isolates him in the post, Muhammad maneuvers quickly and usually is able to avoid the help. In spite of these strengths, Muhammad must do a better job of sealing his man on the block. He currently struggles to secure deep post position against lengthy players, and this was particularly evident in his matchups against Jamaal Franklin and Otto Porter. In those contests, Muhammad permitted these longer players to get their hands in the passing lanes and prevent the catch.

Muhammad’s other greatest strength is his high motor. While it was impaired early in the season due to his poor conditioning, Muhammad’s motor separates him as a prospect, as he is extremely active on both ends of the floor. This manifests itself on the offensive glass, in particular, where he ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in Offensive Rebounding Percentage, almost unheard of for a collegiate guard. Muhammad has a nose for the ball, and he collects rebounds all over the floor. He possesses decent box out fundamentals and his superior strength allows him to outmuscle bigger players at times. Muhammad also usually turns these offensive rebounds into tip in and putback opportunities. So even when his jumper is not falling, Muhammad is still able to score on sheer hustle alone. Further, Muhammad regularly beats his man down the floor and he converts this hustle into easy layup opportunities. Even when he does not receive the ball, he is often the first player back and generally plays with a lot of energy.

Muhammad’s high motor also translates on the defensive end of the floor. While he could still stand to improve on this end, he has done a nice job of cheating screens and staying with his man in recent action. Muhammad has decent lateral quickness and is strong enough to move players off of their spot. He has done a nice job of playing solid positional defense without fouling, committing only 2.4 fouls per 40 minutes (24th in the Pac-12). With this in mind, Muhammad has done a poor job of recovering after he is beat off the dribble. He must do a better job of angling his man to the help. Muhammad has also, at times, slacked on close out opportunities, but I expect that this was due to his conditioning more than anything. Moreover, Muhammad must work harder to secure defensive positioning on post ups, and not try to cheat and overplay the post entry feed every time.

In summary, Shabazz Muhammad is one of the most dynamic scoring options in the country. He currently takes 31.5 percent of his team’s shots when he is on the floor and does a nice job of creating extra possessions on the glass. Muhammad projects as a high energy slasher with a developing mid and long range game. As the season progresses, look for him to improve considerably and become one of the nation’s most un-guardable weapons, not to mention a surefire top-5 NBA draft pick.

http://basketball.realgm.com/blog/225192/Five_Freshman_Prospects_Before_X_Mas_Shabazz_Muhammad

 

[ajz20]

The type of mentality we need in cleveland!

By Baxter Holmes

January 2, 2013, 11:00 p.m.

Shabazz Muhammad wears a goofy smile and nerdy glasses, but beneath them pumps the cold blood of a basketball player who proudly calls himself a "killer" on the court.

David Halberstam saw something similar in Michael Jordan: a ferocious competitive rage.

It's this quality that Muhammad says defines him most, the trait the UCLA freshman star says made him who he is today.

"I've always had a killer instinct," Muhammad says, "and that's what separated me."

When Muhammad was in third grade, his father, Ron Holmes, worried that it might hinder his son.

"But my wife said, 'Ron, you have to let him alone. Let him be who he is, because that might be something that could help him become a very good player,'" Holmes says.

Muhammad indeed became a very good player. He is averaging a team-high 19.6 points per game and has scored 21 or more points in each of his last four.

Meanwhile, UCLA has won five straight games heading into its Pac-12 Conference opener Thursday versus California at Pauley Pavilion.

Yet the "killer instinct" that the swingman embraces is also something he says he has to control.

It's not always easy.

If he ever lost in a game of one-on-one against his younger brother Rashad Muhammad, Muhammad would explode like Vesuvius.

"He'd punch the ball, start yelling, throw a fit," Rashad says.

To stir the pot, Holmes wouldn't let them play again for a day, knowing Muhammad would burn red-hot in the meantime.

"He never wants to lose," says Muhammad's sister, Asia Muhammad.

"Ever," she adds.

Then in high school, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Coach Grant Rice started taking Muhammad out of blowout wins — not to protect Muhammad, but to protect the losing team.

"He wouldn't go out there and go through the motions; he'd go out there and punish them," Rice says.

"When he smells blood, when he smells weakness, he goes right at them."

Says Muhammad: "I'm trying to show no mercy."

Not only would Muhammad go at opponents, Rice says. He would go at his own teammates.

"If they didn't go 100%, they were going to get an elbow to the face or dunked on," Rice says.

This continued at the club basketball level, where Clayton Williams, Muhammad's coach on the AAU team Dream Vision, says Muhammad played that way in part so he had "the right to hold others accountable."

And Muhammad has carried this mentality to UCLA, where coaches and players laud his effort in practice and his drive to stay late at the gym most nights.

"He's a really fierce competitor, with everything we do, everywhere," says his freshman teammate Kyle Anderson.

Adds fellow freshman guard Jordan Adams: "He plays to win. He does not take plays off. He's always aggressive."

He also loves to take big shots that strike a dagger into opponents' hearts, such as the two clutch three-point shots he buried in overtime during UCLA's upset of then-No. 7 Missouri.

Though a freshman, Muhammad has jumped on UCLA teammates whose effort he thought was lacking at times. But Muhammad says he wouldn't do so unless there was a comfort level among them all.

And, Muhammad adds, he's still learning to temper his killer-instinct temper.

"It's a really good thing to have, when it's appropriate to use it," he says.

Muhammad says his competitive fire started burning in middle school, when he was short, "really chubby," lacked athleticism and had a mild bout with Tourette's syndrome.

Others picked on him, he says, and their ridicule became his fuel.

He is gifted, no doubt, but Muhammad swears his killer instinct is what separates him.

And the gap is widening every game

 

[daytripper]

It's very early but based on the eye test Shabazz's game reminds me of Paul Pierce when he was at Kansas. Of course Shabazz will probably measure a good 1 1/2 inches shorter than Pierce. Not a great ballhandler or athlete but he is a competitor and will be the type who will score in the 4th quarter when it counts. Maybe more of a SG due to his size but he should be able to play plenty of SF since so many teams are trotting out the smaller lineups.

 

[I LOVE YOU ABBY]

It's very early but based on the eye test Shabazz's game reminds me of Paul Pierce when he was at Kansas. Of course Shabazz will probably measure a good 1 1/2 inches shorter than Pierce. Not a great ballhandler or athlete but he is a competitor and will be the type who will score in the 4th quarter when it counts. Maybe more of a SG due to his size but he should be able to play plenty of SF since so many teams are trotting out the smaller lineups.

Paul Pierce comparison, everybody drink!

 

[adam81king]

If Shabazz Muhammad tests out well, and really does have that "killer instinct," I draft him and put Dion Waiters on the bench. I worry about a big man later, or via free agency or trade. The Cavaliers still need scorers and shot creators (preferably in the post, but Muhammad may be the closest thing to Kobe Bryant if his work ethic and demeanor are as advertised).

I still see Tyreke Evans 2.0 when I watch Shabazz, but I want to see how he improves by the end of the season and is fully in shape.

 

[The Process God]

Why does everyone say that Shabazz has average or poor athleticism? Everywhere I go, I hear about his very good (but not quite elite) athleticism, like a 7-8 out of 10. Looking at high school clips, he also looks pretty athletic to me. I think his high school games are more indicative of his athleticism right now because he's still recovering. Surely his earlier games of this season are not indicative of his athletic ability because he was definitely out of shape then. Him getting back in shape has clearly shown in the box score. I think that, once March Madness rolls around, we'll see a truer picture of Shabazz. I'd take him.

 

[Man Called X]

Paul Pierce comparison, everybody drink!

As long as we project a player to play like Paul Pierce, we're going to be fine. Wanna know Waiters' problem? He looks nothing like Paul Pierce.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

Most understated facet of Shabazz' game is his post set. He's going to have the nastiest post game in 4-5 years.

He is actively trying to utilize and improve it all the time. With enough repetition, he'll be able to get buckets in a simple way. Two points is 2 points. I'd rather score them in an easier fashion than say, Gerald Wallace, or a player that has to go crazy and too fast, ends up hurting himself any then what?

Not many players have been injured shooting simple jump hooks, hitting various bank-shots, knowing miltiple angles, spins and different trajectories.

Jumping through people, jumping over top of people, running too fast all can cause a decent injury very easily.

Best to play under control and be smooth like Andre Miller.

Shabazz and Kyrie go so well together. They're both fiery competitors, the kind of personalities you need to win.

Waiters is our 6th man. But keep telling Dion he can't, and he might just pop your eye out. I wouldn't count Dion out, he seems out to prove the world sometimes. He's just taking his rookie lumps, he'll be very solid in time. He's got a Solid handle, he's a good distributer, has potential to bother people on defense, and he can go 1/11 but hit a crucial shot, even if he's had a cold shooting game.

I like where were heading. Here's my preferences:

1. Shabazz Mohammad (Harden/Kobe)
2. Alex Len (Z crossed with KG)
3. Anthony Bennett
(DaJuan Blair/Paul Millsap/Horace Grant)

 

[randymoss1881]

The stats might say this was his worst game in the last 3-4weeks but it was his best outside of the missouri game. He only had 11 point when cal got within 4points thats when he step up and showed his kill or be killed mentality he is known for. He got 7point in 3min and he did it without dominating the ball. He came off screens for a 3 and then a mid range jumper and got the next 2 at the free throw line. He is the perfect mate next to kyrie or both kyrie and dion he moves great without the ball as well as brad beal did at florida and this kid can shoot the ball another 50% from 3 game