webb to detroit
- Thread starter Big Cuz 15
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http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070228/SPORTS03/702280329/1051/
In-season acquisition Chris Webber is having the same effect on the Pistons that Rasheed Wallace had in 2004.
Everybody loves Chris
The addition of Chris Webber has ignited the Pistons' offense in the second half of the season. Here is the team's record with Webber in the starting lineup, and without him:
WITHOUT WEBBER
.568
Record: 21-16
WITH WEBBER
.833
Record: 15-3
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Webber's leadership brings harmony to surging Pistons
February 28, 2007
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
On Sunday afternoon, the Pistons trailed the Chicago Bulls by 16 points in the third quarter. They needed someone to speak up during a time-out and shake the team from its funk.
Usually, that duty would fall to team captain Chauncey Billups or coach Flip Saunders, who did his part by inserting Jason Maxiell into the game and switching to a zone defense.
But it was newcomer Chris Webber who stepped in and got everyone's attention.
"He said to guys, 'Hey, we're going to get this thing going, and we're going to win this thing,' " Saunders said. "I mean, he didn't just say it. Sometimes guys just say it, and it's like, 'Yeah, OK.' But this, you could tell he meant it -- we were going to get it going, we were going to win it."
The Pistons won. And since Webber's arrival, that has been the norm.
While Saunders has done plenty of gushing about Webber's passing, he became the latest disciple of another trait -- leadership -- on Sunday.
"He's shown very, very good leadership qualities," Saunders said. "You have to respect a guy coming into a situation where you have a lot of guys who have been here and have had success. He's not afraid to speak his mind and say, 'Here's what we need to do.' "
Webber often has been that guy during his career. From his high school days at Birmingham Detroit Country Day to his infamous run at the University of Michigan, to the Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets, Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers, Webber was typically the leader in the locker room and on the floor.
"Back then, so much of the weight was on him," said Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter, who worked with Webber in Sacramento. "He was kind of the face of the franchise. He was expected every night to set the tone. Here, he doesn't have to worry about that. We have so many other guys who can take the load off his shoulders."
Webber can pick his spots to speak, like he did during that time-out. And most liberating of all is that he can do most of his leading by example. He did that Sunday, too, when he played despite pregame nausea and irritation in his scratched eye.
It's a great relief for a player who's used to carrying a heavier burden.
"It feels really good to be with a group of guys you can trust and go to war with," Webber said. "I just feel like I need to be myself. ... It feels good to be a part of (a group) who, any time, (anyone) can step up and be a leading scorer, anyone can step up and be a vocal leader, (anyone) can get in your face."
Pistons vice president of basketball operations John Hammond said that Webber has fit in just as well off the court as he has on it. He called him a no-maintenance player who shows up on time, does what he's asked to do and has infused the team with positivity through his "unselfish spirit."
It reminds him very much of another midseason Pistons addition.
"We keep saying that's exactly what Rasheed (Wallace) did when he came here in '04," Saunders said. "Our team was playing well, and it was a good fit, but there still was a piece missing, and I think Rasheed was that missing piece, not because of the player but because of the person, because of the unselfish spirit.
"And the same exact thing has happened with Chris. He's been a great fit on the floor, but as much as anything, he brings a great unselfish spirit. As you can see every time he catches the ball on the floor, looking to pass, looking to make someone else better."
And looking to speak up and be a leader, too.
"Guys respect his comments," Porter said. "He's been around the game. He's been on some good teams. So everyone respects what his basketball IQ is and what he has to say."
---As for the impact of Webber versus it being more Billups it's right there in the Total season numbers(Chauncey wasn't out the whole season you know
)... Webb is having an effect and it's obviously a hugely positive one.
In-season acquisition Chris Webber is having the same effect on the Pistons that Rasheed Wallace had in 2004.
Everybody loves Chris
The addition of Chris Webber has ignited the Pistons' offense in the second half of the season. Here is the team's record with Webber in the starting lineup, and without him:
WITHOUT WEBBER
.568
Record: 21-16
WITH WEBBER
.833
Record: 15-3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Webber's leadership brings harmony to surging Pistons
February 28, 2007
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
On Sunday afternoon, the Pistons trailed the Chicago Bulls by 16 points in the third quarter. They needed someone to speak up during a time-out and shake the team from its funk.
Usually, that duty would fall to team captain Chauncey Billups or coach Flip Saunders, who did his part by inserting Jason Maxiell into the game and switching to a zone defense.
But it was newcomer Chris Webber who stepped in and got everyone's attention.
"He said to guys, 'Hey, we're going to get this thing going, and we're going to win this thing,' " Saunders said. "I mean, he didn't just say it. Sometimes guys just say it, and it's like, 'Yeah, OK.' But this, you could tell he meant it -- we were going to get it going, we were going to win it."
The Pistons won. And since Webber's arrival, that has been the norm.
While Saunders has done plenty of gushing about Webber's passing, he became the latest disciple of another trait -- leadership -- on Sunday.
"He's shown very, very good leadership qualities," Saunders said. "You have to respect a guy coming into a situation where you have a lot of guys who have been here and have had success. He's not afraid to speak his mind and say, 'Here's what we need to do.' "
Webber often has been that guy during his career. From his high school days at Birmingham Detroit Country Day to his infamous run at the University of Michigan, to the Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets, Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers, Webber was typically the leader in the locker room and on the floor.
"Back then, so much of the weight was on him," said Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter, who worked with Webber in Sacramento. "He was kind of the face of the franchise. He was expected every night to set the tone. Here, he doesn't have to worry about that. We have so many other guys who can take the load off his shoulders."
Webber can pick his spots to speak, like he did during that time-out. And most liberating of all is that he can do most of his leading by example. He did that Sunday, too, when he played despite pregame nausea and irritation in his scratched eye.
It's a great relief for a player who's used to carrying a heavier burden.
"It feels really good to be with a group of guys you can trust and go to war with," Webber said. "I just feel like I need to be myself. ... It feels good to be a part of (a group) who, any time, (anyone) can step up and be a leading scorer, anyone can step up and be a vocal leader, (anyone) can get in your face."
Pistons vice president of basketball operations John Hammond said that Webber has fit in just as well off the court as he has on it. He called him a no-maintenance player who shows up on time, does what he's asked to do and has infused the team with positivity through his "unselfish spirit."
It reminds him very much of another midseason Pistons addition.
"We keep saying that's exactly what Rasheed (Wallace) did when he came here in '04," Saunders said. "Our team was playing well, and it was a good fit, but there still was a piece missing, and I think Rasheed was that missing piece, not because of the player but because of the person, because of the unselfish spirit.
"And the same exact thing has happened with Chris. He's been a great fit on the floor, but as much as anything, he brings a great unselfish spirit. As you can see every time he catches the ball on the floor, looking to pass, looking to make someone else better."
And looking to speak up and be a leader, too.
"Guys respect his comments," Porter said. "He's been around the game. He's been on some good teams. So everyone respects what his basketball IQ is and what he has to say."
---As for the impact of Webber versus it being more Billups it's right there in the Total season numbers(Chauncey wasn't out the whole season you know
)... Webb is having an effect and it's obviously a hugely positive one.
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---As for the impact of Webber versus it being more Billups it's right there in the Total season numbers(Chauncey wasn't out the whole season you know )... Webb is having an effect and it's obviously a hugely positive one.
)... Webb is having an effect and it's obviously a hugely positive one.
But yes, Webber does make them better.
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Wow, sloter, we actually agree on something related to webber? This has got to be a first.
I agree completely. Detroit did not need a savior. This is nothing like when Artest came to the Kings last year & turned our season around.
At the same time, Detroit has benefited greatly from the skills webb possesses, and this seems to be a win/win for both Detroit & Webber.
True, but with much easier schedule with both guys in the lineup. Besides, not like they would do a lot better in the lineup with Webber and with no PG. Anyway, compare what the team did with Ben Wallace on the team last year during the regular season. Of course, it will all come down to how they perform in the playoffs. I don't think that anyone in the East can stop them, and I don't think that they have a chance against whoever comes out of the West.
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Dang, would have loved to see Detroit take out the Heat tonight, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. If only they hadn't dug themselves into QUITE so deep of a hole.... oh well, at least they made a game of it!!
Very fun to get to watch Detroit on ESPN, and my husband decided to get League pass so I won't be missing any more chances to see Webb play with his new team!
Very fun to get to watch Detroit on ESPN, and my husband decided to get League pass so I won't be missing any more chances to see Webb play with his new team!
Very fun to get to watch Detroit on ESPN, and my husband decided to get League pass so I won't be missing any more chances to see Webb play with his new team!
He was traded to Philly in 2004 (?) for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner. Maurice Evans was thrown in the deal as well from the Sacramemto end (check him filling in quite nicely for the Lakers now). Why? Doubts about his effectiveness and value for money (his contract WAS pretty heavy.)
Opinions varied strongly on the worth of this trade at the time. Now, based on the current play of all the players involved, I can safely opine that Sacramento gambled and lost on that trade.
Opinions varied strongly on the worth of this trade at the time. Now, based on the current play of all the players involved, I can safely opine that Sacramento gambled and lost on that trade.
Well, we're slumping right now, no doubt about it. LeBron played an incredible game and we just stuck down the stretch.
That said, Webber had an incredible play late in the 4th where he stripped LeBron at halfcourt, went coast to coast with the dribble and dunked on Lebron at the other end.
Reminded me a lot of the play he had on Barkley as a rookie, except no behind-the-back.
Losing 3 out of 4 sucks, but oh well we're still up in the east. Hopefully someone can get this train back on the tracks.
It was so good, but LeBron likely will have all the highlights on ESPN tonight.
FYI, Webber finished with 20, 11 and 4
That said, Webber had an incredible play late in the 4th where he stripped LeBron at halfcourt, went coast to coast with the dribble and dunked on Lebron at the other end.
Reminded me a lot of the play he had on Barkley as a rookie, except no behind-the-back.
Losing 3 out of 4 sucks, but oh well we're still up in the east. Hopefully someone can get this train back on the tracks.
It was so good, but LeBron likely will have all the highlights on ESPN tonight.
FYI, Webber finished with 20, 11 and 4
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I hate the Cavs. If Detroit weren't slumping right now they would've won easily. Cavs are overrated and their whole team is only good because of LeTravel. Anyway, I hope someone finds a clip of the Webber dunk on LeBron. It sounded nasty.
btw what's up with Chauncey? Why isn't he playing/shooting well?
btw what's up with Chauncey? Why isn't he playing/shooting well?
Chauncey's in the worst shooting slump since he came to detroit 4 years ago.
Dude is coming off being named player of the month, too.
For whatever reason, the guy just can't buy a shot and it's costing us games. Like tonight.
Even when he can't hit a shot, he's still an elite PG. 16, 14 and 7 tonight. The %20 shooting is where he really hurt us, because he is our main outside threat.
Dude is coming off being named player of the month, too.
For whatever reason, the guy just can't buy a shot and it's costing us games. Like tonight.
Even when he can't hit a shot, he's still an elite PG. 16, 14 and 7 tonight. The %20 shooting is where he really hurt us, because he is our main outside threat.
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I find it very interesting that Webber was down and out in Philly, and yet not only is he resurrected in Detroit, but he is slowly getting _better_ (looking only to post-injury Webb) and at the same time AI is killing yet another team's chemistry and packing another coaches bags?
Webber in Detroit is worth NBA LP price on its own.
Webber in Detroit is worth NBA LP price on its own.
We all just have to thank our lucky stars we got rid of him when we did.... I mean, where would we be if we didn't have Kenny Thomas??
I'm so glad Webb found a place where he can be a part of a great team & be in a positive environment again. His famous smile, which seemed to be missing all too often in Philly, is back in full force.
I mean, where would we be if we didn't have Kenny Thomas??I'm so glad Webb found a place where he can be a part of a great team & be in a positive environment again. His famous smile, which seemed to be missing all too often in Philly, is back in full force.