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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12474347p-13330218c.html
Ailene Voisin: Webber debuts in unfamiliar supporting role
He realizes he will be working behind Iverson
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 27, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Chris Webber's powerful presence fills a room, and for the first time this season, he filled this building. Yet his much-anticipated opening act with the 76ers was so bizarre, the ending so improbable, that the former Kings star must have envisioned Geoff Petrie's palm prints smeared all over the script. This was Webber's perfect storm, a debut that demands a do-over.
This was his misery.
http://ads.sacbee.com/RealMedia/ads...l/64313865323634663432323230623630?_RM_EMPTY_ On a night when two teams could have crooned along to "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you," with six players having swapped jerseys within the previous 72 hours, Webber, the best player in the history of the Sacramento franchise, endured an exhausting, emotional, altogether unfulfilling experience. His jump shots didn't fall. His passing skills were seldom displayed. His long rebound resulted in a half-hook that could have forced an overtime, instead rimmed short, enabling the Kings to steal out of here with a victory.
Webber afterward was crestfallen, and certainly unsettled. Not only is he in new surroundings, but based on the opening scenes and the infrequency with which he touched the ball, he also has been thrust into an unfamiliar role - that of the designated second option behind the diminutive, equally dynamic Allen Iverson.
No doubt about it. This is Iverson's town, Iverson's team, and apparently that isn't going to change. In a stunning postgame concession, Webber even seemed to concede as much.
"I need to make the adjustments to the team," he said, his tone subdued. "The team doesn't need to make the adjustments to me."
Geez.
Where was that spin last spring?
Webber, who turns 32 Tuesday, was victimized by the type of ensemble effort that characterized the Kings' performances throughout the first 58 games a year ago. Those were the Kings at their best, embodying their share-the-ball, share-the-spotlight philosophy. Those were the Kings again Saturday night, with Kenny Thomas, Brian Skinner, Cuttino Mobley and an ecstatic Corliss Williamson subbing nicely for the departed Doug Christie and Vlade Divac.
"The guys we've got now will do the dirty work," offered Mobley, who erupted for several significant field goals and one very timely steal in the final minutes. "On this team, that's what we needed. We have plenty of guys that can score."
The consensus around the country is that the 76ers pulled one over on the wily Petrie, but if these types of performances persist, the man deserves yet another raise. Thomas and Skinner provide much-needed frontcourt depth, defense and rebounding.
Williamson adds a low-post presence. And though Mike Bibby seemed to struggle emotionally in his first meeting against his close friend, he too discerned a method to Petrie's alleged madness.
"All these guys can play," said Bibby, nodding. "We're deeper. We'll be all right. But it was so weird out there. ... I can't even describe what I was feeling."
The building teemed with energy, electricity long before tipoff, with Sixers fans embracing the Webber acquisition en masse.
They cheered, called his name, produced signs welcoming him to town. Seen as a late-in-life superstar, as Iverson's prolific sidekick, Webber is projected as a sort of savior, as the transplant who will make the difference.
Should he fail to meet expectations? Should his jump shots, his effectiveness on the pick-and-pops, his defensive limitations not be sufficiently negated by the protective presence of lanky center Samuel Dalembert? Should the balky knee cause him to miss games?
This is Philly, an unforgiving place of impatient, at times brutal, intolerant fans. Should Webber falter, that would be an unfortunate twist of fate, no way to augment his six-plus seasons in Sacramento.
Indeed, his contributions to the Kings' franchise should not be minimized. Before he sustained that career-altering knee injury in May 2003, Webber was an elegant, often spectacular 6-foot-10 superstar, a big-game player who evolved into a legitimate MVP candidate.
On a team that featured Divac, Christie, Peja Stojakovic, Bobby Jackson and Bibby, he was the premier performer, the expressive player with the all-around game. That all changed, of course, when he returned following a 58-game absence, when he refused to accept that he would never again be a young, healthy Chris Webber, that he could still be a terrific player, but not always the leading player.
Some nights, the shots still fall.
Some nights, it's best to move on.
Wishing him the best.
Ailene Voisin: Webber debuts in unfamiliar supporting role
He realizes he will be working behind Iverson
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 27, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Chris Webber's powerful presence fills a room, and for the first time this season, he filled this building. Yet his much-anticipated opening act with the 76ers was so bizarre, the ending so improbable, that the former Kings star must have envisioned Geoff Petrie's palm prints smeared all over the script. This was Webber's perfect storm, a debut that demands a do-over.
This was his misery.
http://ads.sacbee.com/RealMedia/ads...l/64313865323634663432323230623630?_RM_EMPTY_ On a night when two teams could have crooned along to "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you," with six players having swapped jerseys within the previous 72 hours, Webber, the best player in the history of the Sacramento franchise, endured an exhausting, emotional, altogether unfulfilling experience. His jump shots didn't fall. His passing skills were seldom displayed. His long rebound resulted in a half-hook that could have forced an overtime, instead rimmed short, enabling the Kings to steal out of here with a victory.
Webber afterward was crestfallen, and certainly unsettled. Not only is he in new surroundings, but based on the opening scenes and the infrequency with which he touched the ball, he also has been thrust into an unfamiliar role - that of the designated second option behind the diminutive, equally dynamic Allen Iverson.
No doubt about it. This is Iverson's town, Iverson's team, and apparently that isn't going to change. In a stunning postgame concession, Webber even seemed to concede as much.
"I need to make the adjustments to the team," he said, his tone subdued. "The team doesn't need to make the adjustments to me."
Geez.
Where was that spin last spring?
Webber, who turns 32 Tuesday, was victimized by the type of ensemble effort that characterized the Kings' performances throughout the first 58 games a year ago. Those were the Kings at their best, embodying their share-the-ball, share-the-spotlight philosophy. Those were the Kings again Saturday night, with Kenny Thomas, Brian Skinner, Cuttino Mobley and an ecstatic Corliss Williamson subbing nicely for the departed Doug Christie and Vlade Divac.
"The guys we've got now will do the dirty work," offered Mobley, who erupted for several significant field goals and one very timely steal in the final minutes. "On this team, that's what we needed. We have plenty of guys that can score."
The consensus around the country is that the 76ers pulled one over on the wily Petrie, but if these types of performances persist, the man deserves yet another raise. Thomas and Skinner provide much-needed frontcourt depth, defense and rebounding.
Williamson adds a low-post presence. And though Mike Bibby seemed to struggle emotionally in his first meeting against his close friend, he too discerned a method to Petrie's alleged madness.
"All these guys can play," said Bibby, nodding. "We're deeper. We'll be all right. But it was so weird out there. ... I can't even describe what I was feeling."
The building teemed with energy, electricity long before tipoff, with Sixers fans embracing the Webber acquisition en masse.
They cheered, called his name, produced signs welcoming him to town. Seen as a late-in-life superstar, as Iverson's prolific sidekick, Webber is projected as a sort of savior, as the transplant who will make the difference.
Should he fail to meet expectations? Should his jump shots, his effectiveness on the pick-and-pops, his defensive limitations not be sufficiently negated by the protective presence of lanky center Samuel Dalembert? Should the balky knee cause him to miss games?
This is Philly, an unforgiving place of impatient, at times brutal, intolerant fans. Should Webber falter, that would be an unfortunate twist of fate, no way to augment his six-plus seasons in Sacramento.
Indeed, his contributions to the Kings' franchise should not be minimized. Before he sustained that career-altering knee injury in May 2003, Webber was an elegant, often spectacular 6-foot-10 superstar, a big-game player who evolved into a legitimate MVP candidate.
On a team that featured Divac, Christie, Peja Stojakovic, Bobby Jackson and Bibby, he was the premier performer, the expressive player with the all-around game. That all changed, of course, when he returned following a 58-game absence, when he refused to accept that he would never again be a young, healthy Chris Webber, that he could still be a terrific player, but not always the leading player.
Some nights, the shots still fall.
Some nights, it's best to move on.
Wishing him the best.
About the writer:
- Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/voisin.
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