Anyone remember in the playoffs last year...

[Gregorius]

Anyone remember in the playoffs last year in that game vs. Minnesota when we came back big time with Bibby and Peja shooting clutch three after clutch three? And then Bibby fouled out and Peja was keeping it up by himself, and we almost won? That was cool...

I don't know why I'm thinking about this. I'm just thinking about how Peja is known as a playoff choker, but I think that game showed he has the potential to be clutch, but rarely lives up to the potential for clutchness. Maybe Peja should try to shoot some game winning threes to practice for the playoffs. (Not saying that Webb should stop, that shot over McGrady was AWESOME, but maybe if Peja shot a couple it might boost his confidence and clutchocity for the playoffs).

 

[VF21]

Maybe we should wait until he's actually hitting threes during the course of the game before we start worrying about his clutchocity in the playoffs. I'd much rather have the ball in the hands of Bibby, or Webber, or Cat, or even Brad. And that's not a dig on Pedja. It's simply going with the percentages - and the players who've shown consistently they don't fold under pressure.

 

[hoops4kings]

That was 1 game where Pedja showed that he's capable of going off. I'd love to see more of that from him this post season.

 

[GoGoGadget]

Anyone remember in the playoffs last year in that game vs. Minnesota when we came back big time with Bibby and Peja shooting clutch three after clutch three? And then Bibby fouled out and Peja was keeping it up by himself, and we almost won? That was cool...

I don't know why I'm thinking about this. I'm just thinking about how Peja is known as a playoff choker, but I think that game showed he has the potential to be clutch, but rarely lives up to the potential for clutchness. Maybe Peja should try to shoot some game winning threes to practice for the playoffs. (Not saying that Webb should stop, that shot over McGrady was AWESOME, but maybe if Peja shot a couple it might boost his confidence and clutchocity for the playoffs).

I do remember that game.

I think that one reason that people still question Peja's ability to hit the big shot may be right in your question: "...Peja was keeping it up by himself, and we ALMOST won..."

I think that someone's reputation as being a clutch player is not based so much on hitting big shots, as it is hitting THE shot. And, as others have said, I can think of a few other people that I'd rather have taking THE shot.

I may be wrong, but I think this was also the game in which Peja was supposed to take that last shot and instead flailed around wildly looking for a foul that wasn't called?

 

[tienchi3x]

Maybe we should trade Peja for Robert Horry.

 

[kperica]

I just want Webber to stop shooting end of the game threes. I'd rather have Peja taking that shot than Webb, no matter how often he chokes.
However, we all know Mike is our man at the end of game.
And hopefully Cat will show up as an option; he doesn't have as much baggage as the rest.
Not to mention, don't give up on Peja...he still is our best outside shooter, our best free throw shooter (a HUGE consideration in crunch time), and has shown he can make clutch defensive stops. I agree with Gregorious. He just needs to make a game winner, get some confidence and get things right in that head of his.

 

[Ryle]

I do remember that game.

I think that one reason that people still question Peja's ability to hit the big shot may be right in your question: "...Peja was keeping it up by himself, and we ALMOST won..."

I think that someone's reputation as being a clutch player is not based so much on hitting big shots, as it is hitting THE shot. And, as others have said, I can think of a few other people that I'd rather have taking THE shot.

I may be wrong, but I think this was also the game in which Peja was supposed to take that last shot and instead flailed around wildly looking for a foul that wasn't called?

One thing I definitely remember was his 8 point outing in the all important game 7

 

[tienchi3x]

Just kidding. But I am getting a little tired of player bashing esp Peja and CWebb. Peja may not be the best clutch performer, but someone needs to keep us close enough so there is a need for a clutch shot. Also how about all those clutch free throws? Some of the games this year wouldn't have been so close if Bibby, Brad and other players were hitting their FTs better. This is not to bash them, but to remind people that NBA players are human. Pejas stats may be down some this year, but so are some other players. I think Pejas playing better overall defense this year though he does need to pick up his rebounding. His scoring is probably mostly down due to the loss of Vlade. But the great thing about Sac is its balanced offense. And I don't think we should trade Peja unless we can get Ginoble( who's playing like superman) for him. But I'm sure lots of teams are salivating over the prospect that we might be willing to trade him.

 

[rexb_kings]

yup...that game 7 really is disappointing...where it all mattered the most...it just really sucks to know that Kings were eliminated the last three seasons on do-or-die game 7's....i just hope things would turned around finally for Kings favor...but i still love Peja!...i just can't forget it when my friends called me Peja one time we were playing pick-up basketball where i hit 3 - 3point shots in a row with 8 triples for the game...and we won a blow out game against a tough team...not like an NBA atmosphere ofcourse...

 

[rexb_kings]

And I don't think we should trade Peja unless we can get Ginoble( who's playing like superman) for him. But I'm sure lots of teams are salivating over the prospect that we might be willing to trade him.

Kirilenko would be a nice trade too...long arms..rebounding and awesome blocks...not bad offense too...

 

[tienchi3x]

Kirilenko would be a nice trade too...long arms..rebounding and awesome blocks...not bad offense too...

Yeah but I think at this point we should stick with what we have. Constantly trading players doesn't seem to help most teams. The Cat/Christie trade was good , though.

 

[starks]

Ginobili for Stojakovic?...wow but duncan/peja sounds scary….btw I can’t remember any play-off game that we won with Webber’s clutch shoots…..but who made clutch defensive stops last year in play-off against Dallas?.....some people have short memory

 

[Kev.in]

I think we all wish that Peja would be more of a force late in games, especially big games, but it hasn't happened yet and I don't think we have a reasonable expectation of him developing that "killer instinct" any time soon. With all the times we've played shorthanded, with various guys missing, he's had opportunities and only come up big a few times. It goes back to the ability to create his own shot. Look at the great clutch players in the last 25 years, the only guy who I can think of that didn't do it by (mostly) using his dribble to create shots is Reggie Miller. And in terms of personality, Peja is no Reggie Miller.

 

[bozzwell]

Maybe we should wait until he's actually hitting threes during the course of the game before we start worrying about his clutchocity in the playoffs. I'd much rather have the ball in the hands of Bibby, or Webber, or Cat, or even Brad. And that's not a dig on Pedja. It's simply going with the percentages - and the players who've shown consistently they don't fold under pressure.

Wow, if that is not a dig, than I don't know what is. He's not hitting threes during the course of the game? Webber, Bibby, Cat and even Brad are more clutch? Percentages and career consistency favour them over Pedja?

You just need to throw in that we should trade Pedja now while we can get something of value for him and you will have matched every Webber hater in effect. That you do it with style and aplomb befitting for a moderator, or the fact that you did not throw in any boosterism of (inster favourite player here) does not negate what is implied in your posting.

As I said before, the over the top Webber bashing that has become a mission for some on this forum cannot be an excuse to demean/bash other players. Especially since knowledagble and faithfull fans like Brick and you do it in a reasonable manner and without flames. That is just less obvious and therefore more effective bashing.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Simple fact is, for the Kings to win it all, we need them BOTH to show up. This shouldn't be about Webb Vs. Peja, it should be Kings Vs. everyone else.

 

[bozzwell]

Simple fact is, for the Kings to win it all, we need them BOTH to show up. This shouldn't be about Webb Vs. Peja, it should be Kings Vs. everyone else.

Where are you getting that from? So, far noone has made it about Webb v. Pedja - yet.

 

[SIR HENRY 8]

I just want Webber to stop shooting end of the game threes. I'd rather have Peja taking that shot than Webb, no matter how often he chokes.
However, we all know Mike is our man at the end of game.
And hopefully Cat will show up as an option; he doesn't have as much baggage as the rest.
Not to mention, don't give up on Peja...he still is our best outside shooter, our best free throw shooter (a HUGE consideration in crunch time), and has shown he can make clutch defensive stops. I agree with Gregorious. He just needs to make a game winner, get some confidence and get things right in that head of his.

Iagree PEJA has the skills to take THE shot at the end of a game,but as long as he keeps disappearing in the play-offs ,when the games on the line,I have nooo problem with WEBBER,BIBBY,or the open man taking that shot.

 

[Kingsgurl]

and they shouldn't, which was my whole point.

 

[Superman]

Peja has hit game-winners before (one against Detroit last season immediately comes to mind) and has played big in the clutch, both offensively and defensively. He's also disappeared before. And it goes the same with the rest of our *stars*. Bibby is the only player we have that's known for showing up big in the playoffs, and that's more attributable to the 2002 postseason than anything else.

When it comes down to it, we need to play like a team in order to win anything. We don't have any stellar individual players (aside from Mobley); our players thrive because they know how to play together. If we do that, then we'll win.

Last second shots have a lot more to do with circumstances than with skill anyways. No one would argue that Webber is a better three-point shooter than Peja, but he probably has twice as many game-winning threes than Peja does in the past three years. And I'm not going to mention that Webber is shooting better percentage-wise than both Peja and Bibby (oops, I just did). But when it comes down to it, whoever has the shot should take the shot, and for a team like ours, that could be any of the five players on the floor at any given moment.

 

[Rowdyone]

As far as Peja's shot selection goes with the exception of fast break finishes and back door cuts most of his self created shots are low percentage ones, three's that are sometimes forced or with a hand in his face comprise many of these and the others are off the dribble fall aways (even against smaller defenders). That he shoots as high as a percentage as he does is remarkable. I'd like to see him forgo many of the three's he takes and put it on the floor for one or two dribbles and pull up for a 15-18 footer...higher percentage and confidence building. Also keeps his defender honest.

 

[shaka zulu]

Maybe we should wait until he's actually hitting threes during the course of the game before we start worrying about his clutchocity in the playoffs. I'd much rather have the ball in the hands of Bibby, or Webber, or Cat, or even Brad. And that's not a dig on Pedja. It's simply going with the percentages - and the players who've shown consistently they don't fold under pressure.

VF21 this not quite true all players Brad miller, chris webber cuttino mobley, mike bibby and peja all have had some playoff success and regular season success when it comes to hitting big shots playing big in big games win or loose.I don't think the percentages matter when your talking abot stepping your game up when the game is on the line in helping your TEAM survive.It all comes down to who's heart wants it the most at that point of time.I have seen webber choke I have seen brad miller choke mike bibby and cuttino mobley when he played with the rocketsand peja choke freeze up many times. With cuttino having little playoff experience I think he has had 2 Teams reach the playoffs.But you really cannot tell with him because of his lack of playoof experience but I have seen him choke as well.But at the same time he has made big shots and everyone else chris,brad miller mike bibby and even peja have made big baskets .Peja showed me last season when he was lighting up kobe rick fox and whoever the lakers threw at him when the kings short handed beat the lakers in staple center without chris webber Bobby jackson and Brad miller.I think peja lit them up for 39 or 40.Then i seen peja hit the last shot against the pistons and also what the orginator of this thread mentioned with him almost single handedly bringing the Team back against the wolves last season in the playoffs Game 5.

I don't think you can Base big games on percentages because all players have choked before as well as theve all had big games from time to time.But none have led the kings to the promise land so until one or whoever the Big game players does this, percentages don't really mean anything because they all have had some prosperity in small regualr season games little first round playoff series but none have stepped up to get the TEAM to that next show.

until then chris webber had a game winner against the celtics a game winner against the bucks and a 3 point basket against the rockets last week.But chris webber has missed numerous free throws in big games has fumbled the ball out of bounce on several episodes and the infamous phantom timeout NCAA MICHIGAN VS NORTH CAROLINA 1992.mike bibby I have seen him miss numerous foul shots in little games and big games.,He was a no no show last season game 7 T-wolves vs kings.But at the same time mike bibby has played big in championship game arizona,Big shots during regualr season games pacers against the lakers etc.Big games big shots are not just buzzer beaters but big steak to a layup hitting your fouls shots when they count and stepping up

 

[Kingsgurl]

the ball out of bounce

The ball is not 'out of bounce' Grant says that all the time, drives me nuts. Bounds, people, out of bounds! It would be out of bounce if someone poked a hole in it, or it sprung a small leak.
Carry on.

 

[shaka zulu]

The ball is not 'out of bounce' Grant says that all the time, drives me nuts. Bounds, people, out of bounds! It would be out of bounce if someone poked a hole in it, or it sprung a small leak.
Carry on.

you know what I mean don't be over technical

 

[Kingsgurl]

That is hardly over technical, there is a huge difference between bounce and bounds (although the ball usually bounces when it goes out of bounds ) Please understand, I am NOT picking on you, that phrase is just a Pet Peeve of mine, mostly because Grant says it constantly.

 

[love_them_kings]

Peja has hit game-winners before (one against Detroit last season immediately comes to mind) and has played big in the clutch, both offensively and defensively. He's also disappeared before. And it goes the same with the rest of our *stars*. Bibby is the only player we have that's known for showing up big in the playoffs, and that's more attributable to the 2002 postseason than anything else.

When it comes down to it, we need to play like a team in order to win anything. We don't have any stellar individual players (aside from Mobley); our players thrive because they know how to play together. If we do that, then we'll win.

Last second shots have a lot more to do with circumstances than with skill anyways. No one would argue that Webber is a better three-point shooter than Peja, but he probably has twice as many game-winning threes than Peja does in the past three years. And I'm not going to mention that Webber is shooting better percentage-wise than both Peja and Bibby (oops, I just did). But when it comes down to it, whoever has the shot should take the shot, and for a team like ours, that could be any of the five players on the floor at any given moment.

Yeah, and Webber is more likely to be open for the 3 at the end of the game. When we need a 3 to tie/win the game at the end, there are usually 2 defenders on Pedja because that is a high probability shot for him. The other team would rather take their chances and let Webb shoot it, and Webb has proven he's up for the challenge. Having another person that can throw up a game winning 3 at the end of the game makes us that much more dangerous. I am totally comfortable having Webb take that shot,because he's proven that he can come up big.

 

[shaka zulu]

That is hardly over technical, there is a huge difference between bounce and bounds (although the ball usually bounces when it goes out of bounds ) Please understand, I am NOT picking on you, that phrase is just a Pet Peeve of mine, mostly because Grant says it constantly.

I don't take things personal.Cool Good correction It's all good don't trip.

 

[Bibby_10]

During a playoff game there is no way Peja is going to get an open shot. He is going to be guarded every time. That is why he wont make the clutch shot. He cant create the shot himself. A true clutch player is someone like Kobe Bryant (like him or not) who shoots a three with 2 hands in his face and still makes the shot. Now thats clutch.

 

[SaCKiNgS24]

peja will remain on my ****list until he can show up in the playoffs. he had a streak of 100 some odd straight free throws made and he missed 2 crucial free throws in the minnesota game! CHOKER!

 

[love_them_kings]

During a playoff game there is no way Peja is going to get an open shot. He is going to be guarded every time. That is why he wont make the clutch shot. He cant create the shot himself. A true clutch player is someone like Kobe Bryant (like him or not) who shoots a three with 2 hands in his face and still makes the shot. Now thats clutch.

Not a big fan of Kobe, but you are right, Kobe's picture should be in the dictionary for the definition of "clutch player."

 

[bozzwell]

peja will remain on my sh*tlist until he can show up in the playoffs. he had a streak of 100 some odd straight free throws made and he missed 2 crucial free throws in the minnesota game! CHOKER!

Sweet, you're a first Pedja basher that I've "met" that is as easy to dismiss as most of Webber haters are. Your argument is too simplistic, one sided and overlooks a whole career in favor of one or two bombastic factoids that you can splash out to - well I don't know what your goal was and I'd hate to imply.