Artest is the new CWebb!
- Thread starter Mr Hollingsworth
- Start date
Ron provides us with many of the “intangible” qualities that we lost when Chris was traded away. Its that “star” factor, the thing that makes other teams center their game plan around. What Chris brought to this team and franchise I think can’t be measured, and while I am 100% on the Artest train time will tell if he will give us the same thing that Chris did when its all said and done. But the potential is undoubtedly is there.
Obviously it is hard to compare Webb to Artest in the sense that Webb brought so much to this team for so long, and Artest has only been here a short time.
However, I find that Artest has brought to this team a lot of the spark that seemed to leave with Webb. He brings passion and excitement, he brings leadership and desire.... he even brings the ability to make bold statements and promises in the press even if they don't seem realistic... I love that about him. I really feel like Artest motivates the team around him to be better and to believe in themselves, just like Webb did.
However, I find that Artest has brought to this team a lot of the spark that seemed to leave with Webb. He brings passion and excitement, he brings leadership and desire.... he even brings the ability to make bold statements and promises in the press even if they don't seem realistic... I love that about him. I really feel like Artest motivates the team around him to be better and to believe in themselves, just like Webb did.
No, Artest isn't the new CWebb. He's Ron Artest. Chris Webber was and is one of a kind. So is Ron.
We don't need to keep comparing THIS team to the old team to be excited. The old team is gone. They had their day and it has passed.
This is KINGS 2006. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish on their own, without having to constantly measure them again the 2003 Kings.
To me it's like being a second child in a family to have the same teacher in school. You don't want to be compared to your older sibling. You want to be judged on YOUR merits.
We don't need to keep comparing THIS team to the old team to be excited. The old team is gone. They had their day and it has passed.
This is KINGS 2006. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish on their own, without having to constantly measure them again the 2003 Kings.
To me it's like being a second child in a family to have the same teacher in school. You don't want to be compared to your older sibling. You want to be judged on YOUR merits.
Webber is Webber. Artest is Artest. That's it. Different teams, different times, different players. Artest might bring sucess in the same way as Webber, but Artest is not "the new Webber." Is Peja the new Reggie? Or Kobe the new Magic? Or Marion/Amare the new Chuckster? Nash/Kidd? Or even do we think of Bibby as the new JWill? Come on, enjoy the moment. If we start comparing our players and teams now to the past, things will just get ugly.
True that the players are entirely different, but I think the idea of the statement was that, as with acquiring Webber in 98, we now have that "leader". A leader which brings a new identity to this team. One that is completely different than any that we had in the past. Kobe's statement after the last game speaks volumes about this team and how it differs from any past incarnation.
I agree with all the posts in this thread. No, Artest isn't Webb, they are completely and utterly different players, people, etc., but in I also agree with the sentiment of the original post and several others in that Artest brings the star power that we lost when Webb left. Having a guy like Artest or Webber makes a team a contender if you fill in the rest of the pieces right. Without that kind of centerpiece, a championship is rarely possible.
Ron is Ron .... Chris - C-Webb ..... bugs me that people say ...
<insert player's name here> is THE NEXT <insert SUPERSTAR'S NAME HERE>
Current King's team is entirely different team from several years ago -DOWN TO THE BENCH !!!
What do you think Ron would say if someone said to him "You're the next Chris Webber" ???
I'm sorry to be so negative about this .... but, it just ain't right
<insert player's name here> is THE NEXT <insert SUPERSTAR'S NAME HERE>
Current King's team is entirely different team from several years ago -DOWN TO THE BENCH !!!
What do you think Ron would say if someone said to him "You're the next Chris Webber" ???
I'm sorry to be so negative about this .... but, it just ain't right
T
I think you are missing the point of the original post. He only mentions this analogy to show the impact each had on this franchise. He never compares the 2003 team to the 2006 team. I think his analogy is right on the money. Both teams have/had done a complete 180 with their additions of either Artest/Webber.
I think Ron Artest has had a greater impact on the Kings than Chris Webber. Chris was charming and very skilled, but I think Vlade was the heart and soul of the Kings during the "Golden years". IMHO, Webber was never an effective leader. Vlade was a leader, and so is Ron. If Vlade was U.S. Air Force, Ron is the U.S. Marines. No offense to Air Force guys, but they tend to be a bit more cerebral than Marines. The Kings were in trouble, and who gets sent in when the mission is beyond difficult?
I also think it is important to recognize that Ron is getting some terrific support from the rest of the team, even the super quiet guys like, Kenny, Brad, and Mike.
I no longer have a favorite player. They are truly a team.
I also think it is important to recognize that Ron is getting some terrific support from the rest of the team, even the super quiet guys like, Kenny, Brad, and Mike.
I no longer have a favorite player. They are truly a team.
For the love of God....please let Cwebb go. He plays for philly.....be done with it. It is a poor comparison. Ron plays great D.......webb did not play D. Ron does not have fear in his eyes with under 2 minutes to go......I thought Cwebb was going to have a panic attack a few times with less than 2 minutes. I was a Cwebb fan when he was here, but like my girlfriend of 5 years ago I don't spend much time thinking about how great he was.
I never really thought Webber was that great of a leader....more of a leader wannabe. Not awful....just nothing special. Webber had good offensive skills especially in the way of great passing and may have had the best hands of any big man I have seen play....but leader - not really. If you want to talk about past leaders - talk about the Vlade.
The comparison is very apt.
Styles are irrelevant.
Artest/Webber both give/gave the team leadership, and direction. When we had Webb we knew who we were. Even after Vlade left, we were still the Kings, were still going to play a certain way, still had the immense pride a Great player brings. Then we spent a year out in the wilderness discovering just how ridiculously important those traits are to a basketball team. And now we have gotten back a new Great player. And all of a sudden we know who we are again. Know how we are going to play again. Have the confidence/arrogance of a truly Great player again. And because of that, have a future again.
Time will tell if Artest is truly operating at that level, and if he is mature enough to actually hold it together. But the impact is similar. One player to rally around.
Styles are irrelevant.
Artest/Webber both give/gave the team leadership, and direction. When we had Webb we knew who we were. Even after Vlade left, we were still the Kings, were still going to play a certain way, still had the immense pride a Great player brings. Then we spent a year out in the wilderness discovering just how ridiculously important those traits are to a basketball team. And now we have gotten back a new Great player. And all of a sudden we know who we are again. Know how we are going to play again. Have the confidence/arrogance of a truly Great player again. And because of that, have a future again.
Time will tell if Artest is truly operating at that level, and if he is mature enough to actually hold it together. But the impact is similar. One player to rally around.
Yes he can (to both questions). But will he?
Artest will never be as close to his teammates as Webber was and he may never be able to match Webber's output statistically. He will lead with his ferocious intensity and what I believe is developing into a Complete Game. To borrow a term from baseball he can be our five tool player. We just need to learn from Bulls and Indy mistakes when it comes to Artest. You have to trust Ron blindly and nourish him with your trust and your belief in him and not demand of him to earn it over and over again or treat him like a liability.
Artest will never be as close to his teammates as Webber was and he may never be able to match Webber's output statistically. He will lead with his ferocious intensity and what I believe is developing into a Complete Game. To borrow a term from baseball he can be our five tool player. We just need to learn from Bulls and Indy mistakes when it comes to Artest. You have to trust Ron blindly and nourish him with your trust and your belief in him and not demand of him to earn it over and over again or treat him like a liability.
Folsom Al said:
Ron is Ron .... Chris - C-Webb ..... bugs me that people say ...
<insert player's name here> is THE NEXT <insert SUPERSTAR'S NAME HERE>
Current King's team is entirely different team from several years ago -DOWN TO THE BENCH !!!
What do you think Ron would say if someone said to him "You're the next Chris Webber" ???
I'm sorry to be so negative about this .... but, it just ain't right
<insert player's name here> is THE NEXT <insert SUPERSTAR'S NAME HERE>
Current King's team is entirely different team from several years ago -DOWN TO THE BENCH !!!
What do you think Ron would say if someone said to him "You're the next Chris Webber" ???
I'm sorry to be so negative about this .... but, it just ain't right
Bibby's great, but...
He proved he wasn't enough of a leader to get the group on the same page. Bibby seemed to force the leadership issue. IMHO, leadership just happens. The fact that Ron plays both ways and demands effort from his teammates made him a leader.
Bibby and Webber both specifically spoke of themselves as leaders. As far as I know, Vlade didn't.. Ron doesn't. However, people are following.
A great leader doesn't need to say, "I'm the leader." People just follow. Much to my surprise, the team is following Ron.
When Ron called a team meeting after a loss, then said it was Bibby and Corliss' idea. That's leadership. I believe Corliss set it straight.
He proved he wasn't enough of a leader to get the group on the same page. Bibby seemed to force the leadership issue. IMHO, leadership just happens. The fact that Ron plays both ways and demands effort from his teammates made him a leader.
Bibby and Webber both specifically spoke of themselves as leaders. As far as I know, Vlade didn't.. Ron doesn't. However, people are following.
A great leader doesn't need to say, "I'm the leader." People just follow. Much to my surprise, the team is following Ron.
When Ron called a team meeting after a loss, then said it was Bibby and Corliss' idea. That's leadership. I believe Corliss set it straight.
ok so many things to say... I agree with the comment that webber was never a leader. Vlade was. Webber had the ability, but Vlade led this team.
Bibby was never a leader. he tired, but didnt have the ability to lead. Peja had the ability but not the heart. Ron has both. the heart and the ability. He is a true super star. Webber was a stat concerned player that lacked a killer instinct. I was not high on webber. ANd i do not see how people still morn his loss. I jumped for joy that night... Tho i was like "we traded webber for nothing..." i was still exctatic to see him Go haha. His time was up... he couldnt play anymore. His numbers in Phili are padded just like his last 2 yrs in sac. THey look good. but just watch his games... he sucks now.
Ron is the future. His killer instinct is like none other. Now bibby can fully be utilized again... as he wont be so guarded. And our elite team is very very close again. Amen!
P.S. I love ron a lil to much... my gf is jelous... just wanted to add that haha
Bibby was never a leader. he tired, but didnt have the ability to lead. Peja had the ability but not the heart. Ron has both. the heart and the ability. He is a true super star. Webber was a stat concerned player that lacked a killer instinct. I was not high on webber. ANd i do not see how people still morn his loss. I jumped for joy that night... Tho i was like "we traded webber for nothing..." i was still exctatic to see him Go haha. His time was up... he couldnt play anymore. His numbers in Phili are padded just like his last 2 yrs in sac. THey look good. but just watch his games... he sucks now.
Ron is the future. His killer instinct is like none other. Now bibby can fully be utilized again... as he wont be so guarded. And our elite team is very very close again. Amen!
P.S. I love ron a lil to much... my gf is jelous... just wanted to add that haha
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