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http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/basketball/11255271.htm
Royal treatment — with limits
[size=-1]By PHIL JASNER[/size]
[size=-1]jasnerp@phillynews.com[/size]
SACRAMENTO - He tried mightily not to anticipate how this would be. He was prepared to go with the flow, to let his emotions take him wherever they might. Chris Webber, in his first game back in Sacramento, wanted to bring his best. Who wouldn't?
He was the second member of the 76ers introduced by the Arco Arena public-address announcer before last night's game against the Kings, his first time back since being traded Feb. 23. He was showered with applause, greeted with dozens of welcoming signs and banners in the stands. The sound system blared Neil Diamond's "Hello," and Webber felt moved to applaud the crowd.
"It was humbling, nice of the crowd," Webber said. "I was just standing there, looking stupid. It's good to be in this locker room now. Me and the little guy can make some history."
Webber went out and made four of his first five shots, before missing eight of his next nine in the Kings' 118-109 victory over the Sixers. He was taken out of the game with 16.9 seconds left, to a standing ovation.
"I feel a sense of relief that it's over," Webber said. "I loved the guys on the team I played with. It's just good not to have to think about this anymore. I loved the team when I was here. Now, it's officially over. A new door opens and I'll try to make this the best time of my career."
Webber, who finished with 20 points (8-for-26 from the floor, 0-for-4 in the fourth quarter), wasn't alone facing the challenge of playing against his old team. Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas, two of the three players sent from the 76ers to the Kings, were preparing for exactly that. Corliss Williamson, the third player going to the Kings, was out with a migraine headache.
Thomas scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Skinner had 13 points and a career-high 19 boards. And Cardinal Dougherty's Cuttino Mobley led the Kings with 30 points, including six threes in eight attempts.
Allen Iverson led all scorers with 34 points. Sixers center Samuel Dalembert had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
The Kings shot 50 percent from the floor, 11-for-15 (73.3) from three-point distance.
"They knocked down a lot of big-time shots with hands all over them," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said. "They were shooting over pick-and-rolls, over switches. That's a very, very difficult core to guard, with [Mike] Bibby, [Peja] Stojakovic and Mobley. They all shoot threes, they all drive. Their 'bigs' set screens, and it's a tall order."
Neither team was as it had been before the trade that was consummated the day before the NBA deadline. The Kings went into last night's game with a record of 9-8 since the deal. The Sixers, with five victories in their last six games, were 9-5. The Kings believe they are deeper, more physical, more versatile than they were. The Sixers believe they have, in Webber and Iverson, the one-two punch they had been craving.
But if Webber is just beginning to find a comfort level with the Sixers, listen to Skinner, the forward-center who had been buried on O'Brien's depth chart:
"It's sort of like I went to Palm Springs," Skinner said, allowing a smile to play across his face. "It's been great. It's been wonderful. It's been playing minutes, being productive, being confident, being relaxed."
He is starting, in part because of an injury to Brad Miller. Skinner is contributing double-doubles in points and rebounds fairly regularly. He is getting the opportunity he had anticipated getting when he signed with the Sixers as a free agent last summer.
Now listen to Thomas, sometimes starting at forward, sometimes coming off the bench:
"I love it," he said. "It's just different, the way they share the ball. If you're open, they have confidence in you, they get you the ball."
He paused, smiled and sheepishly corrected himself:
"The way we get the ball."
Thomas made it clear he appreciated playing for Larry Brown, learning the pull-up jumper. He enjoyed playing the last 30 games of last season for interim coach Chris Ford, completing the season as the shortest player in the league to average a double-double. Asked about playing for O'Brien, he initially said, "No comment."
"The hardest thing was saying I was with the Sacramento Kings and getting the Philly stuff out of my mind," he said. "I enjoyed being there, but it was time to move on. It seemed like [O'Brien] had a lot of interest in other areas, but I totally enjoyed playing with Allen. Billy King [Sixers president/general manager] felt it was time for a change, and he did what he did.
"I got the call while the team was in New York, 15 minutes before midnight. I knew it was [King]. Soon as I heard his voice, I knew I had been traded. Where? Sacramento? Wow. I want to thank him for that."
Thomas said he appreciated the opportunity to join a contender.
"Here, it doesn't matter who scores," he said. "Everybody here scores. Everybody here passes."
On paper, the Sixers gave up Thomas, Skinner and Williamson for Webber, Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes. Bradley has played a total of 47 seconds since arriving. Barnes has not played at all.
So, Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds was asked, exactly what did the Sixers get?
"They got a marvelous talent, one of the best big players in the league, with better hands and more skill than most," Reynolds said. "The question is, whether his legs will hold up.
"Exactly what they got will be determined by what he does, how they do. At 6-10, he has more skill than just about any 6-10 player in the world. He has those great hands, he has that court awareness. Athletically, he can't do some of the things he used to do, even running up and down the floor. He's not the same player he was."
The Kings jumped at the chance to essentially exchange Webber's contract (he is owed more than $62 million over the next 3 years) for three players, allowing them some flexibility to perhaps make other moves in the offseason. The Sixers, meanwhile, acquired a five-time All-Star, a career 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists producer, the Western Conference Player of the Month in January.
Still, as stunned as Webber was to be sent away by the Kings, Skinner and Thomas were virtually ecstatic about getting a fresh start.
"I don't know [what happened with the Sixers], I really don't," Skinner said.
"Some players are more ready to play in certain situations. That wasn't one of them. Stuff was said behind closed doors, and I didn't agree with all of it. Whatever was said between the coaching staff and me, things are different now... It wasn't a fit. I can't speak for the other players, but nobody wants to sit. It's like being a columnist and not getting a chance to get it in the paper. I don't understand it, but it's not anything I want to address too much."
Royal treatment — with limits
[size=-1]By PHIL JASNER[/size]
[size=-1]jasnerp@phillynews.com[/size]
SACRAMENTO - He tried mightily not to anticipate how this would be. He was prepared to go with the flow, to let his emotions take him wherever they might. Chris Webber, in his first game back in Sacramento, wanted to bring his best. Who wouldn't?
He was the second member of the 76ers introduced by the Arco Arena public-address announcer before last night's game against the Kings, his first time back since being traded Feb. 23. He was showered with applause, greeted with dozens of welcoming signs and banners in the stands. The sound system blared Neil Diamond's "Hello," and Webber felt moved to applaud the crowd.
"It was humbling, nice of the crowd," Webber said. "I was just standing there, looking stupid. It's good to be in this locker room now. Me and the little guy can make some history."
Webber went out and made four of his first five shots, before missing eight of his next nine in the Kings' 118-109 victory over the Sixers. He was taken out of the game with 16.9 seconds left, to a standing ovation.
"I feel a sense of relief that it's over," Webber said. "I loved the guys on the team I played with. It's just good not to have to think about this anymore. I loved the team when I was here. Now, it's officially over. A new door opens and I'll try to make this the best time of my career."
Webber, who finished with 20 points (8-for-26 from the floor, 0-for-4 in the fourth quarter), wasn't alone facing the challenge of playing against his old team. Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas, two of the three players sent from the 76ers to the Kings, were preparing for exactly that. Corliss Williamson, the third player going to the Kings, was out with a migraine headache.
Thomas scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Skinner had 13 points and a career-high 19 boards. And Cardinal Dougherty's Cuttino Mobley led the Kings with 30 points, including six threes in eight attempts.
Allen Iverson led all scorers with 34 points. Sixers center Samuel Dalembert had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
The Kings shot 50 percent from the floor, 11-for-15 (73.3) from three-point distance.
"They knocked down a lot of big-time shots with hands all over them," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said. "They were shooting over pick-and-rolls, over switches. That's a very, very difficult core to guard, with [Mike] Bibby, [Peja] Stojakovic and Mobley. They all shoot threes, they all drive. Their 'bigs' set screens, and it's a tall order."
Neither team was as it had been before the trade that was consummated the day before the NBA deadline. The Kings went into last night's game with a record of 9-8 since the deal. The Sixers, with five victories in their last six games, were 9-5. The Kings believe they are deeper, more physical, more versatile than they were. The Sixers believe they have, in Webber and Iverson, the one-two punch they had been craving.
But if Webber is just beginning to find a comfort level with the Sixers, listen to Skinner, the forward-center who had been buried on O'Brien's depth chart:
"It's sort of like I went to Palm Springs," Skinner said, allowing a smile to play across his face. "It's been great. It's been wonderful. It's been playing minutes, being productive, being confident, being relaxed."
He is starting, in part because of an injury to Brad Miller. Skinner is contributing double-doubles in points and rebounds fairly regularly. He is getting the opportunity he had anticipated getting when he signed with the Sixers as a free agent last summer.
Now listen to Thomas, sometimes starting at forward, sometimes coming off the bench:
"I love it," he said. "It's just different, the way they share the ball. If you're open, they have confidence in you, they get you the ball."
He paused, smiled and sheepishly corrected himself:
"The way we get the ball."
Thomas made it clear he appreciated playing for Larry Brown, learning the pull-up jumper. He enjoyed playing the last 30 games of last season for interim coach Chris Ford, completing the season as the shortest player in the league to average a double-double. Asked about playing for O'Brien, he initially said, "No comment."
"The hardest thing was saying I was with the Sacramento Kings and getting the Philly stuff out of my mind," he said. "I enjoyed being there, but it was time to move on. It seemed like [O'Brien] had a lot of interest in other areas, but I totally enjoyed playing with Allen. Billy King [Sixers president/general manager] felt it was time for a change, and he did what he did.
"I got the call while the team was in New York, 15 minutes before midnight. I knew it was [King]. Soon as I heard his voice, I knew I had been traded. Where? Sacramento? Wow. I want to thank him for that."
Thomas said he appreciated the opportunity to join a contender.
"Here, it doesn't matter who scores," he said. "Everybody here scores. Everybody here passes."
On paper, the Sixers gave up Thomas, Skinner and Williamson for Webber, Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes. Bradley has played a total of 47 seconds since arriving. Barnes has not played at all.
So, Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds was asked, exactly what did the Sixers get?
"They got a marvelous talent, one of the best big players in the league, with better hands and more skill than most," Reynolds said. "The question is, whether his legs will hold up.
"Exactly what they got will be determined by what he does, how they do. At 6-10, he has more skill than just about any 6-10 player in the world. He has those great hands, he has that court awareness. Athletically, he can't do some of the things he used to do, even running up and down the floor. He's not the same player he was."
The Kings jumped at the chance to essentially exchange Webber's contract (he is owed more than $62 million over the next 3 years) for three players, allowing them some flexibility to perhaps make other moves in the offseason. The Sixers, meanwhile, acquired a five-time All-Star, a career 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists producer, the Western Conference Player of the Month in January.
Still, as stunned as Webber was to be sent away by the Kings, Skinner and Thomas were virtually ecstatic about getting a fresh start.
"I don't know [what happened with the Sixers], I really don't," Skinner said.
"Some players are more ready to play in certain situations. That wasn't one of them. Stuff was said behind closed doors, and I didn't agree with all of it. Whatever was said between the coaching staff and me, things are different now... It wasn't a fit. I can't speak for the other players, but nobody wants to sit. It's like being a columnist and not getting a chance to get it in the paper. I don't understand it, but it's not anything I want to address too much."
