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Brian James-ESPN Insider
The shocking trade of Chris Webber on Feb. 24 and this week's injury to Brad Miller leave Sacramento with only one true center on its roster – Greg Ostertag. But someone forgot to tell Mike Bibby and the rest of the hard-working, free-flying Kings. Bibby is playing like an All-Pro in the fourth quarter of games, just like he's done his whole career.
Tuesday night, in Sacramento's win at home against struggling Orlando, Bibby scored 15 of his 21 points in the final quarter. He added 10 assists in the game, spending the first three quarters setting up the rest of his team, particularly Peja Stojakovic, who got 24 of his 27 points before Bibby took over in the fourth. Despite the presence of other stars in the Kings' lineup over the years, Bibby has usually been the one to guide them in the fourth.
Coach Rick Adelman now sets him up with even more opportunities to score. Drag screens set for Bibby in transition, high screen-rolls in the set offense, the options off the Princeton offense, and now more isolations near the elbow area (where the lane line intersects with the free-throw line) have put the decision making and scoring responsibilities on the shoulders of the most clutch player on the squad.
How do you subtract Vlade Divac, Webber and Miller from this roster and still win? The trio combined for 15 assists per game and always found slashing teammates or spot-up shooters with pinpoint passes.
Now Adelman has adjusted his new roster on the fly. Brian Skinner, Kenny Thomas and Corliss Williamson each is playing at least 20 minutes per game and responding with consistent scoring and rebounding. Skinner is now the starting center after not seeing the floor in Philadelphia and is shooting 57 percent from the floor. He is close to averaging a double-double.
In Philadelphia, Skinner only once played more than 18 minutes in a game after signing as a free agent from Milwaukee. He has played less than 26 minutes only once for his new team. Skinner never seems to take a shot he can't make and just wants to do his thing to help the team win.
Williamson and Thomas have been pure scorers since their first day in Kings uniforms. Thomas has produced from the high-post offense, and both have room to put the ball down and get to the rim. The three of them together are giving the Kings over 30 points and 20 rebounds per game, and shooting just under 50 percent from the field. Playing in a system built on improvising and spacing the floor has made for an easier transition for the trio. The strong-side screening with repeated slips or pin-downs on the weak side with constant moving all over has spaced the floor for all of them.
Darius Songalia has now proved to all observers what a valuable player he can be. Songalia brings solid defense, driving ability and constant energy. It is hard to have a bad night when you play so hard.
The defense must get better, though, as four of the last seven opponents have been able to shoot 50 percent or better. The lack of size may be a detriment in this area. But the Kings' starting lineup of Bibby, Cutino Mobley, Stojakovic, Songalia and Skinner had played a whopping 85 minutes together going into last night's game. Compare that to the starting lineup in Phoenix, where the Suns' starters have played 1,057 minutes with each other.
The Kings are desperately trying to hold off Houston and Memphis and keep the fifth seed in the West. It will be difficult without Miller and Bobby Jackson, but just don't sell off this team yet. Miller and Jackson could be back for the playoffs, and it will just add to the Kings' depth and talent. Sacramento's 6-4 record without Webber won't set the world on fire but with just 17 games left, it is good enough to keep the ship afloat as the learning process continues.
Webber struggling in Philly
Meanwhile, Webber has had a much more difficult time adjusting and fitting in with his new teammates in Philadelphia. His shooting is down 6 percent and he is scoring 5.2 fewer points per game. In addition, he is grabbing 1.7 fewer rebounds and dishing out 2.1 fewer assists per game.
The Philadelphia fans will not accept below-average play or effort. As I watched last night's game vs. the Lakers, I noticed that Webber was hanging out on the perimeter more than usual, thus not snaring those rebounds on the offensive end. His touches are down and his smile is nonexistent.
The last thing anyone on a new team wants to hear is how you miss your old team. Obviously with a player like Allen Iverson, who has the ball in his hands over 50 percent of the time, it doesn't leave many plays for others. When a player tries to fit in on a new team, there will always be some struggles. Usually, the individual must conform to the system.
Sixers coach Jim O'Brien's can't be expected to change the offensive system he employed for the first 50 games of the season, but O'Brien would be wise to incorporate one or two of Webber's favorite plays into the offense.
Webber also has struggled to adapt to the aggressive defensive philosophy used by O'Brien and assistant coach **** Harter. In Sacramento, Webber played behind the post. When the ball was entered into his man, he kept his strong base with his arms outstretched in order to alter the flight of the ball on shot attempts. His huge hands and overall knowledge and experience enabled him to get most rebounds in his direction.
The Kings would force the screen-roll down toward the baseline with the guard not allowing the dribbler to have middle penetration, and then force him into Webber, who was zoning up the block area. Or they would drop and plug with Webber as he attempted to stop the dribble penetration.
His lack of mobility because of recent knee injuries forced Sacramento to play this type of defense. Opponents always knew at the end of the shot clock they could pin down for a shooter with Webber's man or run screen-roll since he often had trouble hedging out to bother the man with the ball until the guard could catch up.
Philadelphia must now adjust its defense to fit Webber into its schemes. Toronto set records this week in its win over Philly, mainly by putting five 3-point shooters on the floor and repeatedly running high screen-roll.
O'Brien has always been a believer in attacking the screen-roll with a blitzing style and trapping it with both defenders. Then the opposite big man will pre-rotate if the dribbler throws back to the screener for a shot attempt. Toronto really spread them out. The coaches may be trying to persuade Webber to get out more aggressively.
Philadelphia also has been very good at fronting the post and denying passes inside with pressure. This also is different from how Webber defended in Sacramento. Last night, Webber attempted to adapt at times, but in other cases the Sixers dropped and plugged on screen rolls.
Evidently, this is an ongoing give-and-take process. But until Webber gets involved in every aspect of Philadelphia's style, his minutes and production will continue to decline.
Because of Iverson's broken bone in his left thumb, suffered last night, look for an immediate change in how Philadelphia uses Webber as the focal point both in the high and low posts. By playing winning basketball right away and getting Philadelphia into the playoffs, Webber would help eliminate negative feelings. If Iverson is on the shelf for any period of time, Webber will get his opportunity to have the offense run through him once again.
Injury Oddities
Brad Miller's freak injury this week couldn't have come at a worse time for Sacramento. It is so unfortunate for him and the Kings. Fracturing his left fibula doing a supposed light shooting drill shows how just landing wrong can have disastrous results.
Hopefully, Sacramento can finish strong and get a healthy Miller back for the playoffs. It reminded me of some unusual injuries that have placed players on the injury list. Since most practices are closed to the media, often times these injuries are not reported.
1. A few years ago during the period when Seattle was one of the dominant teams in the West, Frank Brickowski broke his nose playing one-on-one before the game. Brickowski was elbowed by unorthodox utility big man Steve Sheffler. Many players often work up a sweat a couple of hours before a game and may play one-on-one, but they rarely play seriously enough to get injured and miss extended game action.
2.Early in his career in Toronto, Damon Stoudamire was on his way to becoming one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA. In fact, he was Rookie of the Year back in the Raptors' inaugural season. But when his trainer, who will remain nameless, was scraping the calluses off the bottom of his foot, he sliced Stoudamire's foot so badly that he was forced to miss three games. Luckily, the Raptors weren't in a playoff chase.
3. Eric Montross was a serviceable starting center for years, but three seasons ago his career ended in a mishap. Montross stepped over the baby gate in his house in Toronto, planting wrong and fracturing a small bone in his foot. Someone the size of Montross can't afford to have foot problems, and for at least two seasons he could not put the proper weight on it for basketball-related activities.
4. Two seasons ago, Washington's Larry Hughes fractured his left wrist's capitate bone as a result of Pau Gasol's attempting to take a charge during a game. Hughes was trying to keep from hitting his head on the floor, and his hand hit the ground at just the wrong angle. The specialist who treated Hughes said he had seen that capitate bone broken only three other times and those were the result of car accidents. The force and angle of Larry's wrist hitting the court required six weeks in a cast.
Brian James, a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards, is a regular contributor to Insider.
The shocking trade of Chris Webber on Feb. 24 and this week's injury to Brad Miller leave Sacramento with only one true center on its roster – Greg Ostertag. But someone forgot to tell Mike Bibby and the rest of the hard-working, free-flying Kings. Bibby is playing like an All-Pro in the fourth quarter of games, just like he's done his whole career.
Tuesday night, in Sacramento's win at home against struggling Orlando, Bibby scored 15 of his 21 points in the final quarter. He added 10 assists in the game, spending the first three quarters setting up the rest of his team, particularly Peja Stojakovic, who got 24 of his 27 points before Bibby took over in the fourth. Despite the presence of other stars in the Kings' lineup over the years, Bibby has usually been the one to guide them in the fourth.
Coach Rick Adelman now sets him up with even more opportunities to score. Drag screens set for Bibby in transition, high screen-rolls in the set offense, the options off the Princeton offense, and now more isolations near the elbow area (where the lane line intersects with the free-throw line) have put the decision making and scoring responsibilities on the shoulders of the most clutch player on the squad.
How do you subtract Vlade Divac, Webber and Miller from this roster and still win? The trio combined for 15 assists per game and always found slashing teammates or spot-up shooters with pinpoint passes.
Now Adelman has adjusted his new roster on the fly. Brian Skinner, Kenny Thomas and Corliss Williamson each is playing at least 20 minutes per game and responding with consistent scoring and rebounding. Skinner is now the starting center after not seeing the floor in Philadelphia and is shooting 57 percent from the floor. He is close to averaging a double-double.
In Philadelphia, Skinner only once played more than 18 minutes in a game after signing as a free agent from Milwaukee. He has played less than 26 minutes only once for his new team. Skinner never seems to take a shot he can't make and just wants to do his thing to help the team win.
Williamson and Thomas have been pure scorers since their first day in Kings uniforms. Thomas has produced from the high-post offense, and both have room to put the ball down and get to the rim. The three of them together are giving the Kings over 30 points and 20 rebounds per game, and shooting just under 50 percent from the field. Playing in a system built on improvising and spacing the floor has made for an easier transition for the trio. The strong-side screening with repeated slips or pin-downs on the weak side with constant moving all over has spaced the floor for all of them.
Darius Songalia has now proved to all observers what a valuable player he can be. Songalia brings solid defense, driving ability and constant energy. It is hard to have a bad night when you play so hard.
The defense must get better, though, as four of the last seven opponents have been able to shoot 50 percent or better. The lack of size may be a detriment in this area. But the Kings' starting lineup of Bibby, Cutino Mobley, Stojakovic, Songalia and Skinner had played a whopping 85 minutes together going into last night's game. Compare that to the starting lineup in Phoenix, where the Suns' starters have played 1,057 minutes with each other.
The Kings are desperately trying to hold off Houston and Memphis and keep the fifth seed in the West. It will be difficult without Miller and Bobby Jackson, but just don't sell off this team yet. Miller and Jackson could be back for the playoffs, and it will just add to the Kings' depth and talent. Sacramento's 6-4 record without Webber won't set the world on fire but with just 17 games left, it is good enough to keep the ship afloat as the learning process continues.
Webber struggling in Philly
Meanwhile, Webber has had a much more difficult time adjusting and fitting in with his new teammates in Philadelphia. His shooting is down 6 percent and he is scoring 5.2 fewer points per game. In addition, he is grabbing 1.7 fewer rebounds and dishing out 2.1 fewer assists per game.
The Philadelphia fans will not accept below-average play or effort. As I watched last night's game vs. the Lakers, I noticed that Webber was hanging out on the perimeter more than usual, thus not snaring those rebounds on the offensive end. His touches are down and his smile is nonexistent.
The last thing anyone on a new team wants to hear is how you miss your old team. Obviously with a player like Allen Iverson, who has the ball in his hands over 50 percent of the time, it doesn't leave many plays for others. When a player tries to fit in on a new team, there will always be some struggles. Usually, the individual must conform to the system.
Sixers coach Jim O'Brien's can't be expected to change the offensive system he employed for the first 50 games of the season, but O'Brien would be wise to incorporate one or two of Webber's favorite plays into the offense.
Webber also has struggled to adapt to the aggressive defensive philosophy used by O'Brien and assistant coach **** Harter. In Sacramento, Webber played behind the post. When the ball was entered into his man, he kept his strong base with his arms outstretched in order to alter the flight of the ball on shot attempts. His huge hands and overall knowledge and experience enabled him to get most rebounds in his direction.
The Kings would force the screen-roll down toward the baseline with the guard not allowing the dribbler to have middle penetration, and then force him into Webber, who was zoning up the block area. Or they would drop and plug with Webber as he attempted to stop the dribble penetration.
His lack of mobility because of recent knee injuries forced Sacramento to play this type of defense. Opponents always knew at the end of the shot clock they could pin down for a shooter with Webber's man or run screen-roll since he often had trouble hedging out to bother the man with the ball until the guard could catch up.
Philadelphia must now adjust its defense to fit Webber into its schemes. Toronto set records this week in its win over Philly, mainly by putting five 3-point shooters on the floor and repeatedly running high screen-roll.
O'Brien has always been a believer in attacking the screen-roll with a blitzing style and trapping it with both defenders. Then the opposite big man will pre-rotate if the dribbler throws back to the screener for a shot attempt. Toronto really spread them out. The coaches may be trying to persuade Webber to get out more aggressively.
Philadelphia also has been very good at fronting the post and denying passes inside with pressure. This also is different from how Webber defended in Sacramento. Last night, Webber attempted to adapt at times, but in other cases the Sixers dropped and plugged on screen rolls.
Evidently, this is an ongoing give-and-take process. But until Webber gets involved in every aspect of Philadelphia's style, his minutes and production will continue to decline.
Because of Iverson's broken bone in his left thumb, suffered last night, look for an immediate change in how Philadelphia uses Webber as the focal point both in the high and low posts. By playing winning basketball right away and getting Philadelphia into the playoffs, Webber would help eliminate negative feelings. If Iverson is on the shelf for any period of time, Webber will get his opportunity to have the offense run through him once again.
Injury Oddities
Brad Miller's freak injury this week couldn't have come at a worse time for Sacramento. It is so unfortunate for him and the Kings. Fracturing his left fibula doing a supposed light shooting drill shows how just landing wrong can have disastrous results.
Hopefully, Sacramento can finish strong and get a healthy Miller back for the playoffs. It reminded me of some unusual injuries that have placed players on the injury list. Since most practices are closed to the media, often times these injuries are not reported.
1. A few years ago during the period when Seattle was one of the dominant teams in the West, Frank Brickowski broke his nose playing one-on-one before the game. Brickowski was elbowed by unorthodox utility big man Steve Sheffler. Many players often work up a sweat a couple of hours before a game and may play one-on-one, but they rarely play seriously enough to get injured and miss extended game action.
2.Early in his career in Toronto, Damon Stoudamire was on his way to becoming one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA. In fact, he was Rookie of the Year back in the Raptors' inaugural season. But when his trainer, who will remain nameless, was scraping the calluses off the bottom of his foot, he sliced Stoudamire's foot so badly that he was forced to miss three games. Luckily, the Raptors weren't in a playoff chase.
3. Eric Montross was a serviceable starting center for years, but three seasons ago his career ended in a mishap. Montross stepped over the baby gate in his house in Toronto, planting wrong and fracturing a small bone in his foot. Someone the size of Montross can't afford to have foot problems, and for at least two seasons he could not put the proper weight on it for basketball-related activities.
4. Two seasons ago, Washington's Larry Hughes fractured his left wrist's capitate bone as a result of Pau Gasol's attempting to take a charge during a game. Hughes was trying to keep from hitting his head on the floor, and his hand hit the ground at just the wrong angle. The specialist who treated Hughes said he had seen that capitate bone broken only three other times and those were the result of car accidents. The force and angle of Larry's wrist hitting the court required six weeks in a cast.
Brian James, a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards, is a regular contributor to Insider.
Good article, thanks for posting!
