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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12462453p-13318475c.html
Coaching against Webber will be difficult
The former Kings star forward has a knack for going off in post-trade games.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, February 26, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Kings coach Rick Adelman didn't have to think long or hard when asked what he expected Chris Webber to bring tonight in his first game with the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
"Problems!" Adelman said quickly with the experience of having coached Webber since 1999.
In fact, it wouldn't have been particularly difficult for Adelman and Webber to bump into each other in the hotel lobby. The Kings and the players they traded to the Sixers were to stay in the same hotel Friday night. New Kings Corliss Williamson, Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner took their physicals Friday. Webber and Matt Barnes arrived in Philadelphia on Friday evening.
Michael Bradley took his physical Thursday in NewYork, where the Sixers played the Knicks.
"It's probably the weirdest situation I've ever been involved with," Adelman said. "We're going to play them (tonight). We're going to play them (March 28) at home. (Chris) obviously has been playing well. We're going to have to wait and see."
Center Brad Miller was asked what it was going to be like guarding Webber and said that wasn't his major concern.
"I know that's going to be tough, and I may even tell Darius (Songaila) to get him some," Miller joked. "But when they come to Sac, he's probably going to try to score 70 on us."
Actually, Webber's history against his former teams suggests a more overall dominant performance. After being traded by Golden State to Washington, he separated his shoulder in his first game but had a triple double of 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Warriors.
Upon being traded by Washington to Sacramento, Webber had triple doubles in his first two games against his former team. He had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the first one and then 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the second.
Maurice Evans spent only the better part of five months, including training camp, as a Webber teammate but came away with a profound amount of respect for the veteran. Evans also expects Webber to be full of motivation.
"Any player in this league ... has ego and has pride, and put into a situation like this, they are going to respond," Evans said. "I think Webb is going to come out and try and give us a lot of work (tonight).
"I'm sure he's going to come out with something to prove. So we're definitely going to have to be ready physically and mentally for that game. A.I. (Allen Iverson) is going to have a little extra bounce in his step. We really need to come together during these last games of the season and show who we are."
The game will be special for Kings guard Cuttino Mobley, who grew up in Philadelphia. Mobley and Webber took to each other quickly since the Philly native came to Sacramento from Orlando with Bradley for Doug Christie. Mobley, however, said business is business.
"It was a surprise to hear he'd be traded," Mobley said, "You figure some guys are untouchable.
"I guess not, huh? I guess when you see (Shaquille O'Neal) traded, anybody can get traded." Evans talked about hearing Webber's leadership qualities questioned, especially in Sacramento.
"You shake your head," Evans said. "But there is no coincidence that wherever a player goes, his team always wins. That dude has been very successful at every level, therefore you've got to be some kind of a leader and you've got to have great work ethic to be in that position."
Kings president Geoff Petrie said the team will replace Webber with a group concept. "We're going to have power forward by committee," Petrie said from Sacramento. "And it's going to be interesting to see how quickly we can integrate all of our new players."
Coaching against Webber will be difficult
The former Kings star forward has a knack for going off in post-trade games.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, February 26, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Kings coach Rick Adelman didn't have to think long or hard when asked what he expected Chris Webber to bring tonight in his first game with the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
"Problems!" Adelman said quickly with the experience of having coached Webber since 1999.
In fact, it wouldn't have been particularly difficult for Adelman and Webber to bump into each other in the hotel lobby. The Kings and the players they traded to the Sixers were to stay in the same hotel Friday night. New Kings Corliss Williamson, Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner took their physicals Friday. Webber and Matt Barnes arrived in Philadelphia on Friday evening.
Michael Bradley took his physical Thursday in NewYork, where the Sixers played the Knicks.
"It's probably the weirdest situation I've ever been involved with," Adelman said. "We're going to play them (tonight). We're going to play them (March 28) at home. (Chris) obviously has been playing well. We're going to have to wait and see."
Center Brad Miller was asked what it was going to be like guarding Webber and said that wasn't his major concern.
"I know that's going to be tough, and I may even tell Darius (Songaila) to get him some," Miller joked. "But when they come to Sac, he's probably going to try to score 70 on us."
Actually, Webber's history against his former teams suggests a more overall dominant performance. After being traded by Golden State to Washington, he separated his shoulder in his first game but had a triple double of 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Warriors.
Upon being traded by Washington to Sacramento, Webber had triple doubles in his first two games against his former team. He had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the first one and then 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the second.
Maurice Evans spent only the better part of five months, including training camp, as a Webber teammate but came away with a profound amount of respect for the veteran. Evans also expects Webber to be full of motivation.
"Any player in this league ... has ego and has pride, and put into a situation like this, they are going to respond," Evans said. "I think Webb is going to come out and try and give us a lot of work (tonight).
"I'm sure he's going to come out with something to prove. So we're definitely going to have to be ready physically and mentally for that game. A.I. (Allen Iverson) is going to have a little extra bounce in his step. We really need to come together during these last games of the season and show who we are."
The game will be special for Kings guard Cuttino Mobley, who grew up in Philadelphia. Mobley and Webber took to each other quickly since the Philly native came to Sacramento from Orlando with Bradley for Doug Christie. Mobley, however, said business is business.
"It was a surprise to hear he'd be traded," Mobley said, "You figure some guys are untouchable.
"I guess not, huh? I guess when you see (Shaquille O'Neal) traded, anybody can get traded." Evans talked about hearing Webber's leadership qualities questioned, especially in Sacramento.
"You shake your head," Evans said. "But there is no coincidence that wherever a player goes, his team always wins. That dude has been very successful at every level, therefore you've got to be some kind of a leader and you've got to have great work ethic to be in that position."
Kings president Geoff Petrie said the team will replace Webber with a group concept. "We're going to have power forward by committee," Petrie said from Sacramento. "And it's going to be interesting to see how quickly we can integrate all of our new players."
