How good could have Stojakovic been if...

[SacKings2002NBAChampions]

....he didn't play for the Kings and played for a team with no stars in the squad?

For example, in his 2003-2004 year where he averaged 24.2 ppg, Stojakovic never shot more than 25 times in a single game during the season. Each time he did shoot 20 shots or more he almost always shot 50% from the field. I think we could have utilized him more. IT nowadays takes 30 shots like it's nothing tsp tsp
In fact, rarely did you ever see him take more than 25 shots which is why he never averaged so many points in his career or why he isn't a hall of famer.

I think had he played for a team with no stars, he could have easily averaged 28 ppg if not more during many select seasons throughout his career. Especially once he learned to put the ball on the floor and take it to the basket.

 

[Bricklayer]

No, I think the effect would have been exactly opposite for Peja.

He needed great players to set him up because he struggled to create for himself. Isolated on a lesser team with defense keyed on him, his efficiency would plummet, and he did not have the game to create for others and make them better. He was a natural 2nd or 3rd banana, and far better off in an elite system than outside of it.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Sacramento and Rick Adelman's style and intelligence was just the ideal place and situation for guys like Peja, Bibby, and Christie. Just about anywhere else, with other players and coaches, and it's a whole different ball game.

I think we're entering an era in Sac, where that special situation will be setup again for the right group of players and chemistry. Starting with what we've seen from Rudy....

 

[Gary]

No, I think the effect would have been exactly opposite for Peja.

He needed great players to set him up because he struggled to create for himself. Isolated on a lesser team with defense keyed on him, his efficiency would plummet, and he did not have the game to create for others and make them better. He was a natural 2nd or 3rd banana, and far better off in an elite system than outside of it.

I totally agree, and this was actually a subject of discussion back then when comparing Hedo to Peja. If I am not mistaken I think most of us said that Hedo could get his own shot consistently and Peja could not. Peja did work for the system we had though.

 

[macadocious]

So you started off your first post mid thought and ended your last post mid thought?

 

[ESP47]

No, I think the effect would have been exactly opposite for Peja.

He needed great players to set him up because he struggled to create for himself. Isolated on a lesser team with defense keyed on him, his efficiency would plummet, and he did not have the game to create for others and make them better. He was a natural 2nd or 3rd banana, and far better off in an elite system than outside of it.

Yup.

Peja was lucky he was surrounded by 4 guys who could all get 5+ assists on any given night. It was the perfect scenario for a sharpshooter.

 

[Gary]

Peja was good player though. You couldn't plug a guy like Novack in there and expect him to score 25 a game even though he's arguably a better shooter.

He just probably wouldn't have been "as good" have he been on a different team that didn't share the ball.

 

[upinsmoke]

Divac and the style the team played was beyond perfect for Peja and did wonders for his career.

 

[Peja]

Peja had really good seasons and games outside of Sacramento, too. Not many people know that he won a Serbian Championship when he was only 16 years old(he was so talented that they put him on a senior squad).
After that, he was MVP of the Greek Championship in 1998 and in 2001 he was MVP of the European Championship(in front of Dirk, Pau, and other guys).

Being in a really good Kings team, made him better player, there's no doubt about it. He needed good point guard and good tall guys to feed him with the ball, but nevertheless, his accomplishments are not there because of others, he earned everything with his hard work.