If Dirk, Tony, Hedo, etc... Can Play, Why Can't Peja??

[Purple Reign]

I just read a story on ESPN.com about the European Championships going on. And the following guys are playing:

Dirk Nowitski
Hedo Turkoglu
Tony Parker
Andrei Kirilenko
Memet Okur
Mikael Pitrus
Rasho Nesterovich
Vladamir Radmanovich
Marko Jaric

Why is not Peja Stojakovic playing in this tournament? I have never understood that the NBA players need rest. Nowitski is one of the top 10 players in the league and dude is carrying Germany on his back. He does not seemed very concerned about getting rest.

On top of that, the tournament seems to run right into training camp, so it is not like Peja would be giving up precious summer time to rest. I understand that their national team has camp too, but other NBA'ers don't seem to mind.

The reason why I ask this is because last year Peja did not play international ball for the first time and it seemed like his game suffered. I do not know if there is a connection, but it's worth asking. Again these guys like all other athletes work year around, it seems like this tournament would do him good to get ready for the NBA season.

 

[Fillmoe]

because hes a man not a machine?

 

[bibbyweb]

because hes a man not a machine?

I thought he pretty much rested most of the last season

 

[AleksandarN]

It is because of the coach he did not play read these threads and you will know why

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?p=194361#post194361

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7698

 

[Bricklayer]

I am GLAD he did not play from a Kings perspective. Not the only international player to skip the tournament (see Gasol, Pau). NT tournaments were developed with a different clientele in mind -- either amateurs who had long since finished their 40 game seasons, or European and overseas pros who play maybe 50-60 games in a season. Not an NBA player who plays every other night for 7 months and can have close to 100 games under his belt by summer.

What I DON'T appreciate was at the last interview it sounded like Peja was chilling on the beach or something equally unproductive -- very country club. Not how the great ones operate. Taking the summer off to focus on his career is one thing. Taking it off to get a tan is another, and S&Ms frustration there is understandable. But I've long since dispensed with that hope for Peja.

P.S. as an aside Tony Parker was complaining yesterday about feeling tired and was reflecting ont he warning Pop had given him to take some time off after multiple deep playoff runs.

 

[Purple Reign]

Not an NBA player who plays every other night for 7 months and can have close to 100 games under his belt by summer.

What about Dirk? He seems to play every year and plays heavy minutes and takes a lot of shots.

 

[Kings113]

Weren't there two articles (not that short and weak one from a foreign site with two paragraphs on it) from Sacbee in July where it said he was working on his game? I remember him saying the stuff about the beach in June on Kings.com from the off-season interviews (Brad and working out in the barn, Tag saying he'd be in shape).

 

[Bricklayer]

Weren't there two articles (not that short and weak one from a foreign site with two paragraphs on it) from Sacbee in July/August where it said he was working on his game? I remember him saying the stuff about the beach in June on Kings.com from the off-season interviews (Brad and working out in the barn, Tag saying he'd be in shape).

Last one I heard it was mid summer and he was still taking more time off for "his injuries", after which point sometime in August he planned to go out and worka little on a post move, but not too hard because its not how we used him anyway.

 

[Kings113]

Found them

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13276429p-14118710c.html

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6902&page=1&pp=15&highlight=Peja+Stojakovic - at the top, first two. Well, not Sacbee, but it was something.

 

[Greg Ostertag]

I think Peja's kid is still like around one years old or so. He probably wanted to spend the summer with his family.

Also, Peja's probably lucky he didn't play... with the fights between the Serbian team's players, etc.

 

[PFFFT!!]

its the "I" word....in case you didnt know what it was its called "INJURY". And yes, Dirk is a machine, Peja is not. Now if only Peja had his mechanics

 

[bozzwell]

Here is why (this is from Serbian media, original text follows):

...Aftermath of the game against France has its roots in Sidney 2000 [Olympics]. One serious argument between Obradovic [NT coach] and Stojakovic is the only reason why Sacramento ace did not want to play [for NT] in the last 2 years. When the president of [Basketball] Association, Miodrag Babic, called Stojakovic, angry player asked him: "And what happened in Sweden [previous EC]? I played when noone else wanted to play, even though I was injured and under pain-killers. And you all spat on me [jargon for criticising, not actually spitting], that I am not Bodiroga, how I cannot take up responsibility...I am not your clerk so that I have to respond."


....
Posledice igre protiv Francuske vuku korene još od Sidneja 2000. godine. Jedna oštra svađa između Obradovića i Stojakovića jedini je razlog što as Sakramenta nije želeo da igra prethodne dve godine. Kada je predsednik Saveza Miodrag Babić pozvao Stojakovića, revoltirani košarkaš ga je pitao: \„A, šta je bilo u Švedskoj? Igrao sam kad niko nije hteo i to povređen, pod injekcijama. A vi ste me svi pljuvali kako ja nisam Bodiroga, kako ne smem da preuzmem odgovornost... Nisam ja tvoj službenik da moram da ti se odazovem.\”
.....

 

[AleksandarN]

Here is why (this is from Serbian media, original text follows):

...Aftermath of the game against France has its roots in Sidney 2000 [Olympics]. One serious argument between Obradovic [NT coach] and Stojakovic is the only reason why Sacramento ace did not want to play [for NT] in the last 2 years. When the president of [Basketball] Association, Miodrag Babic, called Stojakovic, angry player asked him: "And what happened in Sweden [previous EC]? I played when noone else wanted to play, even though I was injured and under pain-killers. And you all spat on me [jargon for criticising, not actually spitting], that I am not Bodiroga, how I cannot take up responsibility...I am not your clerk so that I have to respond."


....
Posledice igre protiv Francuske vuku korene još od Sidneja 2000. godine. Jedna oštra svađa između Obradovića i Stojakovića jedini je razlog što as Sakramenta nije želeo da igra prethodne dve godine. Kada je predsednik Saveza Miodrag Babić pozvao Stojakovića, revoltirani košarkaš ga je pitao: \„A, šta je bilo u Švedskoj? Igrao sam kad niko nije hteo i to povređen, pod injekcijama. A vi ste me svi pljuvali kako ja nisam Bodiroga, kako ne smem da preuzmem odgovornost... Nisam ja tvoj službenik da moram da ti se odazovem.\”
.....

That is what I saying all along but no one chooses to listen. People like to see it another way to possiblily further thier agenda it seems.

 

[Bricklayer]

Here is why (this is from Serbian media, original text follows):

...Aftermath of the game against France has its roots in Sidney 2000 [Olympics]. One serious argument between Obradovic [NT coach] and Stojakovic is the only reason why Sacramento ace did not want to play [for NT] in the last 2 years. When the president of [Basketball] Association, Miodrag Babic, called Stojakovic, angry player asked him: "And what happened in Sweden [previous EC]? I played when noone else wanted to play, even though I was injured and under pain-killers. And you all spat on me [jargon for criticising, not actually spitting], that I am not Bodiroga, how I cannot take up responsibility...I am not your clerk so that I have to respond."


....
Posledice igre protiv Francuske vuku korene još od Sidneja 2000. godine. Jedna oštra svađa između Obradovića i Stojakovića jedini je razlog što as Sakramenta nije želeo da igra prethodne dve godine. Kada je predsednik Saveza Miodrag Babić pozvao Stojakovića, revoltirani košarkaš ga je pitao: \„A, šta je bilo u Švedskoj? Igrao sam kad niko nije hteo i to povređen, pod injekcijama. A vi ste me svi pljuvali kako ja nisam Bodiroga, kako ne smem da preuzmem odgovornost... Nisam ja tvoj službenik da moram da ti se odazovem.\”
.....

Well its nice to know that egos are egos no matter what side of the pond you are on.

2002 may have been the turning point there. The NT finally did what it had set out to do. The great quest was completed. And after that the focus and dedication to the NT was never the same. Guys began to skip. Results tapered. Time for some good old fashioned American style complacency and arrogance. Winning can really spoil you sometimes.

The doors flying open to the NBA may also have had something to do with eroding the NT-centric culture. And nto just the NBA, but bigger money all around the world. But especially in the NBA all of a sudden there was a worldwide stage to compete on where you could become ridiculously rich and famous in even far corners of the globe, and it didn't require months of hard work over the summer for a pittance. There was another, far more lucrative, path to fame for some of these guys.

Now somewhat like USA Basketball's mea culpa last summer, its up to the NT powers that be to adapt to this new environment, because clearly they cannot count on a one for all all for one spirit of dedication as they could a generation ago.

 

[FordPerfekt]

Because obradovich is incredibly mean person. After our "great" game he accused players that they are ego maniacs. And that he knew that for 2 months! Why didn't he send them home? And what was his excuse after the game with Spain. Fans!? What was his excuse after OI 2000, After france 1999, After athens 2004. Players are responsible for misses but he puled out players that scored and let those who coldn't play. Why did Darko stay on bench. In 3 seconds he was in game he had same number of o.reb. as whole team in 4 q. He forced nenad who culd not hit a bassket! Peja decided to stay home and rest and not play in NT because he didn't nead another sweden (EC in 2003).

 

[thesanityannex]

What about Dirk? He seems to play every year and plays heavy minutes and takes a lot of shots.

Dirk tired out in the playoffs, it was obvious.

 

[bozzwell]

Well its nice to know that egos are egos no matter what side of the pond you are on.

2002 may have been the turning point there. The NT finally did what it had set out to do. The great quest was completed. And after that the focus and dedication to the NT was never the same. Guys began to skip. Results tapered. Time for some good old fashioned American style complacency and arrogance. Winning can really spoil you sometimes.

The doors flying open to the NBA may also have had something to do with eroding the NT-centric culture. And nto just the NBA, but bigger money all around the world. But especially in the NBA all of a sudden there was a worldwide stage to compete on where you could become ridiculously rich and famous in even far corners of the globe, and it didn't require months of hard work over the summer for a pittance. There was another, far more lucrative, path to fame for some of these guys.

Now somewhat like USA Basketball's mea culpa last summer, its up to the NT powers that be to adapt to this new environment, because clearly they cannot count on a one for all all for one spirit of dedication as they could a generation ago.

It's not just the players. The fans too are split. To me, I would love nothing more then "one of us" to get an NBA ring as a key player on an NBA championship team. Then there are fans back home who hate NBA because it has detracted from European and domestic competition and now even NT.

And you're right, it's up to Serbian Basketball Association to get their house in order and adapt to the new reality. On talent only, the disparity between US and the resto of the World and Serbia and the rest of teh Europe is huge, that they can only defeat themselves, noone else can beat them.

 

[Packt]

its the "I" word....in case you didnt know what it was its called "INJURY". And yes, Dirk is a machine, Peja is not. Now if only Peja had his mechanics

Yeah. He is in a contract year, and really he has nothing to gain playing for the NT, while having a lot to lose.

He could fund the whole NT if he avoids injuries and gets his fat contract.

 

[Peja]

Peja became the smartest serbian basketball player.He saw what will happend here and didn't wanted to come.I just hope that he improved his game this summer instead of playing for the national team!