Sacramento Kings - A big home win Sunday night against the streaking Spurs will do a lot to the Kings' reputation. The Spurs were just the second high quality team they'd beaten all season (the Suns were the first). They've lost to every other tough team in the West, raising the suspicion among some that the Kings' impressive 19-9 record had more to do with their soft schedule than their talent.
There may be some truth for Kings haters to hang their hat on. When your best starter, statistically, happens to be your worst player in the plus/minus rater, something is awry.
Chris Webber's numbers are impressive across the board, but there's no question that the team plays better on the offensive end of the court when he's sitting on the bench. Maybe that's because Webber, despite his gaudy assists numbers, can be a black hole in the paint during key stretches. Stojakovic, especially, seems to struggle when Webber is on the floor.
While the two continue to dismiss suggestions that there's an off-the-court rift, on the court, Stojakovic might have a legitimate beef. The chemistry that existed last year when Vlade Divac manned the middle and Brad Miller played the four just doesn't seem to be there. Other players like Mike Bibby and Miller don't seem to be suffering from it, but there's very little question that Stojakovic seems to come alive when Webber takes a breather.
There may be some truth for Kings haters to hang their hat on. When your best starter, statistically, happens to be your worst player in the plus/minus rater, something is awry.
Chris Webber's numbers are impressive across the board, but there's no question that the team plays better on the offensive end of the court when he's sitting on the bench. Maybe that's because Webber, despite his gaudy assists numbers, can be a black hole in the paint during key stretches. Stojakovic, especially, seems to struggle when Webber is on the floor.
While the two continue to dismiss suggestions that there's an off-the-court rift, on the court, Stojakovic might have a legitimate beef. The chemistry that existed last year when Vlade Divac manned the middle and Brad Miller played the four just doesn't seem to be there. Other players like Mike Bibby and Miller don't seem to be suffering from it, but there's very little question that Stojakovic seems to come alive when Webber takes a breather.
