Kings Notes: Fortson, Corliss bang for the buck

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12824772p-13674904c.html

Kings notes: Fortson, Williamson banging for the buck

By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 2, 2005

Corliss Williamson was talking about the first time he bumped bellies and biceps with Danny Fortson back in the day - in this case, the mid-1990s - and came to this simple conclusion:
Time hasn't made the collisions of mass humanity any easier on the joints. The bruising forwards are heavier now, their elbows coiled with more spring-action muscle and purpose.

An underlying black-and-blue theme in this first-round series has been the inside wars, including Williamson of the Kings (and Arkansas) and Fortson of the Seattle SuperSonics (and Cincinnati).

"We've been banging against each other since the Maui Classic from back in college," Williamson said before Game 4 at Arco Arena, where he outscored Fortson 12-6.

"We look like we really get into it - and it does get physical - but we've got a mutual respect for each other," Williamson said. "There's always respect for the tough guys. I know people complain about guys like Danny, but I guarantee you, everyone would love to have a guy like that."

Fortson said he, too, can relate to what Williamson provides, and both wonder where the justice is in the officiating.

"I mean, I've got Corliss Williamson. It's not like I'm out there against some pansy," Fortson said, defending his physicality. "I've got someone who is going to knock my teeth out if I don't play (hard)."

Not a Blockbuster night

Some shooters never get enough. They fire away in games, and some more after practice to stay sharp. Then they take film home to break down all of the tendencies, their own and those of the opponent.

Peja Stojakovic does the shooting and practice parts just fine, and though he'll admit that he "needs to be aggressive and get more involved," he draws a line. He would much rather watch nonfiction in his house than more hoops.

"I don't do basketball at home," he said.

Arco calling Skinner

In his first weeks with the Kings after the Chris Webber trade, Brian Skinner made an immediate and profound impact at center.

Now he's playing as if he's all thumbs, or, to be more precise, with two damaged digits that still seem to bother him. Skinner hasn't been the same since he jammed his thumbs March 22 (he had no rebounds in Game 3).

"He seems to be struggling right now," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I still have a lot of confidence in Brian. I just want him to go out and do what he (can) do. Try to defend, block shots, rebound the ball. He's been banged up for a while. He'll play through it."

Maybe. Adelman didn't use Skinner in Game 4.

The right puzzle

Williamson said the elements are in order to not only make this a series but to win it.

"We have the right pieces," he said. "Mentally, we have to become tougher and smarter. Defensively, we have to learn to play better as a team. If we do those things, we're a different team. We have to maintain composure and know how to take away the lead and get it back."

Celebrity watch

Raiders Warren Sapp, Randy Moss, Jerry Porter and Zack Crockett had courtside seats. The Kings' public address announcer twice had Porter's first name wrong.

King for the day

CORLISS WILLIAMSON

He was the only Kings bench player to have much offensive impact. He scored 12 points in 12 minutes of play, just one point shy of Mike Bibby's output in 45 minutes.

The big number

13

Number of unanswered points scored by the SuperSonics during a fourth-quarter run in which they wrested the lead from the Kings.

Sound bite

"They're like my 11-month-old daughter." - Seattle's Reggie Evans, referring to the Kings' complaints about dirty play and the officiating

Question posed

WHY COULDN'T PEJA STOJAKOVIC PUT TOGETHER A 48-MINUTE NIGHT?

The effort was there. Stojakovic - so often chided for his reliance on long-range jumpers, his hesitance in the paint, his tendency to shrink in big games - was aggressive. He created his own shot and dominated Sonics forward Rashard Lewis. Then Stojakovic disappeared. He scored just six of his 27 points in the second half, hitting two shots after halftime as Lewis clamped down. Seattle's Ray Allen showed his fellow shooter how to finish the job, scoring 15 of his 45 points in the final quarter. - Sam Amick

About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.

 

[VF21]

Not a Blockbuster night

Some shooters never get enough. They fire away in games, and some more after practice to stay sharp. Then they take film home to break down all of the tendencies, their own and those of the opponent.

Peja Stojakovic does the shooting and practice parts just fine, and though he'll admit that he "needs to be aggressive and get more involved," he draws a line. He would much rather watch nonfiction in his house than more hoops.

"I don't do basketball at home," he said.

Am I the only one who has a REAL problem with that attitude?

 

[Daniela]

As a Kings fan I have problem with this. Peja needs to watch tape of the game as much as possible and do whatever it takes to get his game going. As a regular everyday plain Jane, no not really. I don't take my work home with me. I leave everything at the office. Granted I certainly am not making millions a year either.

Pipedream Alert..........So, based on salary and the type of "job" Peja has, he should be watching the tape. And...................GM's around the league should start implementing a salary structure like any other job. Your raise's, bonuses etc. are based on performance throughout the season. They should have a review and talk about areas of improvement, initiative. etc. The same way us regualr folks have to. I know, it will never happen, but it is a nice idea.

 

[VF21]

Daniela - There is a fundamental difference between someone who has an office job and someone who has a skill that must be constantly reinforced and honed to enable them to perform at a certain level.

It's not about the money. From what I've known of the best athletes, they don't just show up at the arena, play the game and go home. They also work on their games after hours, so to speak. They prepare for the game by watching tapes, to see if they can spot something about their upcoming opponents that could be beneficial. They do some of that at practice. I really would have liked to know that Peja at least considers the idea. The blanket statement that he doesn't "do basketball at home" speaks very loud volumes and I, for one, do not like what it says at all.

 

[Daniela]

I agree with you VF21. I really do. And I get that basketball is not your typical day job. That is why I said, as a fan yes, and as an everyday gal no. But I also understand that players just don't do what they should be doing to prepare. Case in point the quote from Peja. But, who is there to make sure that he does? What is the incentive? I know, I know, Love of the Game. Pride in your work. yada yada yada. But you now have more players with entitlement issues and less work ethic. What is solution?

 

[VF21]

I agree with you VF21. I really do. And I get that basketball is not your typical day job. That is why I said, as a fan yes, and as an everyday gal no. But I also understand that players just don't do what they should be doing to prepare. Case in point the quote from Peja. But, who is there to make sure that he does? What is the incentive? I know, I know, Love of the Game. Pride in your work. yada yada yada. But you now have more players with entitlement issues and less work ethic. What is solution?

Tar and feathers...

Or maybe flogging...

Bamboo splints under the fingernails...



My personal opinion is that if a player doesn't have the internal fortitude to want to make himself the best possible player he can be, which would include devoting time "at home" to his craft, then I don't want him on my team. As a fan OR a player, I would want to be with the guys who really want to be the best they can be...and are willing to go the extra mile to hone their skills.

And maybe, just maybe, that is part of the problem Webber was referring to that everyone got so upset about.

 

[Daniela]

Good call on the Webber issue. Maybe!! Bottom line is Peja has to do SOMETHING!! They all do.

 

[kperica]

They also work on their games after hours, so to speak. They prepare for the game by watching tapes, to see if they can spot something about their upcoming opponents that could be beneficial. They do some of that at practice.

Do they really? I'm not arguing here, I really don't know,and I'm just wondering about your info. Everything seems to indicate to me that they don't, but that's just speculation.
Not to mention, I think you're reading a little too much into that statement. He made a flippant comment, and I sincerely doubt that he has never watched a tape of himself or shot around after practice.
Peja's a good player not because of his athletic abilities but, essentially, his jump shot...and that takes years and years of work. Again, I don't know, but would guess he has, or at least had at some point, a solid work ethic.

 

[Sparky]

Ostertag is another example. The guy gets paid millions to be an elite "athlete", yet it seems that as far as he's concerned, if he is in good enough shape to chug a brew and drive his truck, that's enough. Ostertag seems to rely on world class size only. Peja's talent is world class, but his mental toughness / desire is not. If we don't get 40 minutes of passionate play out of Peja some time this playoff series, I really would like to see him traded for someone else who has more gumption. It would be a real tragedy to offload him, but it is really up to him, and no one else.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Daniela - There is a fundamental difference between someone who has an office job and someone who has a skill that must be constantly reinforced and honed to enable them to perform at a certain level.

It's not about the money. From what I've known of the best athletes, they don't just show up at the arena, play the game and go home. They also work on their games after hours, so to speak. They prepare for the game by watching tapes, to see if they can spot something about their upcoming opponents that could be beneficial. They do some of that at practice. I really would have liked to know that Peja at least considers the idea. The blanket statement that he doesn't "do basketball at home" speaks very loud volumes and I, for one, do not like what it says at all.

And it is one of the main reasons Peja is not someone you build your team around if you have title aspirations.

 

[Venom]

I agree VF21, this is flat out unacceptable. Peja needs to go, this summer. I guess this answers why he does not improve in the offseason, he's simply not working on his game, at all. This is inexcusable in any line of work. You should always be bettering yourself in whatever you do, and Peja's attitude is really just unacceptable. I suspected this of him for quite some time, but to get a bald faced admission that smacks of pride in his non-commital. . .it's appalling.

 

[Team Dime]

And it is one of the main reasons Peja is not someone you build your team around if you have title aspirations.

It looks like all out in the open for Petrie now. He really has to move Peja "the softie" this summer.

 

[6th]

It looks like all out in the open for Petrie now. He really has to move Peja "the softie" this summer.

If Petrie moves Peja this summer it will be to get someone for him on the final year of Peja's contract rather than let him sign elsewhere, the following year, for nothing.

 

[Venom]

If Petrie moves Peja this summer it will be to get someone for him on the final year of Peja's contract rather than let him sign elsewhere, the following year, for nothing.

Huh? I mean, he would probably would leave, cause he has shown no particular loyalty or desire of late, but I think trading him would have more to do with shipping off his lackadaisical attitude. At least I would hope.

 

[Bricklayer]

My overwhelming impression remains that Petrie himself does not WANT to move Peja. And of course my concern has been that he is not thinking as clearly as he might on that issue because Peja is a friend/apprentice.

But an x-factor in the whole thing may be the Maloofs and Peja's contract demands. First, the Maloofs don't impress me as terribly patient souls. They could press for change. Second, if indications from Peja and his agent are that he's looking for a max deal, and it would not surprise me, the Maloofs may balk and say they are not willing to do that and more or less force Geoff's hand rather than end up losing him for nothing after next year. In that latter scenario my fear about Geoff would be what if because of his personal feelings he decided to gamble the franchise on Peja's ability to perform well enough next year to change the Maloof's minds? When he stood fast during the Webber episode we had an ace in the hole -- we could offer Webb more than any other team, and were willing to. We won't have that with Peja. The max for him will be the same no matter who offers it to him, and in my scenario here, we ourselves may not be willing to go that high.

 

[VF21]

Do they really? I'm not arguing here, I really don't know,and I'm just wondering about your info. Everything seems to indicate to me that they don't, but that's just speculation.
Not to mention, I think you're reading a little too much into that statement. He made a flippant comment, and I sincerely doubt that he has never watched a tape of himself or shot around after practice.
Peja's a good player not because of his athletic abilities but, essentially, his jump shot...and that takes years and years of work. Again, I don't know, but would guess he has, or at least had at some point, a solid work ethic.

I have no idea what you're using in that statement, but it's not accurate - at least not from what I've heard.

Reading too much into the statement? What part of "I don't do basketball at home" is confusing?

I KNOW for a fact a number of Kings have taken tapes home and studied them - both to see their play AND to study up on opponents. I would love to know that Peja at least considered it.

Peja is a pure shooter. It doesn't come from years and years and years of hard work. I believe it's almost something you either have or you don't - which could explain why he's been playing basketball for so many years. And that, in a nutshell, may be another piece of the puzzle. Peja has played professional basketball in one form or another since he was 15, I believe. It has always been a job to him - and once he reached the pinnacle of what he deemed success (a title for his national team), I think he's lost interest. It's a job and nothing more. And that's fine - for him.

But it's not fine IMHO for the Kings. We need the guys with the fire in their souls. There are guys like that out there; guys who work very hard in the off-season to sharpen their skills and develop new ones. Those same guys are the ones who watch the game tapes and try and pick up little glimpses of what just might make them better. If Peja doesn't choose to do that, that's his choice to make. But making it public - just like his trade request last summer - sure doesn't sit right with this Kings fan.

 

[Venom]

My overwhelming impression remains that Petrie himself does not WANT to move Peja. And of course my concern has been that he is not thinking as clearly as he might on that issue because Peja is a friend/apprentice.

But an x-factor in the whole thing may be the Maloofs and Peja's contract demands. First, the Maloofs don't impress me as terribly patient souls. They could press for change. Second, if indications from Peja and his agent are that he's looking for a max deal, and it would not surprise me, the Maloofs may balk and say they are not willing to do that and more or less force Geoff's hand rather than end up losing him for nothing after next year. In that latter scenario my fear about Geoff would be what if because of his personal feelings he decided to gamble the franchise on Peja's ability to perform well enough next year to change the Maloof's minds? When he stood fast during the Webber episode we had an ace in the hole -- we could offer Webb more than any other team, and were willing to. We won't have that with Peja. The max for him will be the same no matter who offers it to him, and in my scenario here, we ourselves may not be willing to go that high.

The Maloofs should balk at that. Only Isaih Thomas would give Peja a max deal. In fact. . .do the Knicks have anything we want? I have to think the Maloofs/Petrie ship out Peja this summer. I really do. Last summer they convinced him to stay by whispering sweet nothings about how their top priority was moving Webber and then handing over the reins to him. But Peja has totally crapped the bed on that one. The Maloofs are pretty aggressive guys. Their business model stresses customer service, but they make some pretty ballsy business moves. They live and breath their business and what they do. I have a hard time believing that they are comfortable with the current icon of their franchise not being devoted to his profession. Petrie and Adelman are, and that is why they have remained in the Kings organization.

 

[VF21]

But an x-factor in the whole thing may be the Maloofs and Peja's contract demands. First, the Maloofs don't impress me as terribly patient souls. They could press for change. Second, if indications from Peja and his agent are that he's looking for a max deal, and it would not surprise me, the Maloofs may balk and say they are not willing to do that and more or less force Geoff's hand rather than end up losing him for nothing after next year.

It might not be that much of an X factor. I noticed something the other day when I was going through back newspaper clippings. A couple of years ago, Gavin Maloof could often be spotted courtside during games wearing a #16 jersey. This year, he has worn #10 almost exclusively. I think that may just speak volumes...

...

...

or not.

 

[bozzwell]

The very idea that Pedja does not work hard enough off the court is absurd. This is a guy that took one (1) summer off in his life since the age of 15 (last summer) and even that was in order to deal with other responsibilites (serving in Army, to maintain his Greek citizenship). If anything is wrong with the dude it is that his skillset and psychological make up are unsuitable for a role where he would be leading a charge in 4th quarter and playoffs. In other words, he may never be able to get "it" in his NBA career, no matter what he does in the gym.

As for trading him: He is still valuable commodity to some, there is market for his skills and a bunch of teams that will be happy for him to average 20 efficient points and then hand it over to the guy(s) who have "it" in the 4th. There are also desperate teams who will overpay. Those teams will set market value for Pedja, not Maloofs, not Petrie, not Pedja's agent. It looks like we have these options:

1. Overpay for him in 12 months, unless we're really, really lucky that all teams that would look at Pedja find better deals elsewhere.
2. Trade him straight up. Unless we can get Artest, there is no one else in this league making Pedja money that you could argue will make Kings better in some respect (and rookies obviously don't count as we must assume that they are untradeable).
3. Package him with big contract (KT really) and get some help that way while jettisoning long term 50+ mil. commitment.

In other words, we're scrood, unless:
1. Pedja turns the corner somewhere, somehow.
2. We rebuild team that would not depend on Pedja for anything other then efficient scoring outside the clutch stretches.
3. Some fool GM offers Petrie the right price on Pedja this summer (i.e. lottery pick high enough to net a sure thing).

I don't see how getting rid of any player is a good thing unless you're helping your team and there are much, much worse players in NBA then Pedja that were able to have great careers if you evaluate them at the appropriate excpectation level.

But the real question is this: What would you do if you're Petrie and Pedja offers you home-team discount when he has better offers elsewhere? Would any of you with "trade-Pedja at any expense" agenda change your stance if the dude offered to help us win championship that way (like an aging NFL star who restructures to the team can have one more go at winning the Superbowl)? Purely theoretical question.

 

[bozzwell]

I have no idea what you're using in that statement, but it's not accurate - at least not from what I've heard.

Reading too much into the statement? What part of "I don't do basketball at home" is confusing?

I KNOW for a fact a number of Kings have taken tapes home and studied them - both to see their play AND to study up on opponents. I would love to know that Peja at least considered it.

Peja is a pure shooter. It doesn't come from years and years and years of hard work. I believe it's almost something you either have or you don't - which could explain why he's been playing basketball for so many years. And that, in a nutshell, may be another piece of the puzzle. Peja has played professional basketball in one form or another since he was 15, I believe. It has always been a job to him - and once he reached the pinnacle of what he deemed success (a title for his national team), I think he's lost interest. It's a job and nothing more. And that's fine - for him.

But it's not fine IMHO for the Kings. We need the guys with the fire in their souls. There are guys like that out there; guys who work very hard in the off-season to sharpen their skills and develop new ones. Those same guys are the ones who watch the game tapes and try and pick up little glimpses of what just might make them better. If Peja doesn't choose to do that, that's his choice to make. But making it public - just like his trade request last summer - sure doesn't sit right with this Kings fan.

There is so much completely and utterly false in your interpretation that I do not know why I bother for the N-th time to point this out:

1. Except for the last summer Pedja's shooting practices are legendary. The soft hands you get born with, the shooting is all _regular_ practice.
2. Pedja winning WC in 2002 was not pinnacle of his career, according to Pedja who was greeted (by his friends and family while back home after Indy 2002) with "how could you miss that open 3?" (against the Lakers). instead of congratulations.
3. The dude is playing NBA basketball in 2005 in part thanks to the fact that he survived _civil_ war and lived nomadic life until he settled in Sacramento, sacraficing everything to be a basketball player (including being adopted in order to be able to play baskteball at all, while his parents were both still alive!).
4. That soft uncommitted player tried to play on a double leg fracture until he noticed and extra joint. He may never be able to toughen up in mental sense in order to be "it" but he is hardly a loafer.

I've got more.

 

[Bricklayer]

You know what this whole situation reminds me a bit of Bozz? Allan Houston in New York circa 2000 (or thereabouts). They were stupid, hung onto him until he was a free agent, and then even though they knew he wasn't a max player, they just couldn't bring themselves to let him go for nothing, and so ended up severely overpaying for a limited shooter who could not get them over the top. Even before the injury, it just doomed them to mediocrity.

I think I've seen enough of Peja in the playoffs to last me a lifetime at this point. I've mentioned before that if we had two true superstuds to put before him, if we were Miami or even Houston and needed a #3 gun to open space for our main guys, then maybe his true value would be to keep him. He could be a nice weapon if the defensive focus was elsewhere and you weren't really counting on him. But for us? Without even one stud, let alone two?

I think our best chance, and his best value to us at this point might be your option #3 -- as the gem of a package we offer to somebody for a serious stud. All things being equal you'd rather bring in the stud(s) while keeping Peja, Mike and Brad. But that's just highly unlikely.

Now here's the thing -- I'm basically not going to believe Geoff would actually do it until I see it. Part of my relatively serene confidence in the Kings over the years has been my confidence that the man in charge would calmly make the right decisions for the franchise and keep us rolling. But I have a concern. Maybe a paranoia. Hard to tell. Here's my nightmare scenario -- Geoff wants Peja to succeed so badly that he puts us at risk to do it. He brings back Vlade to try to be a safety blanket. He brings in Jaric so he'll have a familiar face/passer. He gambles the franchsie and blatantly coddles Peja in a desperate effort to make him something that he's not, in the process making the rest of the team feel like second class citizens and turning off a chunk of the fanbase with what is effectively nepotism. It feels slimy even just typing it. But it is my fear.

P.S. As an aside, I think Peja obviously works hard on his shooting, and he seems to always be in good shape. The question has always been whether he does more, or has any desire to. He has never improved. And I don't think he lives it and burns with it. He gives the impression of a kid who found refuge in shooting a basketball, got really good at it, got some coaching based around his shooting, but never really had a passion for the rest of the game or for competition. Kind of a very talented country club player. does what he does, works on what he's comfortable working on, but never really seems to press himself or stretch outside his comfort zone.

 

[SacTownKid]

You know what this whole situation reminds me a bit of Bozz? Allan Houston in New York circa 2000 (or thereabouts). They were stupid, hung onto him until he was a free agent, and then even though they knew he wasn't a max player, they just couldn't bring themselves to let him go for nothing, and so ended up severely overpaying for a limited shooter who could not get them over the top. Even before the injury, it just doomed them to mediocrity.

I think I've seen enough of Peja in the playoffs to last me a lifetime at this point. I've mentioned before that if we had two true superstuds to put before him, if we were Miami or even Houston and needed a #3 gun to open space for our main guys, then maybe his true value would be to keep him. He could be a nice weapon if the defensive focus was elsewhere and you weren't really counting on him. But for us? Without even one stud, let alone two?

I think our best chance, and his best value to us at this point might be your option #3 -- as the gem of a package we offer to somebody for a serious stud. All things being equal you'd rather bring in the stud(s) while keeping Peja, Mike and Brad. But that's just highly unlikely.

Now here's the thing -- I'm basically not going to believe Geoff would actually do it until I see it. Part of my relatively serene confidence in the Kings over the years has been my confidence that the man in charge would calmly make the right decisions for the franchise and keep us rolling. But I have a concern. Maybe a paranoia. Hard to tell. Here's my nightmare scenario -- Geoff wants Peja to succeed so badly that he puts us at risk to do it. He brings back Vlade to try to be a safety blanket. He brings in Jaric so he'll have a familiar face/passer. He gambles the franchsie and blatantly coddles Peja in a desperate effort to make him something that he's not, in the process making the rest of the team feel like second class citizens and turning off a chunk of the fanbase with what is effectively nepotism. It feels slimy even just typing it. But it is my fear.

I would like Jaric to be a King! Whether its too make Peja happy or not. I wouldn't be too disappointed.

 

[bozzwell]

You know what this whole situation reminds me a bit of Bozz? Allan Houston in New York circa 2000 (or thereabouts). They were stupid, hung onto him until he was a free agent, and then even though they knew he wasn't a max player, they just couldn't bring themselves to let him go for nothing, and so ended up severely overpaying for a limited shooter who could not get them over the top. Even before the injury, it just doomed them to mediocrity.

I think I've seen enough of Peja in the playoffs to last me a lifetime at this point. I've mentioned before that if we had two true superstuds to put before him, if we were Miami or even Houston and needed a #3 gun to open space for our main guys, then maybe his true value would be to keep him. He could be a nice weapon if the defensive focus was elsewhere and you weren't really counting on him. But for us? Without even one stud, let alone two?

I think our best chance, and his best value to us at this point might be your option #3 -- as the gem of a package we offer to somebody for a serious stud. All things being equal you'd rather bring in the stud(s) while keeping Peja, Mike and Brad. But that's just highly unlikely.

Now here's the thing -- I'm basically not going to believe Geoff would actually do it until I see it. Part of my relatively serene confidence in the Kings over the years has been my confidence that the man in charge would calmly make the right decisions for the franchise and keep us rolling. But I have a concern. Maybe a paranoia. Hard to tell. Here's my nightmare scenario -- Geoff wants Peja to succeed so badly that he puts us at risk to do it. He brings back Vlade to try to be a safety blanket. He brings in Jaric so he'll have a familiar face/passer. He gambles the franchsie and blatantly coddles Peja in a desperate effort to make him something that he's not, in the process making the rest of the team feel like second class citizens and turning off a chunk of the fanbase with what is effectively nepotism. It feels slimy even just typing it. But it is my fear.

In that case (nepotism), I'll be the first (well second, just behind you) to proclaim "In Petrie, I trust - except when Pedja's contract is up". You make a good point about Houston. I forgot to trow in possibility that new agreement will limit lenght of contracts to something managable for even the franchises like Kings (over the cap, while trying to retool and get a no.1 star). Clearly, we wouldn't have this discussion at all if Webber's knee did not buckle two years ago. We tried to retool by simply dumping Webbs contract and run a "Pedja experiment" with core of Bibby, Pedja and Brad with one leg in the cast.

Last nights game was microcoms of our problems. And I dissagree with you that it was yet another example of Pedja dissapearing. he did not merely dissapear from stat sheet, he _passed_up_ on an opportunity to excise his demons. It was there, right in front of him with his teammates loosing their heads and falling apart where if he choose to seize the opportunity he could have done pretty much anything, including dumping bricks himseld instead of letting his teammates do it and it would be better showing on his part then what I saw. So, that ship has sailed. We cannot put all our eggs in that proverbial basket. But, if we're serious about changing course (let's face it - if there is another Vlade and Chris in NBA we ain't getting them for nothing) and getting young, athletic studs to augment our finess guys, Pedja might have some milage to offer (assuming that Bibby is only tired and still adjusting and his slump is only temporary). At any rate I don't think that we will have to pay him that much money that he would hurt us a' la Houston and he would still be tradeable two years from now.

 

[VF21]

Now here's the thing -- I'm basically not going to believe Geoff would actually do it until I see it. Part of my relatively serene confidence in the Kings over the years has been my confidence that the man in charge would calmly make the right decisions for the franchise and keep us rolling. But I have a concern. Maybe a paranoia. Hard to tell. Here's my nightmare scenario -- Geoff wants Peja to succeed so badly that he puts us at risk to do it. He brings back Vlade to try to be a safety blanket. He brings in Jaric so he'll have a familiar face/passer. He gambles the franchsie and blatantly coddles Peja in a desperate effort to make him something that he's not, in the process making the rest of the team feel like second class citizens and turning off a chunk of the fanbase with what is effectively nepotism. It feels slimy even just typing it. But it is my fear...

OMG.



I think you need to get on a plane, fly to California and come take a long walk in the woods. Maybe that will get some of those demons exorcised for you.

Geez.

You had to share that? Now I'm going to have even more nightmares than usual.

 

[Just_Lurkin]

Am I the only one who has a REAL problem with that attitude?

No. I'm REALLY beginning to dislike him......

 

[SacTownKid]

Like I said in a trade thread not so long ago. This could be next years lineup.

#1 trade for Darko
#2 sing Vlade to vet minimum when LA doesn't keep him
#3 convince Dejan to play
#4 sign and trade Mobley for Jaric

PG Marko Jaric
SG Dejan Bodiroga
SF Peja Stojakovic
PF Darko Milicic
C Vlade Divac

Woo! Hoo!

#5 Move the team to Serbia.

 

[o0o]

Ever since Peja came to the Kings I have always liked him. Hell, I tried to shoot like him as well.

No matter how much people bashed him for choking, I would defend him to a point only to stand corrected when he disappears in crucial games.

And now he doesn't put the playoffs high on his list, that says something to me, and it's not a good thing.

If Peja really wants to leave, let him go. I'll shed no tears when he leaves.

 

[bozzwell]

P.S. As an aside, I think Peja obviously works hard on his shooting, and he seems to always be in good shape. The question has always been whether he does more, or has any desire to. He has never improved. And I don't think he lives it and burns with it. He gives the impression of a kid who found refuge in shooting a basketball, got really good at it, got some coaching based around his shooting, but never really had a passion for the rest of the game or for competition. Kind of a very talented country club player. does what he does, works on what he's comfortable working on, but never really seems to press himself or stretch outside his comfort zone.

I don't know about that. Clearly, his character is something that I would seek in a guy who is about to start dating my daughter and not necessarily in someone I would hire to run my company for me. So, I can see how you would get that vibe, combining his performances with his public persona and really a boyish image. Even when he is driving to the basket he looks like something that came out of a boy band not a professional athlete. I can imagine that he even apologised to Lewis last night after taking him to the rim that one time.

On the other hand, maybe his handlers, coaches and tutors are encouraging him to persevere and stick with what he is good at. Maybe his competitivness manifests itself in stubborn refusal to cmpromise "his game" at any cost. I don't mean it in a cencer-like attitude but in simple obliviousness to the fact that he is hurting his own game by being a jolly good fellow who passes up opportunities in the 4th so his buddy's can take the spotlight. I don't know. The dude is mistery to me beyond the point that I know what he is good at and what he is good for on the hardwood.

Not trying to mitigate for his failures, just trying to set the right asking price.

BTW, stubborness (or roughly "inat" in Serbian) is definetly a strong trait in my people.

 

[Team Dime]

There is so much completely and utterly false in your interpretation that I do not know why I bother for the N-th time to point this out:

1. Except for the last summer Pedja's shooting practices are legendary. The soft hands you get born with, the shooting is all _regular_ practice.
2. Pedja winning WC in 2002 was not pinnacle of his career, according to Pedja who was greeted (by his friends and family while back home after Indy 2002) with "how could you miss that open 3?" (against the Lakers). instead of congratulations.
3. The dude is playing NBA basketball in 2005 in part thanks to the fact that he survived _civil_ war and lived nomadic life until he settled in Sacramento, sacraficing everything to be a basketball player (including being adopted in order to be able to play baskteball at all, while his parents were both still alive!).
4. That soft uncommitted player tried to play on a double leg fracture until he noticed and extra joint. He may never be able to toughen up in mental sense in order to be "it" but he is hardly a loafer.

I've got more.

How about this? Remember when the Sacbee ran an article last season where they quoted Larry Bird saying that Peja really needs to work over the summer at developing a low post game, better dribbling to create his own shot, and improve his rebounding? I haven't seen any evidence that Peja has worked to improve his game in any of those three areas. He seems to be satisfied at reaching a certain plateau, he doesn't seem motivated to reach that next level. People can make up all the excuses they want for Peja, but he definately has the skills and ability to reach the next level, he just has to want to.

Peja doesn't strike me as a player who's crushed by losses and by his own bad play. I don't think it bothers him nearly as much as other players such as Bibby, Jackson, or Webber. His own admission of not doing basketball at home only adds to his laissez faire image.

 

[bozzwell]

The Maloofs should balk at that. Only Isaih Thomas would give Peja a max deal. In fact. . .do the Knicks have anything we want? I have to think the Maloofs/Petrie ship out Peja this summer. I really do. Last summer they convinced him to stay by whispering sweet nothings about how their top priority was moving Webber and then handing over the reins to him. But Peja has totally crapped the bed on that one. The Maloofs are pretty aggressive guys. Their business model stresses customer service, but they make some pretty ballsy business moves. They live and breath their business and what they do. I have a hard time believing that they are comfortable with the current icon of their franchise not being devoted to his profession. Petrie and Adelman are, and that is why they have remained in the Kings organization.

I had to laugh at that. When you want to emphasise how stupid and irresponsible something is, just say "Only Isaih Thomas would do that...".