Peja, whazzup

[VF21]

I'm waiting for the ARCO ARENA - PEJA BOO BIRDS !!!

I suspect that might have already happened, at least to a small degree. And I strongly suspect it MIGHT become much more obvious, if he doesn't appear to be giving the best effort he can...and I'll be sad when it happens just as I was sad when they booed Webber.

 

[Bricklayer]

That never helps, and in Peja's case in particular it would probably drive him further into a shell.

 

[Since93]

I am anxious to see the reaction of Peja on and off the court if he got booed. But I suspect he will have any reaction. He is not Webber.

 

[Peja]

I woudn't say boo to any Kings player.I think that Kings have much quality,but they also have some deficits.But in one thing I am really sure,this guys have heart and I am sure that they will show that in playoffs.Let them to play basketball and support them till the end!
Peja don't have a good season:Vlade and Doug are gone,he was injured a few times,there were speculations about his trade,etc.
I know that he will focus on the game in playoffs,and that he will leave his heart on the court.
I really believe in this team,and I love him.
Go Kings!Go Peja!

 

[NewMonkey]

Where did you read that? That would be a pretty staggering number if true.

Don't know about those other numbers, but if I read this right, Peja shoots 26.5% in clutch situations:
http://www.82games.com/04SAC11E.HTM

This is not surprising in the slightest.

 

[VF21]

Peja don't have a good season:Vlade and Doug are gone,he was injured a few times,there were speculations about his trade,etc.

I understand your love for your countryman, but please at least recognize the whole situation.

Speculations about his trade came about because Peja went to the media both in Serbia and here in the US and said he didn't want to play for the Kings any longer, he wanted to go to another team and he didn't even care what team it was.

If you're going to defend him, at least give the complete picture. HE and HE ALONE is to blame for the trade speculations.

 

[Peja]

Where did you read that? That would be a pretty staggering number if true.

I read that on B92 forum.That is Serbian site which you probably heard for...

 

[bigbadred00]

VF: Exactly, as seen by Petrie's trading of Webber, Peja is the way the Kings want to go. Obviously Petrie doesn't want to trade his boy and has no intention of trading him unless he again wants out or I guess he realizes that Peja isn't the right one.

 

[Peja]

I understand your love for your countryman, but please at least recognize the whole situation.

Speculations about his trade came about because Peja went to the media both in Serbia and here in the US and said he didn't want to play for the Kings any longer, he wanted to go to another team and he didn't even care what team it was.

If you're going to defend him, at least give the complete picture. HE and HE ALONE is to blame for the trade speculations.

I didn't said that is not guilty for that situation with trade,but whole that situations was pretty confusing and he probably wasn't focused on the game.Of course,we can't wait till Peja is jolly for playing,but all I am saying is that I personally will wait till the end of the playoffs and they I'll blame or praise him.
About his media story,I read here that he said "Kings need some changes and I think that trading me could refresh team without some big loss",I am not sure that he ever said that he don't like Kings or something like that.In fact,I am pretty sure that if he would resign with Kings next summer,that he would stay in this team till the end of his career.

I am glad that you understand that I like him,but that is not (just) because he is my countryman.In fact my favourite player is not Peja,it is American Andrew Wiszniewski

 

[VF21]

VF: Exactly, as seen by Petrie's trading of Webber, Peja is the way the Kings want to go. Obviously Petrie doesn't want to trade his boy and has no intention of trading him unless he again wants out or I guess he realizes that Peja isn't the right one.

Not necessarily true, especially if you're looking at the Webber trade as primarily financial in nature.

Petrie would trade his own mother if he thought it was best for the team - and send her to Atlanta to boot.

"Peja" is simply a player filling a slot. If he doesn't meet the requirements of that slot, he will be out of here for someone who can better meet the needs of the team.

The Kings are changing and even Gavin Maloof has said they're looking for a new core of players. That doesn't sound like Peja is necessarily safe, nor should he be.

 

[Since93]

I didn't said that is not guilty for that situation with trade,but whole that situations was pretty confusing and he probably wasn't focused on the game.Of course,we can't wait till Peja is jolly for playing,but all I am saying is that I personally will wait till the end of the playoffs and they I'll blame or praise him.

Look at his past playoffs performance I seriously doubt there will be any change.

 

[VF21]

I didn't said that is not guilty for that situation with trade,but whole that situations was pretty confusing and he probably wasn't focused on the game.Of course,we can't wait till Peja is jolly for playing,but all I am saying is that I personally will wait till the end of the playoffs and they I'll blame or praise him.
About his media story,I read here that he said "Kings need some changes and I think that trading me could refresh team without some big loss",I am not sure that he ever said that he don't like Kings or something like that.In fact,I am pretty sure that if he would resign with Kings next summer,that he would stay in this team till the end of his career.

I am glad that you understand that I like him,but that is not (just) because he is my countryman.In fact my favourite player is not Peja,it is American Andrew Wiszniewski

You have more faith and patience than I. I've watched him fade in the playoffs EVERY year; I've watched him pout because Vlade wasn't re-signed; I've watched him make repeated comments to the media that he would like to be traded. Those comments WEREN'T for the good of the Kings. They were for the good of Peja and nothing else.

Sorry, but he has a lot to prove to me. And so far, although I've tried very hard to be open minded and non-judgmental, he hasn't done it.

 

[bigbadred00]

His best playoff performance is 2003 Dallas series with Webber out, but we also had Vlade and Christie, but we also lost the series and the only one we've ever lost to the Mavs.

 

[VF21]

Bottom line? I could not possibly care less about the past. What I care about is the present and the future.

In the present, although we have seen a rare glimmer to remind us of what Peja is capable of doing, he has been ineffective, inconsistent, erratic and generally just not what the starting SF for the Sacramento Kings needs to be.

For the future, I do NOT want to read years of excuses on why the Peja of the Past never met his full potential. If he cannot step up and at least show effort, focus, intensity and desire, then he needs to be somewhere else.

Look at my signature. Those four words, first used by Bricklayer in a thread, pretty much sum up what I want to see from my Kings:

HUNGER
DESIRE
TOUGHNESS
COMPETITIVENESS

Right now, Peja is 0 for 4.

 

[Peja]

You are right VF21,I have patience but just till the end of this season.
I hope that he can play as in games against Dalas in 2003. or in 3. game against Minesota last year.

 

[Daniela]

VF21 I agree with you. It is about now and getting it done. I love Peja, don't get me wrong. When he is "on" there is nobody else like him. BUT, I don't recognize this guy out there masquerading as Peja. I don't see the hunger and heart and passion he once had. He needs it back. We as fans need him to get it back. The majority of the games since the trade have been against mediocre, certainly not top teams with the exception of Detroit, Miami and Houston and if he can't step it up against the likes of these teams, how does he expect to compete in the playoffs?

Here is what I am hoping. We all know how he usually plays in the off season and then gets tired by playoffs. Since he did not play ball for his country in the off season this year, maybe we are seeing his playoff performance now and we will see the "real" Peja in the playoffs? Maybe? Can I get an amen???!!!

 

[Team Dime]

Bottom line? I could not possibly care less about the past. What I care about is the present and the future.

In the present, although we have seen a rare glimmer to remind us of what Peja is capable of doing, he has been ineffective, inconsistent, erratic and generally just not what the starting SF for the Sacramento Kings needs to be.

For the future, I do NOT want to read years of excuses on why the Peja of the Past never met his full potential. If he cannot step up and at least show effort, focus, intensity and desire, then he needs to be somewhere else.

Look at my signature. Those four words, first used by Bricklayer in a thread, pretty much sum up what I want to see from my Kings:

HUNGER
DESIRE
TOUGHNESS
COMPETITIVENESS

Right now, Peja is 0 for 4.

Very well said. That's exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned I earlier that I wanted to see consistent effort from the team. I can't respect Peja right now due to his lack of dedication to the team.

 

[Peja]

Here is what I am hoping. We all know how he usually plays in the off season and then gets tired by playoffs. Since he did not play ball for his country in the off season this year, maybe we are seeing his playoff performance now and we will see the "real" Peja in the playoffs? Maybe? Can I get an amen???!!!

AMEN!I'll pray for that!

 

[16to93]

who is the shooting guard?
I thought mobley goes to indiana

 

[VF21]

who is the shooting guard?
I thought mobley goes to indiana

Um, what?????

Mobley came to the Kings along with Michael Bradley in exchange for Doug Christie.

Bradley went with Matt Barnes and Chris Webber to Philadelphia for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner.

 

[Since93]

And Vlade Divac went to LA Lakers...

 

[Peja]

And Wallace went to Bobcats,Peeler to Washington,etc.

 

[bojan_pecanac]

Um, what?????

Mobley came to the Kings along with Michael Bradley in exchange for Doug Christie.

Bradley went with Matt Barnes and Chris Webber to Philadelphia for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner.

I think he was talking about trading Cat for Ron Artest.

 

[kperica]

Dude if Webber can be traded, who most in the media called UNTRADEABLE, then Peja can be moved.

They called him untradeable cause they didn't think we could get anything close to fair value; and they were right.

With the Webb trade, I think Petrie has shown his preference to keep Peja; any Peja trade will be brought on by Peja forcing one by threatening to leave after the contract runs out.

 

[VF21]

They called him untradeable cause they didn't think we could get anything close to fair value; and they were right.

With the Webb trade, I think Petrie has shown his preference to keep Peja; any Peja trade will be brought on by Peja forcing one by threatening to leave after the contract runs out.

If Peja threatens to leave I hope the door doesn't hit him in the posterior on the way out...

Petrie may have a warm spot in his heart for the Peja that is productive and contributes to this team but if you think he'll keep the current Peja around, I hope and believe you're sadly mistaken.

 

[mazzystar]

I actually am looking foward to offseason. Petrie, do yo thang.

 

[KingKong]

His best playoff performance is 2003 Dallas series with Webber out, but we also had Vlade and Christie, but we also lost the series and the only one we've ever lost to the Mavs.

Most people tend to forget that series where Peja really stepped up after Webb went down. He countered everything Dirk was doing on offensively, scoring some 30+ points in a few games and even played some decent defense on Dirk. However, there really wasn't anyone who could guard Peja on the Mavs and their defense was pretty porous.

 

[punisher]

If Peja threatens to leave I hope the door doesn't hit him in the posterior on the way out...

Petrie may have a warm spot in his heart for the Peja that is productive and contributes to this team but if you think he'll keep the current Peja around, I hope and believe you're sadly mistaken.

I'll say it once again cause I'm pretty sure of it, it is all about the money...and only in that context does this "situation" offer its full and proper perception...my guess is Peja could end up being traded this summer only in case where he desperately wants it that way..and I just don't see that as a smart business decision on his side. He could insist on the trade only in case he feels he could get more money somewhere else, which I believe could hardly be doable..now, after the presumed extension inking, off course anything is possible and it would all be up to him...but once again, the only way I see Kings getting some value in return is if he's signed this summer, $7 million just won't cut it...

For me, there are at least 2 key question that need to be addressed when going over this Peja thing, what is it that we really want from him and second, can he live up to those expectations...