Peja will play on Tuesday!!!

[R1LOVER]

Peja EDIT - WILL NOT PLAY ON TUESDAY NOW

Just heard that Peja WILL PLAY on Tuesday..... That's very good news.....


Edit: Not playing now.......

EDIT AGAIN: Now he's playing

 

[Bballkingsrock]

It is a good thing he had a good whole 2 days off to rest his quad.

 

[piksi]

How about Brad and Greg ? Any news on them ?

 

[6th]

How about Brad and Greg ? Any news on them ?

You mean, did they get back from their hunting trip without shooting each other?

 

[VF21]

If anything, I think they were probably hunting the dreaded Danus Crawfordus strain of white-tail deer.

 

[Evenstar]

If anything, I think they were probably hunting the dreaded Danus Crawfordus strain of white-tail deer.

and hopefully some dickus bavettaus breeds as well

 

[sloter]

and hopefully some dickus bavettaus breeds as well

Don't you know that dickus moronus bavettaus is protected by WWF as a rare kind of mole ?

 

[Jasna88]

What really happened with Pedja?

 

[LMM]

^^ he had a bruised right quad..

he collided with fred jones, and he hit the ground hard..

 

[Rowdyone]

So, Peja can play Tuesday but not in overtime of a game we need to win? And people wonder why he's called soft. I saw the play where he went down and the way he acted you'd think he had a broken leg or something! And, speaking of broken legs I read somewhere that while playing in Europe he actually did break his leg in a game. Can anyone confirm that? If so, I'll lighten up on the guy about hitting the floor for loose balls if he's that fragile. Man, this sounds like I hate the guy. Not really the tone I mean but he does frustrate me a lot.

 

[fakie]

So, Peja can play Tuesday but not in overtime of a game we need to win? And people wonder why he's called soft. I saw the play where he went down and the way he acted you'd think he had a broken leg or something! And, speaking of broken legs I read somewhere that while playing in Europe he actually did break his leg in a game. Can anyone confirm that? If so, I'll lighten up on the guy about hitting the floor for loose balls if he's that fragile. Man, this sounds like I hate the guy. Not really the tone I mean but he does frustrate me a lot.

he did, they masked it up with pain medicine. he didn't realize it until he looked down and say his leg flapping sideways.

which is why he scared most people bad when he went down.

 

[Bricklayer]

So, Peja can play Tuesday but not in overtime of a game we need to win? And people wonder why he's called soft. I saw the play where he went down and the way he acted you'd think he had a broken leg or something! And, speaking of broken legs I read somewhere that while playing in Europe he actually did break his leg in a game. Can anyone confirm that? If so, I'll lighten up on the guy about hitting the floor for loose balls if he's that fragile. Man, this sounds like I hate the guy. Not really the tone I mean but he does frustrate me a lot.

I actually had the same initial "what a wimp" reaction when he went down. But that's really based more on my overall perception of his toughness than the incident itself. Just like turning an ankle -- you can't always go immediately afterward, but give it a couple of days and a good tape job and you're good.

In any case, Peja's pretty much of a technician with that jump shot, if he had gone out there favoring one leg on the shot, not much he would have been able to contribute anyway. And in a December game against Indiana, why risk it? Doubt anybody was 100% sure it was nothing until they had a chance to look at it in the lockerroom. Game 7 of the Finals, I expect him back out there if they have to staple the damn leg back on. Game 20 of the regular season? Better safe than sorry.

 

[vj9999]

So, Peja can play Tuesday but not in overtime of a game we need to win? And people wonder why he's called soft. I saw the play where he went down and the way he acted you'd think he had a broken leg or something! And, speaking of broken legs I read somewhere that while playing in Europe he actually did break his leg in a game. Can anyone confirm that? If so, I'll lighten up on the guy about hitting the floor for loose balls if he's that fragile. Man, this sounds like I hate the guy. Not really the tone I mean but he does frustrate me a lot.

Considering he had a serious leg injury before (we discussed it few weeks ago), I think it would have been stupid if he played and risked any further injury. Can you imagine all the comments people would make if RA sent him back in and it turned out to be a more serious injury? Would you rather have him out for one stupid overtime or risk having him out for couple of weeks (or even more). I would chose the first one.

I know Peja is responsible for being called soft, but in my opinion "soft" Peja is worth to us more than no Peja (or for that matter 90% of other players, soft or hard, who play his position).

 

[piksi]

So, Peja can play Tuesday but not in overtime of a game we need to win? And people wonder why he's called soft. I saw the play where he went down and the way he acted you'd think he had a broken leg or something! And, speaking of broken legs I read somewhere that while playing in Europe he actually did break his leg in a game. Can anyone confirm that? If so, I'll lighten up on the guy about hitting the floor for loose balls if he's that fragile. Man, this sounds like I hate the guy. Not really the tone I mean but he does frustrate me a lot.

If You ever played any sports which involves movemnet You would know that a "dead leg" makes it impossible to be able to move with any profficiency. You can not play defense with that.

 

[bozzwell]

So, Peja can play Tuesday but not in overtime of a game we need to win? And people wonder why he's called soft. I saw the play where he went down and the way he acted you'd think he had a broken leg or something! And, speaking of broken legs I read somewhere that while playing in Europe he actually did break his leg in a game. Can anyone confirm that? If so, I'll lighten up on the guy about hitting the floor for loose balls if he's that fragile. Man, this sounds like I hate the guy. Not really the tone I mean but he does frustrate me a lot.

He broke his leg badly back in Greece. It had to be surgically reparied with titanium rods. He's then coach Scott Skiles convinced him to move to US and have it treated here (he was already drafted by the Kings). If I remember correctly someone from the Kings would drive him to therapy as he couldn't even do that.

I don't think that Pedja is soft as in "low pain treshold", he is soft as in "not agressive enogh".

 

[mcsluggo]

If I'm not mistaken, Peja continued to play in that game where he broke his leg. He was chok-full-o-pain killers.

If I have my story correct, he actually didn't come out until he looked down and VISUALLY noticed an "extra joint" in his leg. I think his continuing to play on that bloody stump contributed to the severity of the injury. I think up until that point he was known more for his athl;eticism than his killer shot, <some Serb or Greek will have to verify this one.

This doesn't sound too terribly "soft" to me. (although it might explain a certain level of reluctance to play through an injury, at this later point in his career)

 

[Rowdyone]

He did continue to play with a bit of a limp until the next time out when he was taken out (as a judicious precaution). My point was that if he was able to continue then he could, if he wanted to, have played in the OT where his rep would command more defensive attention than his replacement, Matt Barnes, especially if he'd finished the fourth and not let it tighten up on him. It was a good decision to yank him by the coach who's considering the long haul. But I'd like to see him exhibit more toughness. Does anyone think BJax would have taken himself out for something similar? But Brick's take was right on.

 

[piksi]

He did continue to play with a bit of a limp until the next time out when he was taken out (as a judicious precaution). My point was that if he was able to continue then he could, if he wanted to, have played in the OT where his rep would command more defensive attention than his replacement, Matt Barnes, especially if he'd finished the fourth and not let it tighten up on him. It was a good decision to yank him by the coach who's considering the long haul. But I'd like to see him exhibit more toughness. Does anyone think BJax would have taken himself out for something similar? But Brick's take was right on.

I thought that he was taken out when Jones scored layup on him, because he could not move. He was defensive liability at that stage og the game.

 

[Rowdyone]

I'm really glad I asked this question about Peja's history with his legs. Knowing what I know now explains a lot and I'll have to consider this when I'm being critical of him. Thanks for the info and sorry I missed the "leg history" discussion a few weeks ago.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Yeah there are palyer you wnat to see "tough it out" and there are guys you want to see getting X-Rays ASAP. Pedja is in the seocnd group, Brad and Tag are in the second.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well let's not go overboard now -- if Bobby or Doug banged their knees a couple of nights ago, they would have been back out there. Probably Brad too. It was NOT a serious injury, and a true tough guy would have been back out there in a flash.

I just am not prepared to get upset about it early in the regular season -- he did not truly know, nor I'm willing to bet did the trainers until they had a chance to fully examine it. Come the playoffs, if he gets an owie I want to see him back out on that floor. I want to see hunger and a "you'll have to shoot me to get me off the floor" mentality. Right now? Caution is ok

 

[vj9999]

Here is some more detailed info onseverity of Peja's injury (and a photo too).

8/ 3/97 WHAT COULD GO WORSE FOR PAOK AND STOJAKOVIC?
45 days after his injury in Treviso, Stojakovic returns, and
a few minutes into the game breaks his fibula (Greek: peroni)



Predrag

Stojakovic

just as he did on 30/8/95... I'm not sure at this point
whether it's the same leg he broke then, or whether this is the
same leg he injured in Treviso. Having lost Stojakovic for the
season, our struggle for the 3rd place at the end of the POs
has become kind of futile. However, even without Stojakovic
and with Debbs scoreless, PAOK players put up a good fight in
Peristeri. But only to go through 3 more shocks! PAOK is up 9
points with 5 minutes to go, when Koronios sinks 3 3-pointers
and Peristeri gets the lead. However PAOK comes back and with
a few seconds left we are up 83-80. But Bonner fouls Cheatum
in a 3-point attempt and Cheatum sinks all 3 freethrows to send
the game to OT. In OT, and with 25'' left and the game tied at
92, the refs give a jumpball that Peristeri wins, while they
should have given the ball to PAOK. Gurovic misses, but
Aposkitis gets the offensive rebound and in zero time he scores
to give Peristeri a 92-94 win (Boudouris 19, Bonner 18,
Yannoulis 17, Baloyannis 12, Mamatziolas 12, Rentzias 12,
Stojakovic 2). Coach Skiles, after the game, says to the
reporters that he has seen bad officiating, but none like this.
Whether this is true or he was just very upset (justifiably), I
don't know (the game was not televized for my infoagents to
have a personal opinion)...

9/ 3/97 WELL, HERE IT IS
It is found that Stojakovic did not break only his fibula
(Greek: peroni) but BOTH the leg bones below the knee (Greek:
knimi and peroni), and the break was a "complete" one (crushing
/sintriptiko). Stojakovic undergoes a 3 hour successful
surgery and he is expected to be back, completely healthy, in
about 4 months, just in time for the pre-season training.
This is a great pity for the young player, who is certainly the
best European player playing currently in Europe. But having
twice broken his leg (granted at different locations) at this
young age is not a good sign for his future. Because it is not
only talent that a player needs for a long and fruitful career.
Whether he came back too early after the strain he suffered on
January 22nd, and this contributed to his injury, I don't know
but I certainly hope not, but PAOK's medical team said that he
was completely healed, and the injuries were completely
unrelated. He was injured while pivoting in (or close to) the
paint in the game against Peristeri, in Peristeri, and while
being guarded by Gurovic.

15/ 3/97 Without Stojakovic and with an expectedly unfriendly
officiating, a bad PAOK loses to PAO 54-61, and our chances for
any regular season place above the 6th are minimized (Yannoulis
17, Bonner 16). At the same time both Peristeri and Aris lose,
so it's likely that if PAOK masbkes it to the final-8, we will
have to face PAO with home court disadvantage. The problem now
is, that without Stojakovic and having, most likely, to face
Iraklis in the first PO round, it is questionable even whether
we will participate in next year's Korac Cup (for the first
time since about 1980...).

http://web.mit.edu/eavgoust/WWW/PAOK/1996-1997/1996-1997.html

 

[G_M]

My opinion of Peja's "softness" has little to do with his ability or inability to play through injury.

It's more a matter of his lack of desire or abilty to assert himself in crucial situations. In the recent loss to Minnesota Peja took ONE shot and had ONE rebound the in the second half!!! That's inexcusable!!!!

Are they freezing him out of the offense? The guy just isn't working to get his shots. He needs to do more if the Kings are going to make it to the next level.

 

[vj9999]

My opinion of Peja's "softness" has little to do with his ability or inability to play through injury.

It's more a matter of his lack of desire or abilty to assert himself in crucial situations. In the recent loss to Minnesota Peja took ONE shot and had ONE rebound the in the second half!!! That's inexcusable!!!!

Are they freezing him out of the offense? The guy just isn't working to get his shots. He needs to do more if the Kings are going to make it to the next level.

I usually have no problems with your posts, but I think Peja is one player on our team that is constantly moving and trying to get open and get a shot. That game against TWolves is first time in a while that I have heared Adelman publicly bringing to attention that Peja was fouled all night long and no calls were made.

 

[Bricklayer]

I usually have no problems with your posts, but I think Peja is one player on our team that is constantly moving and trying to get open and get a shot. That game against TWolves is first time in a while that I have heared Adelman publicly bringing to attention that Peja was fouled all night long and no calls were made.

The problem comes when he QUITS moving, which he does too often when he gets frustrated.

Not really sure there is any answer for it -- Peja's movement without the ball IS his offense. With the ball he's just not a great player. Its the off the ball movement that makes his whole game. The problem is that that makes your game very vulnerable to holding and grabbing because they are only rarely going to call that off the ball. So the other team can foul you and get away with it without you ever even touching the ball. Must be quite frustrating, and him sometimes quitting is almost understandable. Almost understandle, but not laudable, and deadly to our offense. Frankly, when he does that, Rick should really put somebody else in the game.

Peja needs to study Reggie Miller game tapes and start throwing his arms and body around to draw some fouls (of course he also needs a post game, but he seems uninterested in working on one). He did the Reggie for one quarter of one game earlier this year (forgot against who) and it worked. He should try it again -- he just HAS to find a way to defend himself out there at some point. Gets so tiring having everybody else in the world having to take care of Peja.

 

[vj9999]

I agree Brick. I also agree on benching players when they are not performing. If Peja is having a quiet qtr, bench him a little longer. I think Rick has started doing that lately. I've seen him bench Peja for a longer periods of time and also bench Mike when he was having off nights. Whatever takes to get a W is fine by me

 

[Kingsgurl]

He broke the same leg TWICE?

Brick is absolutely correct, BTW.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Well let's not go overboard now -- if Bobby or Doug banged their knees a couple of nights ago, they would have been back out there. Probably Brad too. It was NOT a serious injury, and a true tough guy would have been back out there in a flash.

I just am not prepared to get upset about it early in the regular season -- he did not truly know, nor I'm willing to bet did the trainers until they had a chance to fully examine it. Come the playoffs, if he gets an owie I want to see him back out on that floor. I want to see hunger and a "you'll have to shoot me to get me off the floor" mentality. Right now? Caution is ok

See Dougs play off performance in 2002 (I think I have the right year) when he cam back out and played on a sprained ankle against Dallas BECEAUSE Pedja went down. That was the night that DC brought tears to my eyes and became in my mind a real tough guy.

 

[zip95843]

See Dougs play off performance in 2002 (I think I have the right year) when he cam back out and played on a sprained ankle against Dallas BECEAUSE Pedja went down. That was the night that DC brought tears to my eyes and became in my mind a real tough guy.

And by the way scored like 10 points to bring us a victory...

 

[HndsmCelt]

The problem comes when he QUITS moving, which he does too often when he gets frustrated.

Not really sure there is any answer for it -- Peja's movement without the ball IS his offense. With the ball he's just not a great player. Its the off the ball movement that makes his whole game. The problem is that that makes your game very vulnerable to holding and grabbing because they are only rarely going to call that off the ball. So the other team can foul you and get away with it without you ever even touching the ball. Must be quite frustrating, and him sometimes quitting is almost understandable. Almost understandle, but not laudable, and deadly to our offense. Frankly, when he does that, Rick should really put somebody else in the game.

Peja needs to study Reggie Miller game tapes and start throwing his arms and body around to draw some fouls (of course he also needs a post game, but he seems uninterested in working on one). He did the Reggie for one quarter of one game earlier this year (forgot against who) and it worked. He should try it again -- he just HAS to find a way to defend himself out there at some point. Gets so tiring having everybody else in the world having to take care of Peja.

Very interesting insight. This is one of the reasons I love this site. I have asumed for some time now that all Peda needed to do was develop a Bird type fade away and yes learn to work the post, but you may be right he may be better served watching Miller's "shoe fly." Of course a spin with high elbows would also serve to keep the Bowens at bay.