Peja!!
- Thread starter KP
- Start date
So now the "expectations game" begins. It's one thing to expect a player to perform at a certain statistical level but quite another to anoint him with "leader" status simply because he's either senior member on the team now, expected to carry the bulk of the scoring load, or, as in this case, the surviving combatant in a collossal battle of athletic egos (a battle exagerated and inflamed by the media and those who wish to believe that Webber's trade was the result of this passion play)...ugh. Webbers trade was about Webbers inability to play at the same level we paid max dollars for, pure and simple. And to expect Peja to immediately step up and proclaim victory in this dreamed up soap opera and command "leader" status is silly. Leaders earn it, they don't command it. People follow the leaders they choose, not those foisted upon them. If Peja becomes our leader it will be as a result of performance, not who can crow the loudest.
If his rebounding picks up dramatically, what then? That's nothing except effort and not being a wuss.
Fact is that Peja has struggled worse than any other major King this year, and put in the worst effort too. Biggest underacheiver. So you underacheive, are clearly lacking hustle on many a night, the team struggles in aprt because you are underacheiving,n this results in the breakup of the team to your benefit, at least if all you care about is your own numbers....what is that exactly?
Fact is that Peja has struggled worse than any other major King this year, and put in the worst effort too. Biggest underacheiver. So you underacheive, are clearly lacking hustle on many a night, the team struggles in aprt because you are underacheiving,n this results in the breakup of the team to your benefit, at least if all you care about is your own numbers....what is that exactly?
I think that Peja is in a tight spot now, because all eyes on him. Will the effort and passion be there now that Webber is not? And if so, what does that say about Peja? We can only watch & see. I thought it was interesting that in the Serbian interview Peja said FOR THE FIRST TIME (since the trade request) that he wants to stay a King. Interesting timing. I do NOT believe that Peja "asked" for Webber to be traded, or anything as melodramatic as that, but to say that this trade had nothing to do with Peja is, in my eyes, naive.
Peja is not, and will never be Webber. Webber's passion and desire to win is something that made me love him even more. Peja needs to step up his play, and I believe he will, but you can't just turn on or off that kind of passion. I think that if you're looking for someone to lead this team on heart, you would be better to look at Bibby or Mobley or even Brad. Peja can, and needs to, elevate his game to a higher level, but looking at him to lead the team in anything but points isn't realistic.
It looks like you already made up your mind. If you publicly call out a player several times, then don't pass the ball to him at the right time at the right place, when you are clearly capable, create a division in the locker room where 'the dogs you want to play with' try to push out the wheenies with a happy-go-lucky attitude, destroying the team chemistry, and eventually force your GM to trade you, what exactely is that?
I don't know why we are arguing about Peja's performance. The problem was never the offense and that's where Peja shined. We have an awesome offensive club, we need defence. I guess Peja wasn't bringing it defensively either. Is he going to bring it defensively when Chris is not here any more. Will his attitude change to being a Ron Artest type defender? Isn't that the only thing that matters. We don't have problems scoring, we can score on anyone, but we can't defend a chair this year. Will Peja, Mobley, Brad, and Bibby and the rest become a better defensive club now that Chris isn't here? Did Songalia really stop Dirk last night, did the team play great D without Webber? Did I just dream up we gave up 120 points last night.
Its calling a spade a spade and trying to win. Weenies do not win championships.
As an aside -- that destroyed chemistry, if such it was, consisted of exactly one man, pouting away in his little locker. Bibby, Bobby, Mobley, Doug, Brad -- they were all on board. They played their asses off. They cared. Now who am I leaving out?
As an aside -- that destroyed chemistry, if such it was, consisted of exactly one man, pouting away in his little locker. Bibby, Bobby, Mobley, Doug, Brad -- they were all on board. They played their asses off. They cared. Now who am I leaving out?
Peja is the best defensive player on the team! I know that's a scary thought but I think it's true. Last year in the Dallas series Peja came up big on several key possessions.
No one really stops Dirk except Dirk. Songalia played Dirk as well as Webber if not better. Webb just does not have the lateral movement to stay in front on anyone.
Defense is still a problem for this team. I think Webber not being on the floor will help transition D and rotations which should positively impact the entire team defense concept.
No one really stops Dirk except Dirk. Songalia played Dirk as well as Webber if not better. Webb just does not have the lateral movement to stay in front on anyone.
Defense is still a problem for this team. I think Webber not being on the floor will help transition D and rotations which should positively impact the entire team defense concept.
Problem is if Peja is our BEST defender, then were in trouble because at best he's a good to average defender. All the contenders other than Phoenix have stoppers, we have none, we haven't had one since Christie in 2002.
Detroit-Prince/Wallace
Spurs-Bowen/Duncan
Sonics-Big Guys in the Middle
Heat-Oneal and Wade and Eddie Jones
Houston-Yao (sadly)
Dallas-Howard
We don't have one.....
Detroit-Prince/Wallace
Spurs-Bowen/Duncan
Sonics-Big Guys in the Middle
Heat-Oneal and Wade and Eddie Jones
Houston-Yao (sadly)
Dallas-Howard
We don't have one.....
No they don't. And if Webb had come out this season, played shrinking violet, pouted, whatever, then he's no better than Peja. But he didn't -- he left everything he had on the floor, played with passion, became the undisputed and very vocal leader of the team, and revinvented himself as a great clutch performer. He was not as talented as he once was, but he got everything he could out of what he had to give.
Five years ago this team had a problem -- we had two star forwards, and both were basically weenies. Neither would hit the floor, neither wanted to take the big shot, neither stepped up when things got tough. In the five years since, one of them grew enormously in all those aspects, becoming in his later diminished years the sort of COMPETITOR that can win a title, even if the body was not always willing.
Peja, on the other hand, still hasn't changed, still hasn't grown where it matters, and even took a step back this year -- there is still is not a loose ball he will dive for, not a rebound he won't shirk, and not an elite defender who can't shut him down with barely a protest. And that's fundamentally unacceptable, because its not about skill, which Peja has in spades, its about a missing organ on the upper left side of his chest.
People talk about Peja's shots per game -- that's not what's important for him. He could score 50 and still be a weenie. Where Peja has to somehow grow if he's ever going to really matter is by somehow discovering heart and passion -- to find a way to burn to win. He's got a role model to follow now -- the guy who just left town.
Five years ago this team had a problem -- we had two star forwards, and both were basically weenies. Neither would hit the floor, neither wanted to take the big shot, neither stepped up when things got tough. In the five years since, one of them grew enormously in all those aspects, becoming in his later diminished years the sort of COMPETITOR that can win a title, even if the body was not always willing.
Peja, on the other hand, still hasn't changed, still hasn't grown where it matters, and even took a step back this year -- there is still is not a loose ball he will dive for, not a rebound he won't shirk, and not an elite defender who can't shut him down with barely a protest. And that's fundamentally unacceptable, because its not about skill, which Peja has in spades, its about a missing organ on the upper left side of his chest.
People talk about Peja's shots per game -- that's not what's important for him. He could score 50 and still be a weenie. Where Peja has to somehow grow if he's ever going to really matter is by somehow discovering heart and passion -- to find a way to burn to win. He's got a role model to follow now -- the guy who just left town.
Last edited:
Hey Brick, I think there's a website for you ... www.nba.com/sixers/
Edit: didn't mean to quote anything
Edit: didn't mean to quote anything
we will see we will see ...
this is diff now ... lets hope Peja (and Bibby) lead this team deep into playoffs
or at least give it all they have
I dont see Peja yelling all over ... hes not a loud person, he is too quite ... when the team needs some motivation ... doesnt mean he cant lead us ///
but to be the leader on the floor ... HE WILL BEEEEEEEEEE
i hope hehe
this is diff now ... lets hope Peja (and Bibby) lead this team deep into playoffs
or at least give it all they have
I dont see Peja yelling all over ... hes not a loud person, he is too quite ... when the team needs some motivation ... doesnt mean he cant lead us ///
but to be the leader on the floor ... HE WILL BEEEEEEEEEE
i hope hehe
sloter said:
Hey Brick, I think there's a website for you ... www.nba.com/sixers/
Edit: didn't mean to quote anything
Edit: didn't mean to quote anything
Bibby wants it here, Bobby wants it. Those guys burn. If the Kings are ver to win a title either Peja has to somehow discover competitive fire, or he has to go. It was problematic enough in a second gun, its far mroeso in a guy who's susposed to be the main gun.