peja's ability

#1
Its pretty clear that peja will not be moved by now. But by not getting what he wants, will he play the same? or will his ability go down because he's unhappy?
 

Ryan

I like turtles
#2
Nothing will change. The Kings will still be the 2nd best team in the west and Peja get's better every year.
 
#3
I would think, knowing of Peja's attitude, he will still play his hardest. Plus, he still wants to be the best he can be, I don't see him bogging down his career to make a point. If he were a bench warmer, sure, I could see that happening, but for a starter and an all-star, I think he will stay on task.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#4
If anything, Peja might just play better to prove who's the best...

And we don't really know if he'll remain unhappy or not. After all, at the end of his first year, he was unhappy and wanted to leave the NBA.

And I agree with Ryan - I believe the natural progression of things will show more improvement in Peja.
 
#5
I could see Peja playing a little bit more greedy. IE, taking more shots, sacrificing less for the team. Players that are in a situation where they aren't happy tend to adopt a me-first attitude.
 
#6
I don't care if Peja has a break out season and puts up 40 a night in the regular season... if he pulls yet ANOTHER disappearing act in the playoffs, he won't need to demand a trade, because the Kings will hopefully show him the door.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#7
Catalyst said:
I could see Peja playing a little bit more greedy. IE, taking more shots, sacrificing less for the team. Players that are in a situation where they aren't happy tend to adopt a me-first attitude.
I don't care if he takes 50 shots a night. All I care about is how many he makes...

;)
 
#8
JayBird said:
I don't care if Peja has a break out season and puts up 40 a night in the regular season... if he pulls yet ANOTHER disappearing act in the playoffs, he won't need to demand a trade, because the Kings will hopefully show him the door.
I have absolutely no problem with Peja being more greedy...
 
#9
he should be all right, maybe initially it might be a little be akward at the start of the season, but they should be all right as the season progresses. And lets hope that he can hold himself in the playoffs. He seems to be getting better all the time. feel really excited abt this season.

go kings!!!!!!!!
 
#10
After this summer, honestly, I have to say that I don't know what to expect from Peja---and I mean that in many ways. There are a lot of questions regarding Peja both as the player on the court (physically and mentally) and Peja the player off the court, that have the potential to be answered this upcoming season
 
#11
i hope peja can score the 27 a night or whatever it was before webber came back. also, i'd love to see some of those clutch stops he made in the dallas series ( finley, nash, dirky dirk) during the season ( most importantly in the postseason)

and one thing i REALLY want to change is these nights peja takes the night off defensively where the other SF has a career night ( think back to that game vs the rockettes where jim jackson went 11-12)

i hope he is highly modivated to win a championship. put your feelings for webber aside. work WITH him and make the opposition pay. if you hate webber, take it out on the SF you are facing. BRING US HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

GO PEJA GO KINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#13
I wanted to say, I hope fans don't boo Peja for his off season blaberings, but I decided to keep my mouth shut :)

My prediction.... Peja and Webb are going to play with a point to prove that it is what they doi on the court that matters the most.

Go Peja. Go Kings.
 
#14
I don't want him to be greedier. Him being greedy will only disrupt the team and create tension and animosity. He averaged 20 and 21 in the 00-01 and 01-02 seasons and that's where he should try to be this season. What he needs to do is be more versatile with his scoring, more aggressive against defenders, rebound and call for the ball more late in games.

Essentially, I just want him (and every other Kings player) to play team ball and to stand up for himself when necessary.
 
A

AriesMar27

Guest
#15
peja needs to learn some post moves he could be scoring 30 a night with ease posting up weaker SF's. i mean how many dominant SF's are there in the western conference or playoff temas would be better.... Odom, Peja, Peja.... the rest of them are defense specialists and backups with a starting spot. and they are all shorter than peja except for Odom.. who might have a break out season this year.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#16
Packt said:
I don't want him to be greedier. Him being greedy will only disrupt the team and create tension and animosity. He averaged 20 and 21 in the 00-01 and 01-02 seasons and that's where he should try to be this season. What he needs to do is be more versatile with his scoring, more aggressive against defenders, rebound and call for the ball more late in games.

Essentially, I just want him (and every other Kings player) to play team ball and to stand up for himself when necessary.
Yep. But I do wonder how his unhappiness will translate in those hustle categories. Will he hustle harder to try to "show them" and up his value? Or will he, perhaps subconsiously, be unwilling to really dig in for a team of which he doesn't want to be a part? I sincerely doubt Peja intentionally dogs it, but chemistry and effort are subtler areas that it doesn't take much to disrupt (as last year showed).

Either way, 21ppg for a championship team is >>>>> than 25ppg for the lottery-bound Bulls.
 

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#17
When a player is working for a trade or a contract they rarely sulk or slow down, only second rate palyers or realy huge egos pull stunts like that. Most players try to up their stock so that other teams will be more motivated to try to make a trade happen. Of course if Pedja come out palying his A game, and Webber is healthy, they may just find that playing with Bibby Christie and Miller is fun, big fun, and all will soon be forgotten. Nothing helps hel old wounds and instill amnesia than a nice sting of victories. ;)
 
#18
I think that Peja is a amiable guy and should be all right in some time. Its just that he is angry about quite a few things and also disappointed as the rest of the kings. But as soon as the season starts, I think that everything should be fine again as everyone with games to think abt and no idle time at hand.
 
#20
I think that winning cures everything. Teamwork should return, hopefully to where it was 2 years ago. Peja needs to concentrate on his family, and becoming more of a dominant force on the court, more than he does him getting traded. This team can STILL win an NBA title.