Question about Peja
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Pretty much 100% of the time. Wouldn't read too much into it.
And he is the anti-Ron when it comes to interviews. Will say exactly what he's supposed to (or more often mumble it), no matter how good or bad the situation. No anger, frustration, never animated. Not even sure he actually comes equipped with adrenaline and a fight or flight instinct. Always going to be quiet and professional, and you have to really learn to read between the lines to try to get anything out of it. Probably one of the worst interviews in the NBA. But given what Pacers fans have gone through with Ron, that might be a good thing.
And he is the anti-Ron when it comes to interviews. Will say exactly what he's supposed to (or more often mumble it), no matter how good or bad the situation. No anger, frustration, never animated. Not even sure he actually comes equipped with adrenaline and a fight or flight instinct. Always going to be quiet and professional, and you have to really learn to read between the lines to try to get anything out of it. Probably one of the worst interviews in the NBA. But given what Pacers fans have gone through with Ron, that might be a good thing.
The only time I saw a good quote from him was when he lit up Posey for 41 points:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11493132p-12406348c.html
Peja vs. Posey one year later - James Posey missed his sixth game for Memphis with a sprained left foot, meaning there wasn't a Peja vs. Posey rematch.
In a Kings rout last December, Posey drew a technical foul for touching Peja Stojakovic's face with just over five minutes left. In the closing seconds, he threw the Kings All-Star to the floor.
Later, Stojakovic offered this classic line after scoring 41 points: "Maybe he'll remember it. It's his (jersey) number."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11493132p-12406348c.html
Peja vs. Posey one year later - James Posey missed his sixth game for Memphis with a sprained left foot, meaning there wasn't a Peja vs. Posey rematch.
In a Kings rout last December, Posey drew a technical foul for touching Peja Stojakovic's face with just over five minutes left. In the closing seconds, he threw the Kings All-Star to the floor.
Later, Stojakovic offered this classic line after scoring 41 points: "Maybe he'll remember it. It's his (jersey) number."
Warhawk said:
The only time I saw a good quote from him was when he lit up Posey for 41 points:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11493132p-12406348c.html
Peja vs. Posey one year later - James Posey missed his sixth game for Memphis with a sprained left foot, meaning there wasn't a Peja vs. Posey rematch.
In a Kings rout last December, Posey drew a technical foul for touching Peja Stojakovic's face with just over five minutes left. In the closing seconds, he threw the Kings All-Star to the floor.
Later, Stojakovic offered this classic line after scoring 41 points: "Maybe he'll remember it. It's his (jersey) number."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11493132p-12406348c.html
Peja vs. Posey one year later - James Posey missed his sixth game for Memphis with a sprained left foot, meaning there wasn't a Peja vs. Posey rematch.
In a Kings rout last December, Posey drew a technical foul for touching Peja Stojakovic's face with just over five minutes left. In the closing seconds, he threw the Kings All-Star to the floor.
Later, Stojakovic offered this classic line after scoring 41 points: "Maybe he'll remember it. It's his (jersey) number."
There is no doubt that Peja was loved by everyone for his on and off court behavior (my girlfriend also tells me his is very handsome also). But I truly believe he could never get along with the dominate personalities of some NBA Players (eg. Kobe, AI, Webber and so on).
Just give Peja time (especially since ONeal is out for awhile) to adjust to the system and you will soon love him also!!
Just give Peja time (especially since ONeal is out for awhile
) to adjust to the system and you will soon love him also!!
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Warhawk said:
The only time I saw a good quote from him was when he lit up Posey for 41 points:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11493132p-12406348c.html
Peja vs. Posey one year later - James Posey missed his sixth game for Memphis with a sprained left foot, meaning there wasn't a Peja vs. Posey rematch.
In a Kings rout last December, Posey drew a technical foul for touching Peja Stojakovic's face with just over five minutes left. In the closing seconds, he threw the Kings All-Star to the floor.
Later, Stojakovic offered this classic line after scoring 41 points: "Maybe he'll remember it. It's his (jersey) number."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11493132p-12406348c.html
Peja vs. Posey one year later - James Posey missed his sixth game for Memphis with a sprained left foot, meaning there wasn't a Peja vs. Posey rematch.
In a Kings rout last December, Posey drew a technical foul for touching Peja Stojakovic's face with just over five minutes left. In the closing seconds, he threw the Kings All-Star to the floor.
Later, Stojakovic offered this classic line after scoring 41 points: "Maybe he'll remember it. It's his (jersey) number."
Pacer fans... Really the only excitement you will EVER get from Pedja is his smile after drilling a 3. He IS a solid citizen and the other players and fans will like him. He MAY frustrate some with an aparent lack of heart or desire to win, but he jsut does NOT wear his heart on his sleeve so I personally never read too much into it. If an on air personality has Pedja ready for an in terview this is a secreet network clue to go get a beer, go to the bathroom or make a sandwitch.
Let me ask this question. Is Peja simply not physically capable of playing good defense or is it a more hit and miss type thing, he only plays good defense on occasion. Is his team defense better than his one-on-one defense
During the summer of 2004 when there were rumors of an Artest for Peja deal, I posted something to the effect that Peja's defense is underrated and his offense is overrated. Was I wrong.
During the summer of 2004 when there were rumors of an Artest for Peja deal, I posted something to the effect that Peja's defense is underrated and his offense is overrated. Was I wrong.
Other way around. He will play solid man defense. Sometimes, to the point where he will deceive you into believeing that he is very good defender. He always played good defense on Dirk when he was with us. He even got some key stops in play offs two years ago. Unfortunately, his help/team defense is non-existant. This is truly puzzling to me as a fellow Euro. Usually, European players have had it drilled into them how to play zone defense/team defense, rotations etc. It's in man defense (where they usually lack spped/athleticism and experience) where they get exposed as softies.
How did he manage to turn it upside down is beyond me. Having said that, with disciplinarian and defense oriented coach like Carlisle, he may flip-flop on this and start paying attention to help defense. Usually, with Pedja this comes at the expense of other aspects (in this case man defense).
I would say that his defense has been underrated and dismissed too easily by fans other then Kings fans. His offense, OTOh, is grossly overrated right now. He needs to get it right, because he can be deadly. So far in the last two years, it seemed as if he was just going through the motions on offense. That can only be partly explained by injuries and absence of Vlade, Doug and Chris. It's probably more to do with confidence and his head.
How did he manage to turn it upside down is beyond me. Having said that, with disciplinarian and defense oriented coach like Carlisle, he may flip-flop on this and start paying attention to help defense. Usually, with Pedja this comes at the expense of other aspects (in this case man defense).
I would say that his defense has been underrated and dismissed too easily by fans other then Kings fans. His offense, OTOh, is grossly overrated right now. He needs to get it right, because he can be deadly. So far in the last two years, it seemed as if he was just going through the motions on offense. That can only be partly explained by injuries and absence of Vlade, Doug and Chris. It's probably more to do with confidence and his head.
Pedja is a good man on man defender against most small forwards, his size helps and he stays in front of his man unless his assingment is very quick. He is not likley to be a the BEST defender on any team, but he will get steals, force bad shots and make his guy pass the ball. He will not block shots (ok on very very very rare ocurances) he will not be a "help" or team defender, he will not take a charge, but he WILL stick to his assingment. And will likely as not go more or less unnoticed for it.
Discussed elsewhere, but he had several flights to take (Kings on road trip to Sac and back to Indiana, maybe a couple others ?), a pregnant finacee who cannot travel at the moment, and a coach who is very particular about how the offense is run. Ron had been inactive, so it isn't like they were a player "short" because of the trade. I think it was just a combination of factors that everyone said "Let's just wait for the next game".
bozzwell said:
Other way around. He will play solid man defense. Sometimes, to the point where he will deceive you into believeing that he is very good defender. He always played good defense on Dirk when he was with us. He even got some key stops in play offs two years ago. Unfortunately, his help/team defense is non-existant. This is truly puzzling to me as a fellow Euro. Usually, European players have had it drilled into them how to play zone defense/team defense, rotations etc. It's in man defense (where they usually lack spped/athleticism and experience) where they get exposed as softies.
How did he manage to turn it upside down is beyond me. Having said that, with disciplinarian and defense oriented coach like Carlisle, he may flip-flop on this and start paying attention to help defense. Usually, with Pedja this comes at the expense of other aspects (in this case man defense).
I would say that his defense has been underrated and dismissed too easily by fans other then Kings fans. His offense, OTOh, is grossly overrated right now. He needs to get it right, because he can be deadly. So far in the last two years, it seemed as if he was just going through the motions on offense. That can only be partly explained by injuries and absence of Vlade, Doug and Chris. It's probably more to do with confidence and his head.
How did he manage to turn it upside down is beyond me. Having said that, with disciplinarian and defense oriented coach like Carlisle, he may flip-flop on this and start paying attention to help defense. Usually, with Pedja this comes at the expense of other aspects (in this case man defense).
I would say that his defense has been underrated and dismissed too easily by fans other then Kings fans. His offense, OTOh, is grossly overrated right now. He needs to get it right, because he can be deadly. So far in the last two years, it seemed as if he was just going through the motions on offense. That can only be partly explained by injuries and absence of Vlade, Doug and Chris. It's probably more to do with confidence and his head.
That's encouraging. I don't think he's ever been taught to really play NBA defense. He will now.
We'll see -- I think it runs much deeper than that. We were the best defensive team it the league a few years ago playing with an All-Defensive team member, and he still wasn't a help defender. Its more his mentality/personality than coaching. He won't hit the floor for loose balls either -- as in EVER. Source of much discontent in these parts.
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Saw Peja at the Cavs game friday--he sat on the bench and smiled quite a bit. He was laughing with Scot and Sarunis when they were on the bench. Talked to him for a moment in the tunnel after the first half and told him welcome to Indy and we were glad to have him and also asked him if he wouldn't mind lacing them up for the 2nd half. He just laughed...Seems like he was in pretty good spirits most of the night. BTW, pacers could have used a couple of long range lasers that night. At one point I looked over at the Pacer bench and Eddie Gill, David Harrison, and Anthony Johnson were sitting there--said to my friend "the best player on the team is sitting there in street clothes" Please someone convince Stephen Jackson to demand a trade.
This is posted on Pacers blog....among other Sacramento Kings fans comments...We will miss Peja more than we think.!
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/fan_blog.html
Jan. 30, 2006
Subject: Defending Peja's Defense
Sacramento fans are passionate but sadly not always the best-informed. They like to throw out labels like “soft” and “bad defense” and “disappearing in the fourth quarter” without understanding the mechanics of the game. Sometimes its easier to blame the obvious than to deconstruct the game. I have to think that in Hoosier country, these misconceptions will be corrected by the knowledgeable basketball community. Peja is completely underrated as a defender. He is not a bad defender, but is inconsistent. Peja was the Kings' best defender, actually -- and before he got injured in Seattle, he was their best player. I think under Coach Carisle and Larry Bird, he will take his game to a new level after he gets completely healthy. It feels awful to know he’s gone, but better to know he’s going to Indiana where the heartbreak of Reggie Miller still is felt. No one will ever take the place of Reggie, but there are similarities between the two players. Like Reggie, Peja is among the best shooters I have ever seen -- maybe the best (sorry, Reggie). Like Reggie, Peja is totally unaware and unconcerned with his own star-power. He represents everything that is good about sports and nothing that isn’t. He’s a professional and an outstanding person. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but these are important qualities. They can turn the tide. They can make for great chemistry. And they can win your heart -- trust me. I hope Indy gives Peja the reception the 3-time All-Star deserves. I wouldn’t trade seven championships for seven seasons without Peja -- and that’s the truth. While everyone else seems to be concerned about his stats, Peja is more concerned about the team. I know he will do everything he can to help the Pacers win.
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/fan_blog.html
Jan. 30, 2006
Subject: Defending Peja's Defense
Sacramento fans are passionate but sadly not always the best-informed. They like to throw out labels like “soft” and “bad defense” and “disappearing in the fourth quarter” without understanding the mechanics of the game. Sometimes its easier to blame the obvious than to deconstruct the game. I have to think that in Hoosier country, these misconceptions will be corrected by the knowledgeable basketball community. Peja is completely underrated as a defender. He is not a bad defender, but is inconsistent. Peja was the Kings' best defender, actually -- and before he got injured in Seattle, he was their best player. I think under Coach Carisle and Larry Bird, he will take his game to a new level after he gets completely healthy. It feels awful to know he’s gone, but better to know he’s going to Indiana where the heartbreak of Reggie Miller still is felt. No one will ever take the place of Reggie, but there are similarities between the two players. Like Reggie, Peja is among the best shooters I have ever seen -- maybe the best (sorry, Reggie). Like Reggie, Peja is totally unaware and unconcerned with his own star-power. He represents everything that is good about sports and nothing that isn’t. He’s a professional and an outstanding person. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but these are important qualities. They can turn the tide. They can make for great chemistry. And they can win your heart -- trust me. I hope Indy gives Peja the reception the 3-time All-Star deserves. I wouldn’t trade seven championships for seven seasons without Peja -- and that’s the truth. While everyone else seems to be concerned about his stats, Peja is more concerned about the team. I know he will do everything he can to help the Pacers win.
- Jenn in Sacramento