webb to detroit

[BMiller52]

I'm so happy that he didn't go to LA.

 

[Fresno King]

The Pistons should not trade Mohammed; they should try to package Murray, McDyess and/or Davis to get a quality backup PG.

I disagree. The Pistons should trade Mohammed to the Kings for Garcia.

 

[LMM]

Watching his conference right now. He looks good as usual. He speaks well. He's saying the right things....


...


God, I miss him.

-- He did get a standing ovation from the fans when he sat through the pistons game yesterday. He's excited and happy. That's great!


Odd thing... he's wearing the number 84... ?!?!?!?!

 

[LMM]

Jersey #84: His nephew told him to wear it because his nephew had a dream where Webb was wearing 84 and in the dream Webb hit a game-winner or something.

He can't wear 4 because it's Dumars' number.

He looked really happy. I'm very glad. I hope he gets that championship!

 

[supamari0]

I disagree. The Pistons should trade Mohammed to the Kings for Garcia.

You don't want Nazr Mohammed's contract.

 

[VF21]

Care to explain what the problem is

the problem is you being a Laker fan who continues to pretend to be a Kings fan and there are times when it just gets to be a little too much.

Let's just leave it at that, okay?

 

[vladetomiller]

Ok, fair enough.

But when have I said that I am not a laker fan, did you assume that I hide that side of it.

How do you know that I am not a kings fan as well, there are many fans who like multiple teams and it just so happens that Lakers, Kings, Jazz and Heat happen to be my favourites (well atleast the heat before Shaq and wade ).
I was a fan of Vlade and followed him from lakers to the kings, it just so happened that during the end of hir career the kings and lakers played in a couple of meaningfull playoff series.

I used to love the Pick and roll of Malone and Stockton and the jazz defense and I am still a fan of Sloan for the way he conducts himself and the team, no matter what the talent level is his teams always show up to play which is something you cant tell about any other team including championship calibre teams. Pop comes close second but his team also has been helped by some external factors.

Heat with their stiffling defense during Zo, Hardaway days with Majerlee, Bowen etc etc was something special. I was really very high on that team they assembled a few years ago with Eddie jones, Zo, Brian grant but it just didnt take off due to Zo's injury.

I suppose when you wear colored lenses things always look different to you, I like the game and then teams.

 

[VF21]

Ok, fair enough.

But when have I said that I am not a laker fan, did you assume that I hide that side of it.

How do you know that I am not a kings fan as well, there are many fans who like multiple teams and it just so happens that Lakers, Kings, Jazz and Heat happen to be my favourites (well atleast the heat before Shaq and wade ).
I was a fan of Vlade and followed him from lakers to the kings, it just so happened that during the end of hir career the kings and lakers played in a couple of meaningfull playoff series.

I used to love the Pick and roll of Malone and Stockton and the jazz defense and I am still a fan of Sloan for the way he conducts himself and the team, no matter what the talent level is his teams always show up to play which is something you cant tell about any other team including championship calibre teams. Pop comes close second but his team also has been helped by some external factors.

Heat with their stiffling defense during Zo, Hardaway days with Majerlee, Bowen etc etc was something special. I was really very high on that team they assembled a few years ago with Eddie jones, Zo, Brian grant but it just didnt take off due to Zo's injury.

I suppose when you wear colored lenses things always look different to you, I like the game and then teams.

You can continue to make Petrie-like pronouncements, but the truth is out there.

How do we know you're not a Kings fan? Dude, it's as plain as the nose on your face to anyone who has read your posts on a consistent basis.

 

[Kingsgurl]

I wish Chris the best of luck.

 

[kennadog]

I wish Chris all the best. I hope he's happy there.

 

[DocHolliday]

 

[love_them_kings]

Well, I have to admit, it's easier for me to see him in a Detroit uniform than it would be a Laker uniform. Although it will take me a while to get used to him not being #4.

I was on vacation when the trade became "official", and I missed getting everyone's take on the situation. I hope Webb does well in Detroit. I will always wish him the best of luck.

 

[Bricklayer]

An interesting take on the effect thus far: http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/langlois_blog_070123.html

 

[love_them_kings]

An interesting take on the effect thus far: http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/langlois_blog_070123.html

Wow, great article! It makes me smile when I read that Flip Saunders NOTICES that Webb has incredible passing skills, heck, he went through 2 coaches in Philly who couldn't see a way to take advantage of that. I was also excited to see that the players wanted Webb on board, and that they are happy to have him. I was, and still am, a little doubtful about whether Detroit is the right place for Webb, but this article made me feel a little better for some reason. I really hope it works out for him.

 

[VF21]

An interesting take on the effect thus far: http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/langlois_blog_070123.html

I was really struck by the last part of the article:

When Joe Dumars took that phone call from Webber’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, in the middle of his team’s blowout win at Oklahoma City on Jan. 4, he immediately warmed to it. Makes sense. To add a guy with Webber’s credentials and obvious motivation – a veteran nearing the end of his career, with a chance to win a title in his hometown, where he feels an urgency to make amends – at minimal risk or investment is as close as it gets to a no-brainer in the NBA.

But Dumars is sensitive to the delicate team chemistry that many of his peers consistently undervalue. So he took the temperature of his leadership on this one. And it was not only unanimous to bring Webber aboard, it was enthusiastically unanimous. The reaction was something on the order of, “If you can pull this off … wow.”


The Webber signing has put a bounce in all of their steps. Around the executive offices, among the coaching staff, throughout the locker room. Two games, two opponents shooting under 40 percent. And not because Chris Webber came to Detroit and channeled the spirit of Ben Wallace. But because he came and gave a team famous for its self-confidence a reason to believe in itself anew.

I'm glad Webb decided to end his career in Detroit, and I'll always have just a little ache in my heart for what might have been.

 

[love_them_kings]

I was really struck by the last part of the article:




I'm glad Webb decided to end his career in Detroit, and I'll always have just a little ache in my heart for what might have been.

I agree completely. Webb was very good at giving the team something to believe in, and I hope that his passion inspires Detroit. I was just thinking that I don't know when the time will come when I will be able to read about Webb without that little ache that wonders... what if? Maybe when he retires. I guess a part of me will always wonder why it had to end the way it did.

 

[Kstat]

Webber's finally had some time to practice. The next week should about show what he's capable of in Detroit. We had to use really dumbed-down plays the last couple of games because Webber had zero time to learn the playbook.

I'll see if I can't throw an update or two this way whenever something significant happens on the Webber front.

Right now anyway, Webber has impressed on all accounts. He's always had a tremendous fan-base here, albeit he left many of them on bad terms over the Fab 5 scandal. But he's being received a lot better now than he would have been even 5 years ago.

I think one issue is going to be encouraging webber to shoot a little more than he is currently. He's passing up a lot of open shots trying to set up his teamates, which is good and all, but it wouldnt kill him to knock down an open 15-footer to keep the defense from playing him for the pass.

 

[Kstat]

Here's a tidbit about his Defense, which admittedly has been surprisingly good thusfar:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/SPORTS08/701240422/1127

Chris McCosky: Burning Questions

Getting defensive with Webber

Answering some questions about Chris Webber and the Pistons defense as we approach mid-season.

Q. With Chris Webber starting at center, are the Pistons going to play more zone?

A. Coach Flip Saunders said the amount of zone they play will be predicated on opponents and matchups, but you would think they would play it a little bit more, just to ease some of the burden on Webber. They played it almost the entire game against Minnesota.

But they have to be careful. Zones are most effective when they take the opposition by surprise. The longer you stay in a zone, the more comfortable offenses get with it. Also, if you play zone too much, players have a tendency to get lazy. You saw that in some of those tough losses when Pistons defenders fell asleep and forgot to close out on the 3-point shooters late in games.

But there is such a thin line between playing man-to-man and playing in an efficient matchup zone, it's sometimes tough to tell one from the other.

Q. How bad a defender is Webber?

A. Not as bad as advertised. He doesn't have the mobility, especially laterally, that he once had. But he is smart on the court. He understands angles and he anticipates plays effectively. He's also long and he has quick hands, so a lot of times he disrupts plays even when his man has sped past him.

Webber is often criticized for his inability to defend on the pick and roll play. Chauncey Billups had something to say about that.

"Everybody makes too much of a big deal about that," Billups said. "It's five on five out there, man. And there is no big man in the game that can stop the pick-and-roll -- maybe Ben Wallace could and one or two others -- but the pick and roll is the worst play to defend for any team. If I am running the pick-and-roll and I get a center stepping out on me, I don't care who it is, he's not going to stop me from doing what I need to do. That stuff is overrated, man."

Q. How much of the offense does Webber know right now?

A. Billups said they have had to take about five or six steps back in order to let Webber catch up. And by all accounts, Webber's picking things up quickly. So far they have been operating with both Webber and Rasheed Wallace on the elbows. There are a bunch more sets that involve them in high-low deployments that I haven't seen them try yet. Those are going to be deadly, you would think. Both Webber and Wallace can shoot it from the top and both are excellent passers.

 

[BMiller52]

I was really struck by the last part of the article:




I'm glad Webb decided to end his career in Detroit, and I'll always have just a little ache in my heart for what might have been.

I remember that last year he said he thought he had 3-4 more years of bball left in him.

 

[love_them_kings]

Webber's finally had some time to practice. The next week should about show what he's capable of in Detroit. We had to use really dumbed-down plays the last couple of games because Webber had zero time to learn the playbook.

I'll see if I can't throw an update or two this way whenever something significant happens on the Webber front.

Right now anyway, Webber has impressed on all accounts. He's always had a tremendous fan-base here, albeit he left many of them on bad terms over the Fab 5 scandal. But he's being received a lot better now than he would have been even 5 years ago.

I think one issue is going to be encouraging webber to shoot a little more than he is currently. He's passing up a lot of open shots trying to set up his teamates, which is good and all, but it wouldnt kill him to knock down an open 15-footer to keep the defense from playing him for the pass.

Thanks for the "insider's take". We would love to get updates on Cwebb whenever you can throw them our way, I know many of us still follow him closely, and all of him (well, ALMOST all) wish him the best.

I think Webb will shoot more as he relaxes. Right now, I think he is trying to fit in the role he has been given. He wants to make it clear that he is not in Detroit to be the #1 scorer or run up the stats sheet, he wants to help his team win.

Is there a Detroit message board similar to kingsfans.com that you frequent?

 

[Kstat]

Thanks for the "insider's take". We would love to get updates on Cwebb whenever you can throw them our way, I know many of us still follow him closely, and all of him (well, ALMOST all) wish him the best.

I think Webb will shoot more as he relaxes. Right now, I think he is trying to fit in the role he has been given. He wants to make it clear that he is not in Detroit to be the #1 scorer or run up the stats sheet, he wants to help his team win.

Is there a Detroit message board similar to kingsfans.com that you frequent?

Pistons message boards are so splintered, it'd be tough to list them all. Pistons.com, realgm, pistonstalk.com, mlive.com, I could go on forever.....

But the one I frequent is the pistons forum over at at worldcrossing, not vbulliten.

I'm also a regular at Pacersdigest.com, but as you might guess there wont be much webber talk there.

 

[Kstat]

Here's the forum I'm typically at, though it's a much more primative format. Those used to vbulletin aren't going to find it very user-friendly, but at the same time, it gets plenty of traffic, and some defent basketball disussion. There's also some lengthy threads dedicated to Webber.

http://wc4.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.eebaada

My secondary forum is over at

http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=50

Not as much traffic, but it is a Vbulletin site, so you'll find it familiar.

 

[Kstat]

Well, like you said, Webber was a little more offensive-minded tonight:

7-9 shooting, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists.

He really should have had about 7 assists. We blew three wide open layups off his passes. Guys arent quite used to him yet.

Webber does seem to make the other 4 starters play much better. He repeatedly set our guys up at various points in the game.

Webber seems to take a liking to rasheed wallace, who was Webber's bag boy rookie in washington. He likes to throw above-the-rim lobs to him a lot like he did to howard back on Michigan.

 

[love_them_kings]

Well, like you said, Webber was a little more offensive-minded tonight:

7-9 shooting, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists.

He really should have had about 7 assists. We blew three wide open layups off his passes. Guys arent quite used to him yet.

Webber does seem to make the other 4 starters play much better. He repeatedly set our guys up at various points in the game.

Webber seems to take a liking to rasheed wallace, who was Webber's bag boy rookie in washington. He likes to throw above-the-rim lobs to him a lot like he did to howard back on Michigan.

Glad to hear Webb played well. I checked out the first message board you posted (thank you very much by the way!) during the game & checked out the game thread, and it seemed like a lot of people were saying he brought great energy & was playing hard. I think Detroit seems to recognize what Webb's strengths are and are playing to those, which is something Philly never seemed to be able to do. I hope things continue to go well over there!

 

[twodogmac]

I knew NBA League Pass would come in handy this season, since now that the Kings are in the doldrums, it is getting harder to justify staying up late to watch them come from 20 points behind to win. Hear Jerry Reynolds will shave himself a mohawk if the Kings win 7 in a row.

Anyhow, watched the Pistons tonight, and Yeah, echoing many of the posts on this thread, gives me a thrill to see Webb shine, and a twinge to think of what might have been.....

 

[4cwebb]

I think one issue is going to be encouraging webber to shoot a little more than he is currently. He's passing up a lot of open shots trying to set up his teamates, which is good and all, but it wouldnt kill him to knock down an open 15-footer to keep the defense from playing him for the pass.

I don't want to be a pessimist, but I think one of the main reasons CWebb has had a successful debut with the Pistons to this point is his willingness to abandon the 15-foot jumper. He hasn't been making that shot very consistently in the past year and a half in a Philly uniform, so I've been glad to see him set it aside for the time being in favor of getting guys like Rip or Chauncey better looks at a 15-foot jumper. CWebb's best offensive weapon in his prime was his jumper, but at this stage of his career I'd much rather see him in the paint.

One of the best parts of CWebb joining the Pistons which I did not appreciate at first is that he is surrounded by a group of veteran players. I think one of his problems in Philly was that after AI, there wasn't a clear #2 option, and CWebb was initially brought in to fill that role. He pressed to try to provide that type of offensive production, and I think it backfired (for a number of reasons not worth rehashing).

But with the Pistons, Chauncey, Rip and Sheed are all viable offensive options, and Tayshaun can also provide offense when called upon, so to this point CWebb hasn't needed to force anything on offense.

 

[Kstat]

well, tonight we learned that if the pistons are missing good shots, we don't look as good....

Webber had an awesome block late in the 4th though. That was sweet.

 

[Kstat]

Webber with another great game tonight: 8/12, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

He's shooting just under %60 from the floor as a Piston. He's getting wide open shots because of all the attention paid to our guards, and it's really starting to click. Webber is knocking down open shots with regularity.

Antonio McDyess made his first 8 shots tonight, mainly because webber kept getting him open jumpers and layups. All 5 starters shot over %50 as well.

Unlike the last couple of week, guys are starting to convert on webber's passes.

I'm really excited to see what he does against LA on thuersday.

 

[love_them_kings]

Webber with another great game tonight: 8/12, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

He's shooting just under %60 from the floor as a Piston. He's getting wide open shots because of all the attention paid to our guards, and it's really starting to click. Webber is knocking down open shots with regularity.

Antonio McDyess made his first 8 shots tonight, mainly because webber kept getting him open jumpers and layups. All 5 starters shot over %50 as well.

Unlike the last couple of week, guys are starting to convert on webber's passes.

I'm really excited to see what he does against LA on thuersday.

Thanks for the update Kstat! Great to hear that things are going so well for Webb in Detroit, I hope it continues. It is so great to hear that he is playing well & filling in needs for your team. I was at a Kings season ticket holder dinner last night & I ended up sitting next to a woman who works for the Detroit Pistons. She is in charge of their season ticket holder services, and they are thinking about doing a fan forum similar to the ones the Kings do so she was here checking it out. She said that Webb has brought a whole new energy and excitement to the team & they love having him there. Obviously take it for what it's worth, but it was still good to hear. ...sigh... I told her to make sure they take good care of him!

 

[kennadog]

I hope good things continue for Webb. Thanks for the update!