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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11782357p-12667056c.html
Webber makes great strides
He's playing more like his old self and trying to be a motivating force.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 16, 2004
Kings forward Chris Webber doesn't want to look at himself running on film.
What Webber would see, though, is one of the NBA's best, most productive players who has been dominant in helping his team to one of the league's best records.
Few players at 6-foot-10 are capable of contributing in so many facets of the game. Entering a five-game homestand beginning tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers, Webber is averaging 20.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Only reigning league MVP Kevin Garnett of Minnesota is putting up better across-the-board numbers (23.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists).
Webber also is coming off a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer Tuesday at Milwaukee. And that's with him at considerably less than 100 percent in the second year of the rehabilitation of his surgically repaired left knee. These days, Webber practices infrequently in an attempt to allow his knee to tell him how he should treat it.
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said he sees the improvement in Webber since the forward's return in March and expects it to continue.
"You can see him beating people off the dribble," Petrie said. "You see him dunking the ball again and getting big rebounds.
"And you see a team that has been together that is doing it together, chasing after something that they haven't been able to quite get yet. And I think that says something of them as a team."
At the end of last season and during the summer, Webber made comments that were perceived as critical of his teammates. Some said they believed those remarks would upset the team's chemistry, especially after forward Peja Stojakovic expressed his desire to be traded over the summer.
After a slow start, however, Stojakovic again is performing at an All-Star level. And there have been no hints of a chemistry problem, even though a 1-4 start had even the players wondering how things would unfold.
Reserve forward Matt Barnes, who grew up in Sacramento, said he was curious to see how things would work out even during the summer, when he was hoping to win a roster spot.
"Like everyone saw, we started off tough in the preseason and early in the season, so I definitely wondered about that," Barnes said. "But once everything started jelling and the new players learned the offense a little better, it's just like the old Kings.
"Early on, it was tough. And there were some questions, but the veterans pulled the team together, and now we've got it rolling."
Some observers questioned Webber's leadership ability, especially during the Kings' slow start. But now the team captain might be in line for praise.
One of Webber's representatives, Aaron Goodwin, said the 31-year-old, 12-year veteran is making strides on and off the court.
"What he's trying to do is No. 1, not only show his commitment to the Sacramento Kings but his commitment to show people how good the league is," Goodwin said.
"With every good comes bad. He's had some bad in his past, but overall, he's a good person, and he's good for the league. And he's trying to regain what he lost years ago. That's one of the reasons why he and I ended up working together.
"It's an opportunity for me to help the people in the NBA to really look at Chris and deal with Chris in a way that's beneficial to both parties. That's why he did the commercial earlier with ESPN and the NBA. It wasn't something that really was beneficial for Chris. He had a lot of things going on at the time, but he realizes the league wanted him to do it.
"And the league knows it took time for him to do it. I talked to the league about it being give-and-take. You all have to lend your time to Chris and help him get to where he is going."
Webber's desire to win a championship is underrated by most observers, Goodwin said.
"So many people misunderstand that this guy wants to be here (in Sacramento)," the agent said. "He wants to win. He's got no problems with anybody on this team. But what he's trying to do is motivate this team. Now, maybe some people don't understand that, but I do believe the players, including Peja, understand that."
Shooting guard Doug Christie questions none of Webber's motives or desires.
"I think people are used to all different types of motivation," he said. "I've had coaches that screamed and berated in an attempt to motivate, so that doesn't bother me at all. "Other people are used to different types of motivation and might not be ready or capable of dealing with the same types that I am. But I know Webb's desires are honest and real and should not be questioned because I know how hard he works."
Webber makes great strides
He's playing more like his old self and trying to be a motivating force.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 16, 2004
Kings forward Chris Webber doesn't want to look at himself running on film.
What Webber would see, though, is one of the NBA's best, most productive players who has been dominant in helping his team to one of the league's best records.
Few players at 6-foot-10 are capable of contributing in so many facets of the game. Entering a five-game homestand beginning tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers, Webber is averaging 20.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Only reigning league MVP Kevin Garnett of Minnesota is putting up better across-the-board numbers (23.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists).
Webber also is coming off a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer Tuesday at Milwaukee. And that's with him at considerably less than 100 percent in the second year of the rehabilitation of his surgically repaired left knee. These days, Webber practices infrequently in an attempt to allow his knee to tell him how he should treat it.
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said he sees the improvement in Webber since the forward's return in March and expects it to continue.
"You can see him beating people off the dribble," Petrie said. "You see him dunking the ball again and getting big rebounds.
"And you see a team that has been together that is doing it together, chasing after something that they haven't been able to quite get yet. And I think that says something of them as a team."
At the end of last season and during the summer, Webber made comments that were perceived as critical of his teammates. Some said they believed those remarks would upset the team's chemistry, especially after forward Peja Stojakovic expressed his desire to be traded over the summer.
After a slow start, however, Stojakovic again is performing at an All-Star level. And there have been no hints of a chemistry problem, even though a 1-4 start had even the players wondering how things would unfold.
Reserve forward Matt Barnes, who grew up in Sacramento, said he was curious to see how things would work out even during the summer, when he was hoping to win a roster spot.
"Like everyone saw, we started off tough in the preseason and early in the season, so I definitely wondered about that," Barnes said. "But once everything started jelling and the new players learned the offense a little better, it's just like the old Kings.
"Early on, it was tough. And there were some questions, but the veterans pulled the team together, and now we've got it rolling."
Some observers questioned Webber's leadership ability, especially during the Kings' slow start. But now the team captain might be in line for praise.
One of Webber's representatives, Aaron Goodwin, said the 31-year-old, 12-year veteran is making strides on and off the court.
"What he's trying to do is No. 1, not only show his commitment to the Sacramento Kings but his commitment to show people how good the league is," Goodwin said.
"With every good comes bad. He's had some bad in his past, but overall, he's a good person, and he's good for the league. And he's trying to regain what he lost years ago. That's one of the reasons why he and I ended up working together.
"It's an opportunity for me to help the people in the NBA to really look at Chris and deal with Chris in a way that's beneficial to both parties. That's why he did the commercial earlier with ESPN and the NBA. It wasn't something that really was beneficial for Chris. He had a lot of things going on at the time, but he realizes the league wanted him to do it.
"And the league knows it took time for him to do it. I talked to the league about it being give-and-take. You all have to lend your time to Chris and help him get to where he is going."
Webber's desire to win a championship is underrated by most observers, Goodwin said.
"So many people misunderstand that this guy wants to be here (in Sacramento)," the agent said. "He wants to win. He's got no problems with anybody on this team. But what he's trying to do is motivate this team. Now, maybe some people don't understand that, but I do believe the players, including Peja, understand that."
Shooting guard Doug Christie questions none of Webber's motives or desires.
"I think people are used to all different types of motivation," he said. "I've had coaches that screamed and berated in an attempt to motivate, so that doesn't bother me at all. "Other people are used to different types of motivation and might not be ready or capable of dealing with the same types that I am. But I know Webb's desires are honest and real and should not be questioned because I know how hard he works."
