Webber: 'New' Kings are tougher

[BigWaxer]

Based on results this season you may want to rethink that one. Old stereotypes die hard, but at a certain point they are clearly obsolete.

I agree. As a Kings fan I love Webb as a college fan I hate him and still remember the time out. I remember that game to this day.

Just would rather have end of game shots in Bibb's hands

 

[BigWaxer]

I think he needs to start doing it on both ends and specifically defensively

I can agree with that point.

 

[GoGoGadget]

OK, we're splitting hair now,

We're splitting hairs now? Just now? Right here, post #186, we've immediately begun splitting hairs???

I may be wrong, but hasn't this whole thread been splitting hairs?

Now THAT is comedy.

 

[AleksandarN]

I'll buy that. Even though it makes Webber and Pedja look like insecure primadonas and Vlade like a backstabber. You're starting to convince me that it is Webber AND Pedja who don't have what it takes.

Sorry I do not buy this, plus it sounds too much like the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq(primadonas) and Phil(backstabber) for my likeing.

 

[Kingsgurl]

The best players do it on both ends of the floor and they don't blame it on age injuries or lack of atheleticism they just do what the team needs and set the examples to make everyone else believe that they can be better players.Bird wasn't a gifted athlete but he made big defensive plays when it counted when the game was on the line.It doesn't matter how high you can jump or you just waiting for your MICHIGAN hops to get back.The great ones the real leaders use what they have and what God has given them at the moment.They don't blame it on the weak links they inspire the weak the small the sick to rise above obstacles and WIN.Until Webber fits that real leadership mode until he exercises his own personal weak demons of failure and weakness, he should keep his mouth shut and prove by his actions what type of leader tough guy and winner he is.

I don't know what player you have been watching all year, but the Chris Webber I've seen out there on the court has been doing exactly the things that you say. He CAN'T jump like he did in college, yet he has adapted his game and is putting up the same numbers he has put up his entire career. A 'weak' player, or man for that matter, would not, or could not, put themselves through the pain Chris has had to deal with just to get back to the level he is at now. I would say that whatever Chris' demons have been in the past, he should be ALLOWED to exorcise them. Living in the ancient past (OMG! He called a Time Out 12 years ago in college, like that is somehow relevent to today) is foolish.
Chris spent the summer seeking out the council of the great former leaders, Magic, Bird, etc. so obviously he is making a very concerted effort to BECOME something he has not yet been able to acheive on his own. I thought that actually showed a great deal of humility and introspection.

 

[VF21]

I don't know what player you have been watching all year, but the Chris Webber I've seen out there on the court has been doing exactly the things that you say. He CAN'T jump like he did in college, yet he has adapted his game and is putting up the same numbers he has put up his entire career. A 'weak' player, or man for that matter, would not, or could not, put themselves through the pain Chris has had to deal with just to get back to the level he is at now. I would say that whatever Chris' demons have been in the past, he should be ALLOWED to exorcise them. Living in the ancient past (OMG! He called a Time Out 12 years ago in college, like that is somehow relevent to today) is foolish.
Chris spent the summer seeking out the council of the great former leaders, Magic, Bird, etc. so obviously he is making a very concerted effort to BECOME something he has not yet been able to acheive on his own. I thought that actually showed a great deal of humility and introspection.

EXCELLENT POINTS!

I just can't believe this is still going on, all because he DIDN'T mention Peja's name in an article and quoted people around the league who perceived the Kings as being soft.

I really feel sorry for those of you who will not accept how much Webber has adapted his game and just how much he means to this franchise. Go ahead and demean him all you like. I am very glad he's a Sacramento King and it's an attitude like HIS that will get us further than we've ever gotten before. Winners think like winners AND they're not willing to accept anything less than 100% from those around them. Feel free to bash him all you want. He has worked his arse off to get back into shape and he has pretty much done EVERYTHING he said he wanted the players around him to do. He's talked the talk and now he's walking the walk. Unfortunately, he still can't walk on water and apparently a few of you won't settle for anything less.

 

[hoops4kings]

I love Webb and am glad he's a KING.

 

[Alacron]

Webber is a loser, every team he's played on has had a losing record, plus he can't hit clutch shots or rebound, and he never passes. We should trade him for Antoine Walker, our ticket to the Finals, baby!

OK... maybe not. But the guy should try not to speak his mind so much. Even in this article he was very clearly trying to be careful, talking about the "perception" of softness, but at this point in his career he's got to know that he can't get away with that. He should have his attorney with him at all times saying, "You don't have to answer that!"

Webb has been doing an awesome job of doing his talking on the court this year, staying healthy and being productive beyond all expectations considering he had what by all rights should be career-ending knee surgery. Maturity has always been a problem with Webb, it comes with the territory of being a revered star athelete since age 14. All in all, I think he's handled it pretty well.

Just remember this: The important thing is not what we as fans think of his relationship with his teammates, it's what they think. And I haven't heard anyone question Webb's desire, toughness, or leadership. All I know is that since Chris has been here we've been winning, and I look forward to many more Webber-powered victories in the future.
~~

 

[slugking50]

it's amazing what can be concluded from a few sentences.

this is worse than my AP literature/composition class, where every sentence from hemingway to shakespeare to conrad is analyzed once, twice, argued about, and then analyzed again. kings fans need to stop reading between chris webber's lines -- because there is nothing to be read there. webber says absolutely nothing in this interview except that he believes he's playing with a tough group of guys who want to win. people can think whatever they want about "peja not being mentioned", and "subtle allusions to vlade divac," but there is just no grounds for the utter dismemberment of chris webber's character. its really very sad, imo. the guy has made mistakes throughout his professional career, but he's tried very hard to correct them, and tried even harder to bring this city a championship.

it amazes me beyond belief how ungrateful kings fans are for this fact. chris and vlade were friends, for god's sake! how can ya honestly believe that chris would be so short-sighted to bash his friend in an interview? vlade, as we all know, was the master flopper, but chris clearly said "we" in this interview, and dammit, that means he's including himself in that group. never does he say him, him, and him, he says "we," and thats where this discussion should end. he says the kings, as a team, were soft, and that they are mentally tougher now than they have ever been. i can appreciate his views, and im startled at how they've been spun by webber-haters and peja-lovers and everybody in between. unbelievable....

Thank you.. Well said and DITTO!!

 

[slugking50]

Its obvious by this thread I will have to turn the radio to 680 tonight so I dont have to listen to the Rise Guys when I wake up. I just know all the Webb bashers andt he Rguys will be making more of this article then what was.

Actually Wax... They talked about it yesterday morning. Wast very long though. They talked more about Voison Poisons Webber hatred more(They are finally getting it that she hates webber)

 

[slugking50]

We're splitting hairs now? Just now? Right here, post #186, we've immediately begun splitting hairs???

I may be wrong, but hasn't this whole thread been splitting hairs?

Now THAT is comedy.

lol Aint it?! 250 posts for that article..... Sheesh

 

[piksi]

lol. Didn't Bobby at the start of the season say," if Peja wants out, he should leave then." --Can you imagine if Webb said that?

That is a good quote. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. No "digs" no hidden signals, no criticism about his game or personality. Straight forward. I would have said the same thing

 

[6th]

Just remember this: The important thing is not what we as fans think of his relationship with his teammates, it's what they think. And I haven't heard anyone question Webb's desire, toughness, or leadership. All I know is that since Chris has been here we've been winning, and I look forward to many more Webber-powered victories in the future.
~~

I think this is one of the best paragraphs in this entire thread. Thank you, Alacron! Every time I read something about what it takes to be a team leader, I keep thinking, "you have to have followers".

It is clear to me that Chris Webber is leading this team. None of us has to like it. It is merely a fact. Now, is everyone on the team following him? Maybe not. That would be their choice.....not ours.

We can all argue this "until the cows come home". It will not change a dang thing. What is important is what goes on in that locker room...what goes on between the players themselves.....ON THE COURT! Well, I see them playing damn good team ball..........and THAT is what I especially like about my Sacramento Kings.

 

[mcsluggo]

You know that scene in that movie Pi.

You know, that scene where this dude gives himself a lobotomy to make all swirling noises/voices/numbers/arguments stop?

You know, he gets to point where its preferable to drive a screwdriver into his own brain rather than continue to be innundated with that stuff.

You know that scene?

do you?

 

[shaka zulu]

I don't know what player you have been watching all year, but the Chris Webber I've seen out there on the court has been doing exactly the things that you say. He CAN'T jump like he did in college, yet he has adapted his game and is putting up the same numbers he has put up his entire career. A 'weak' player, or man for that matter, would not, or could not, put themselves through the pain Chris has had to deal with just to get back to the level he is at now. I would say that whatever Chris' demons have been in the past, he should be ALLOWED to exorcise them. Living in the ancient past (OMG! He called a Time Out 12 years ago in college, like that is somehow relevent to today) is foolish.
Chris spent the summer seeking out the council of the great former leaders, Magic, Bird, etc. so obviously he is making a very concerted effort to BECOME something he has not yet been able to acheive on his own. I thought that actually showed a great deal of humility and introspection.

Chris knows that timeout he called 12 years ago is relevant today.It is about redemption especially when you go through something that was so dissapointment like calling the phantom timeout.The great ones all of them replay their greatest failures over and over in their minds to use these demons as motivating elements as driving forces to overcome and succeed.Magic says even to this day how the 1984 NBA finals loss to Bird still effects him and he replays it over and over,Bill walton still cannot get over loosing a regular season college basketball game that erased a perfect career at UCLA.

These failures you never forget and the minute you do that is the moment you stop progressing and settle for being second or the fire to compete is burnt out.Why do you think he work so hard in the off season the booing was a motivating force for him to prove people wrong that he could play at a high level again.They still clown him on ESPN today and have his timeout as one of the biggest blunder in sports history.

The chris webber that I have wathced this year is one that doesn't try on defense he can play defense considering he has WEBB hands and can get his hands on any ball that is near, but he doesn't try on the defensive end.He doesn't protect the basket one bit he stands there playing mummy man defense,He clears the basket for lay up drills every game.MUST PLAY AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR

Chris webber is 6'10 wes unseld was 6'7 willis reed was 6'9 dave cowens was 6'9 these old school palyers each worked against Kareem and wilt chamberlin both 7'0 and over giants.They all showed toughness not only on offense but the defensive end as well.Willis reed played in a motion style passing game offense were everyone shared the BALL and the offense was a beauty to watch.But willis reed played tough hard nose defense against wilt chamberlin he banged with him and was afraid to mix it up if it got dirty.He basically shut down the paint playing the lakers those years.Same with unseld he could put the ball in the basket but at the same time to round out his game,no layups were about to come in the paint while he was in the game.Last but not least Dave cowens was mutha in there didn't give away layups and he defintely contested every sot that was near him and some he could play offense had sky hooks ,jump hooks and even a nice little 15 ft jump shot,but he wasn't about to let anny loose ball roll by him.At the end of the day Chris must stop running his mouth and do what the great ones did which is show by actions especially if he sought advice from them over the summer he should then know you cannot prove anything by talking too much.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Chris knows that timeout he called 12 years ago is relevant today.It is about redemption especially when you go through something that was so dissapointment like calling the phantom timeout

You are missing the point. The point wasn't that he couldn't use that ancient history as motivation etc. but rather that a mistake made in college does not preclude him from being able to step forward as a leader now. It doesn't disbar him from the ranks of title contenders or stars. The fact that people continue to harp on it years later is ludicrous.

 

[shaka zulu]

You are missing the point. The point wasn't that he couldn't use that ancient history as motivation etc. but rather that a mistake made in college does not preclude him from being able to step forward as a leader now. It doesn't disbar him from the ranks of title contenders or stars. The fact that people continue to harp on it years later is ludicrous.

I agree

 

[BigWaxer]

Actually Wax... They talked about it yesterday morning. Wast very long though. They talked more about Voison Poisons Webber hatred more(They are finally getting it that she hates webber)

I caught a little of it today. It wasn't so bad, of course Koz was there instead of Whitey which makes all the difference in the world.

I vote for Koz, Ross and the Rat for the New Rise Guys

For the haters: What Webb has done this year is short of amazing. I don't think anyone thought he would be this good after having that injury. Look at the people that have had it in the past and they are no where to be seen and many retire early because of it. Then there is the exception and lucky for us its Webb. Even more amazing, he is playing at an all star level.

His timeout doesn't matter and I apologize for bringing it up. I wasn't doing it to bash him and I didn't realize so many would take it as a point to say Webb sucks. That wasn't the point of my post when I made it.

If the game is on the line with 1 tick left of course I want the ball in Bibby's hand. I would say Peja but sometimes they either double him or he seems he doesn't want the ball. Webb demands the ball and wants to take that shot.

I am rambling now...

 

[Elise10]

These failures you never forget and the minute you do that is the moment you stop progressing and settle for being second or the fire to compete is burnt out.Why do you think he work so hard in the off season the booing was a motivating force for him to prove people wrong that he could play at a high level again.They still clown him on ESPN today and have his timeout as one of the biggest blunder in sports history.

The chris webber that I have wathced this year is one that doesn't try on defense he can play defense considering he has WEBB hands and can get his hands on any ball that is near, but he doesn't try on the defensive end.He doesn't protect the basket one bit he stands there playing mummy man defense,He clears the basket for lay up drills every game.MUST PLAY AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR

At the end of the day Chris must stop running his mouth and do what the great ones did which is show by actions especially if he sought advice from them over the summer he should then know you cannot prove anything by talking too much.

So basically what you're saying is that you still hold that timeout against him to this very day?

That's holding a grudge at it's finest, and it's not a healthy thing to do.

Chris Webber, injuries aside, has been leading by action this year. What I don't understand is what exactly did he said that warranted this long of a discussion about whom he is "talking about".

I'm tired of people who constantly interpret everything Chris has said into whether or not Chris is talking about Peja? Where's the outcry for Kevin, Maurice, Greg, Darius etc.? They didn't get mentioned. But no, since Chris didn't mention Peja, he obviously has something against him.

I'm just confused as to why this turned out the way it did if I honestly believe that Chris really didn't say anything "wrong" about anyone.

 

[shacko]

not once in that interview did webber make a statement that "could be detrimental to those players still on the kings." all he did was heap praise on the guys he's playing with now.

AAaaaahhh I disagree............................

PEJA.........

Making the National HERO of Serbia (and Peja's personal hero) to be a flopping clown or soft giggling high school buffoon is not exactly going to make him happy is it??? I think he is still a bit upset about the whole deal....... Why irritate it or rub salt in the wound???

 

[shaka zulu]

So basically what you're saying is that you still hold that timeout against him to this very day?

That's holding a grudge at it's finest, and it's not a healthy thing to do.

Chris Webber, injuries aside, has been leading by action this year. What I don't understand is what exactly did he said that warranted this long of a discussion about whom he is "talking about".

I'm tired of people who constantly interpret everything Chris has said into whether or not Chris is talking about Peja? Where's the outcry for Kevin, Maurice, Greg, Darius etc.? They didn't get mentioned. But no, since Chris didn't mention Peja, he obviously has something against him.

I'm just confused as to why this turned out the way it did if I honestly believe that Chris really didn't say anything "wrong" about anyone.

maybe it is blown out of the water,But at the same time he knows he needs a championship to validate his career and end all specualation about his heart and will to win.Hopefully he does do it this season I sure hope he does because I root for the under dogs and chris is one of them.

 

[shacko]

Am I the only one that thinks Peja likes Webb, and Vice versa?

HHHhhhmmmmm, You may be???? LOL

I would not say they hate or dislike each other but that both have lost, @ least some respect for each other.......

The comments "recently made" by webber can not in any way HELP to bridge that..............

Didn't Peja asked to be traded?

What about the comments Peja made to the Serbian media about his efforts some times???? Not sure that would make webber very happy either.....

 

[funsc]

Why Chris Webber was not in the list of top 50 rebounder?
check nba.com statistics

 

[uolj]

Why Chris Webber was not in the list of top 50 rebounder?
check nba.com statistics

He doesn't have enough games or rebounds to qualify (http://www.nba.com/leader_requirements.html).

 

[Alacron]

AAaaaahhh I disagree............................

PEJA.........

Making the National HERO of Serbia (and Peja's personal hero) to be a flopping clown or soft giggling high school buffoon is not exactly going to make him happy is it??? I think he is still a bit upset about the whole deal....... Why irritate it or rub salt in the wound???

Just so you and everyone else understand how much you're twisting words, here's the direct quote of the line you're referring to:

"But we're not a bunch of silly little high schoolers like I thought we used to be. There is more intensity and maturity. (And) we're not the flopping soft cats we were perceived to be."

So first he's saying the team as a whole is more intense and mature. Makes sense considering that himself, Peja, Bibby, Bobby, Darius, and Brad now have another year of experience under their belt and are hopefully a little hungrier now. I hardly see how that's a dig at Vlade any more than it is at the recently departed Doug.

It is absolutely true that the Kings "were perceived to be" soft by all observers. We all know it, and Chirs has said it before. Nothing new there.

So basically your problem is with the term "flopping," assuming it's a reference to Vlade. Well I'm sure it is. I bet Chris had Vlade in mind when he said that. That's why he needs to quit talking while he's ahead.

But guess what? What Chris said is a far cry from caling Vlade a "clown" or "buffoon," as you assert.

I have a feeling Webber and Vlade consider each other friends, despite the bizarre attempts of some supposed Kings' fans to find a wedge to drive between them.

It's no secret that Chris and Vlade had different ideas about how to lead the team; now Vlade's gone and, as Webber already said this offseason, he wants the team to take on his personality. For better or for worse, that's what your leader's supposed to do. So unless you (or the other Webber haters) have another leader up your sleeve... deal with it! The guy's backing it up with his overperformance on the court and has the open support of the team. What more do you want?

Heh, I just had an interesting thought: A few years ago the problem with Webber was (A) He wasn't tough, (B) He was a choker in the clutch, (C) He refused to be the leader.

So what does he do in response? He (A) Plays on a wrecked knee until it literally gives out, has reconstructive surgery and returns to play as soon as he's able, (B) Carries his team as far as he can through the playoffs, demands the ball at crunch time and hits one clutch shot after another, (C) Declares his intention to lead the team and infuse it with a new attitude.

How dare he!

I guess some people just need another soap opera now that Shaq-Kobe have broken up.
~~

 

[uolj]

Heh, I just had an interesting thought: A few years ago the problem with Webber was (A) He wasn't tough, (B) He was a choker in the clutch, (C) He refused to be the leader.

So what does he do in response? He (A) Plays on a wrecked knee until it literally gives out, has reconstructive surgery and returns to play as soon as he's able, (B) Carries his team as far as he can through the playoffs, demands the ball at crunch time and hits one clutch shot after another, (C) Declares his intention to lead the team and infuse it with a new attitude.

That's the funny thing... With all the criticism levied at Webber for being selfish or trying to do too much himself, he has heard a lot more criticism throughout his career for the opposite. I think he's too busy trying to overcome that stigma to worry about creating a new one.

 

[GoGoGadget]

You know, he gets to point where its preferable to drive a screwdriver into his own brain rather than continue to be innundated with that stuff.

You know that scene?

do you?

Intimately.

 

[KP]

We're splitting hairs now? Just now? Right here, post #186, we've immediately begun splitting hairs???

I may be wrong, but hasn't this whole thread been splitting hairs?

Now THAT is comedy.

lol.