Webber on AI

[4cwebb]

Disclaimer: this is just a minor rant about something I've always found frustrating about CWebb's dealings with the media.

For background, the Sixers beat the Knicks Saturday without AI. Apparently after the game the media asked many questions of the players relating to whether the "team" played more effectively without AI dominating the ball, etc., etc. This is one of CWebb's responses:

"Any time you're missing a player, it's going to be different," Webber said. "Whether it's good or bad, I don't know."

CWebb's not a dumb guy (or at least I don't think he is). He knows why the media ask that question, and he knows the answers they want, and should know that if he's not just going to dismiss that question, the answer he should give (as a good teammate).

Instead, he gives the answer above. It's not negative, but it's not positive. It's probably nothing, really, unless you're a pessimist like me. Is it anything to AI? Don't know. Could it be? Certainly moreso than, "Any time you're missing a player, it's going to be different. But when you're missing a player of AI's caliber, it's not going to be better/easier."

Granted, his quote could've been in the context of a larger statement. It just seems as if he's made these statements his entire career, and in some cases it did not exactly endear him to all of his teammates. If the question were about playing without Kyle Korver in the starting lineup, his answer would be fine. AI though? I'm not saying AI is the actual "Answer" to all of Philly's problems, but he is the current face of the franchise. Why make life more difficult?

 

[acisking]

I think that really is a lot to infer. In the same interview, Webber also said this:


"You have to adjust your game without a guy that's so good at scoring," Webber said.

So at least Webber acknowledges Iverson's ability. I mean, from what I've followed in the Philadelphia media (from the Inquirer), it seems that any criticism Webber has for Iverson is limited to the locker room. The media has not really provided any direct quotes in which Webber openly commented on Iverson in a negative fashion.

 

[thesanityannex]

I think you are reading too much into it.

 

[nbrans]

No, I'm with 4CWebb, he didn't exactly go out and talk about how much they missed AI, he basically left it open whether the team was better without Iverson.

While we're talking about Webber in the media, here's another bizarre quote:

After Thursday's game, when he didn't have an assist in an overtime game, Webber said "one of the most frustrating things is not being able to use my passing ability. To me, getting an assist is just like scoring."

Webber took 22 shots that game. As the Courier Post points out, if he wants assists maybe he should try PASSING.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/SPORTS03/601290379/1002/SPORTS

 

[Gargamel]

Webber shouldn't be sayin that. AI gotta lotta heart, yo...and definitely more street cred than Webber. That's what matters in Philly.

 

[¿¿¿]

last I heard Webber wasnt too happy about the way they were playing. He wanted the ball to go through his hands more. I aint mad at ya CWEBB, AI sometimes just dribbles around the court and takes fadeaway jumpshots. That ishh could be frustrating if u were a teammate CWEBB's caliber.

 

[nbrans]

last I heard Webber wasnt too happy about the way they were playing. He wanted the ball to go through his hands more. I aint mad at ya CWEBB, AI sometimes just dribbles around the court and takes fadeaway jumpshots. That ishh could be frustrating if u were a teammate CWEBB's caliber.

The problem with Webber's opinion is that when Webber gets the ball he dribbles around and shoots fadeaway jump shots.

 

[KevinMartin'sShotDoctor]

last I heard Webber wasnt too happy about the way they were playing. He wanted the ball to go through his hands more. I aint mad at ya CWEBB, AI sometimes just dribbles around the court and takes fadeaway jumpshots. That ishh could be frustrating if u were a teammate CWEBB's caliber.

Webber's no stranger to fallaway jumpshots. I've seen many a clanged 4th quarter jumper on Webber's part.

Whatever A.I.'s drawbacks, he once willed a team to the Finals and has come through with key plays and performances dozens of times. Webber is known in Golden State, Washington, and now perhaps Philadelphia for being a complainer/disruptor. Some of us Kings fans will blame him for destroying Stojak's confidence as well. I suppose Webber might have a point (if he was even making one), but I also don't see Webber swallowing his own blood for a victory.

As for street cred, probably only Iceberg Slim has more street cred than A.I.

 

[¿¿¿]

The problem with Webber's opinion is that when Webber gets the ball he dribbles around and shoots fadeaway jump shots.

Webber is one of the best passers for his size. If Philly can integrate that somehow into their offense Sam and Andre 3000 will be gettin more easy shots.

 

[¿¿¿]

As for street cred, probably only Iceberg Slim has more street cred than A.I.

What does street cred have anythin to do with basketball

 

[KevinMartin'sShotDoctor]

What does street cred have anythin to do with basketball

It has a lot to do with how fans react to the game.
Someone mentioned it earlier. Just answering is all. And of course showing my streetcred by referencing Iceberg Slim. (Then losing my streetcred by using an emoticon.)

My other points were more pertinent.

 

[¿¿¿]

so AI is allowed to be a ball hog because hes got more street cred? After so many years maybe the 76ers problem is AI himself. Hes a great individual player no doubt, and hes got what it takes to be one of the best players ever. Hes such a unique player because of his size and ability to score points, but he cant always try to do it himself. However, I believe hes shooting a career best 45% and also averaging 7 assists a game. Still, pass the ball AI.

 

[Mad D]

Garg was joking

 

[quick dog]

Sports writers need to stop asking Chris Webber leading questions if they are not comfortable with the unvarnished truth. The fact is that Iverson makes team mates worse, not better. Guys like Nash, Duncan, Kidd, Shack, and Garnett make their team mates better.

 

[nbrans]

Sports writers need to stop asking Chris Webber leading questions if they are not comfortable with the unvarnished truth. The fact is that Iverson makes team mates worse, not better. Guys like Nash, Duncan, Kidd, Shack, and Garnett make their team mates better.

Or Webber could stop whining. You know, either one.

 

[Fillmoe]

your reaching fam......

 

[KevinMartin'sShotDoctor]

Sports writers need to stop asking Chris Webber leading questions if they are not comfortable with the unvarnished truth. The fact is that Iverson makes team mates worse, not better. Guys like Nash, Duncan, Kidd, Shack, and Garnett make their team mates better.

Let's be fair to AI. People act as if he never got to a Finals, as if he deserved his incarceration, and as if he shoots 25 percent from the field. All of those players are better than AI at making teammates better, and perhaps Garnett could have willed an Eastern conference team to the Finals. Garnett hasn't been to the Finals, though. Kidd's off-court issues (I'm thinking mostly of how he treats the front office) isn't any better than AI's, and I'd argue that the East was better when Philadelphia got to the Finals than when the Nets did.

But to the real issue, Does A.I. make teammates worse? --Redacted to remove moronic argument.--
We can also add that A.I.'s gambling defense helped Ratliff and Mutombo block scores of shots.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

But to the real issue, Does A.I. make teammates worse? I'd argue that his presence has helped Iguadala improve. Aaron McKie was most effective as a complementary player when he played with A.I. Raja Bell developed as an NBA player as A.I.'s teammate.

I'd argue that Webber has had at least as much, if not more, to do with Iguodala's improvement as Iverson has.

McKie's best season in Philadelphia was only moderately better than his best season in Portland, and he had as many terrible seasons playing alongside Iverson as he had decent ones.

You're just plain wrong about Bell; in fact, you couldn't be more wrong. He developed as an NBA player in Utah. Frankly, I don't even know how you came to that opinion...

 

[KevinMartin'sShotDoctor]

I'd argue that Webber has had at least as much, if not more, to do with Iguodala's improvement as Iverson has.

McKie's best season in Philadelphia was only moderately better than his best season in Portland, and he had as many terrible seasons playing alongside Iverson as he had decent ones.

You're just plain wrong about Bell; in fact, you couldn't be more wrong. He developed as an NBA player in Utah. Frankly, I don't even know how you came to that opinion...

I recall Bell showing signs in the playoff run.

Perhaps you're right about Iguodala, but I still stand behind the McKie argument.

I'll grant that it's a bit of a reach to say he makes players better, yet I'd insist that it's wrong to say he makes people worse.

On a related note, I agree to a point that guys like Marbury and Iverson aren't great playmakers. How is it, given that, that they have high assit totals--as opposed to Bibby, who's a decent playmaker with low assit totals?

My father is also a Navy vet. I spend lots of time on the phone listening to in-depth descriptions of various college football games.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I recall Bell showing signs in the playoff run...

Your recollection is faulty; Bell's average for the playoffs in Phila was 2.3ppg in 2001. He scored a grand total of thirty-four points in thirteen games, and only scored as many as ten in a game once.

In 2002, it was even worse: 0.7ppg. A grand total of two points scored in four games played. After that, he was no longer in Philadelphia.

Players like Iverson and FSM have relatively high assist numbers because they completely dominate the ball, as opposed to Bibby, who only has the ball half as often, by comparison.

 

[KevinMartin'sShotDoctor]

I must only remember the 10 point game then. Selective memory comes in handy sometimes.

 

[love_them_kings]

No, I'm with 4CWebb, he didn't exactly go out and talk about how much they missed AI, he basically left it open whether the team was better without Iverson.

While we're talking about Webber in the media, here's another bizarre quote:

After Thursday's game, when he didn't have an assist in an overtime game, Webber said "one of the most frustrating things is not being able to use my passing ability. To me, getting an assist is just like scoring."

Webber took 22 shots that game. As the Courier Post points out, if he wants assists maybe he should try PASSING.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/SPORTS03/601290379/1002/SPORTS

Webber's going to take a lot of shots. On the Kings, when he touched the ball almost possesion, he could take a lot of shots & have a lot of assists. Now, half the time when he gets the ball it's either down to the wire & he has to take the shot, he's open (which is why he got the ball) or whatever. It's just a different system.

 

[love_them_kings]

Sports writers need to stop asking Chris Webber leading questions if they are not comfortable with the unvarnished truth. The fact is that Iverson makes team mates worse, not better. Guys like Nash, Duncan, Kidd, Shack, and Garnett make their team mates better.

I agree. And, the thing about WEbb that gives him problems is that he kind of wears his heart on his sleeve. Sometimes he says too much, or doesn't say it in a "politically correct" way but when you ask him a question he's going to answer it, not give the same canned answer that others give after every game.

 

[thebostonstrangler]

I'd argue that Webber has had at least as much, if not more, to do with Iguodala's improvement as Iverson has.

McKie's best season in Philadelphia was only moderately better than his best season in Portland, and he had as many terrible seasons playing alongside Iverson as he had decent ones.

You're just plain wrong about Bell; in fact, you couldn't be more wrong. He developed as an NBA player in Utah. Frankly, I don't even know how you came to that opinion...

Iverson has made many players around him better.

Mckie and Ratliff- They were both rotting on the bench in Detroit. With Iverson Ratliff became an All-Star and never did anything after leaving the Sixers. McKie became the 6th man of the year with Iverson again both of them were rotting on Detroit's bench before playing with Iverson.

Eric Snow- A 2nd round draft choice went from not even playing behind Payton and McMillian in Seattle to being one of the better point guards in the league next to Iverson. Hasn't done anything since he joined the Cavs.

George Lynch- Was out of the NBA signed by Larry Brown had his best seasons with Iverson and didn't do anything after leaving the 76ers.

Todd McCullough - A late 2nd round draft choice playing with Iverson earned him a 50 million dollar contract from New Jersey.

Kyle Korver- Another late 2nd round draft choice led the NBA in 3 pointers last season playing with Iverson. How many of those 3's do you think came because he was open because Iverson was being doubled and triple teamed?

Mutombo- Had his best season with Iverson; only year in his career he went to the Finals. Averaged like 18 ppg in the finals against Shaq went to New Jersey a year later and flopped playing with Jason Kidd.

 

[Gargamel]

Mutombo- Had his best season with Iverson; only year in his career he went to the Finals. Averaged like 18 ppg in the finals against Shaq went to New Jersey a year later and flopped playing with Jason Kidd.

He did?

 

[DeAtHrOw]

He did?

I did not know Mutombo played for the Nets at any point of his carer

 

[acisking]

Mutombo- Had his best season with Iverson; only year in his career he went to the Finals. Averaged like 18 ppg in the finals against Shaq went to New Jersey a year later and flopped playing with Jason Kidd.

I am not sure if there was any evidence that Dikemebe has scored 18 ppg in that or ANY playoff series. Either way, are you trying to say that Iverson makes his teammates better than Jason Kidd does?? Ivy is an incredible player, but Kidd is on another level in terms of TEAM PLAY.

 

[thebostonstrangler]

I am not sure if there was any evidence that Dikemebe has scored 18 ppg in that or ANY playoff series.

I mentioned 18 off the top of my head it was actually 17 ppg still the best play of Mutombos career without a doubt.
http://www.nba.com/finals2001/recap_lal_phi_010610.html?nav=SiteFragment

Kidd does make his teammates than Iverson does but Iverson has made players around him better. There is a myth that some fans like to use against Iverson that guys get worse when playing with him but that isn't supported by facts like the players I mentioned above they all had their best years playing with Iverson and didn't nearly duplicate that success after leaving the Sixers.

 

[thebostonstrangler]

I did not know Mutombo played for the Nets at any point of his carer

Yep, the Sixers traded him to New Jersey for Keith Van Horn,Todd Mac and he flopped to the point where they bought out his contract.

 

[Gargamel]

I did not know Mutombo played for the Nets at any point of his carer

The Nets are pretty forgettable, even when they did get to the Finals, but that was the start of his drastic decline. Fast forward 4 years and he's the same age as Kareem.