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Webber struggling to adjust to reduced role
The Sixers forward has been getting as much bench time as playing time during the fourth quarter.
By Joe Juliano
Inquirer Staff Writer
All the hope and optimism that Chris Webber expressed during the preseason, when he felt confident he would play more like the player he was before major knee surgery in 2003, has been replaced with gloom and dejection.
It's a strange and confusing time for Webber. The 14-year veteran and five-time all-star, once one of the top two or three power forwards in the game, is struggling with a reduced role that has seen him as likely to be on the 76ers' bench in the fourth quarter as on the court.
After yesterday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Webber said solemnly that he has been asked to change his role but that it was "something that I don't think a player like me should adjust to." "It's not being in in the fourth quarter," he said. "It's things I've never had to deal with before... not being a main part of what's going on. So that's what I have to get used to."
Webber, 33, has ridden the bench for the entire fourth quarter in two of the Sixers' six games so far. In fact, he has averaged 5 minutes, 30 seconds of playing time in the fourth period this season, less than half of the 12-minute quarter.
He's not happy talking about it, but he insists he is not down. "I think I've been through too much for me to be down," he said. "But I know the situation that's in front of me. I'm not going to adjust, but I just have to keep going forward. I think to adjust would [make me] become complacent and accept a role that I don't want to accept."
Webber said Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks has been "very clear" on what his role would be. Asked what Cheeks told him, Webber replied, "You'll have to ask him."
Cheeks, however, said he hasn't told Webber anything specific about reducing his minutes. He said he is more concerned about matchups, and when the opponent goes to a small lineup, he will respond by playing one big man, or none, if the situation warrants.
"I made it clear to him it's an adjusted role based on the way we play - that's all," Cheeks said. "It's not like we've done anything different. I've made it clear the way we're going to play. I'm not worrying about who's going to play and who's not going to play." If he needs to play one big man, be it the 6-foot-10 Webber, 6-11 Samuel Dalembert or 7-foot Steven Hunter, "I'll make the choice based on the game," the coach said.
"If I think somebody is playing better, or if they have a 7-footer out there that I think Sam can guard, I'll make it that way," he said. "If they have a 6-8, 6-9 guy out there that I think Chris can guard, I'll base it on that.
"I'm not putting a lot of thought into it in terms of: Am I worrying about somebody? No, that's not where I'm at. I'm putting guys on the floor at that time that are going to help us win games ." Webber worked out diligently in the off-season and said in training camp that his left knee, which underwent microfracture surgery on June 10, 2003, was feeling better than at any time since the surgery. He still is a capable rebounder, averaging a team-high 9.0 per game. But other key numbers are down - 11.0 points and 37.3 percent shooting from the field as compared to last season's figures of 20.2 points and 43.4 percent - and he often struggles guarding younger, quicker players.
Webber, who is making $20.7 million this season, said he is not concerned with his shooting.
"No, not at all," he said. "You just need a rhythm and an opportunity, and I'm more concerned with that... . I started getting the touch back a little bit in Toronto [on Wednesday]. So you need opportunities in the game. Practice is one thing, but the opportunities are a different thing."
Webber has seen increased fourth-quarter action in the last two games, playing more than 21 of a possible 24 minutes. But as Cheeks goes with the best matchups down the stretch of games, Webber will have to wait for the call, even if he doesn't particularly like it.
"It's something I have to get used to," he said.
Chris Webber's Playing Time
Opponent Game Total 4th Quarter
Atlanta 33:39 5:57
Orlando 33:01 6:02
Miami 31:05 0
Indiana 24:28 0
Toronto 35:16 11:53
Denver 32:37 9:09
Average through six games: 31:41.
Average in fourth quarter: 5:30.
Average playing time last season: 38:34.
Webber struggling to adjust to reduced role
The Sixers forward has been getting as much bench time as playing time during the fourth quarter.
By Joe Juliano
Inquirer Staff Writer
All the hope and optimism that Chris Webber expressed during the preseason, when he felt confident he would play more like the player he was before major knee surgery in 2003, has been replaced with gloom and dejection.
It's a strange and confusing time for Webber. The 14-year veteran and five-time all-star, once one of the top two or three power forwards in the game, is struggling with a reduced role that has seen him as likely to be on the 76ers' bench in the fourth quarter as on the court.
After yesterday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Webber said solemnly that he has been asked to change his role but that it was "something that I don't think a player like me should adjust to." "It's not being in in the fourth quarter," he said. "It's things I've never had to deal with before... not being a main part of what's going on. So that's what I have to get used to."
Webber, 33, has ridden the bench for the entire fourth quarter in two of the Sixers' six games so far. In fact, he has averaged 5 minutes, 30 seconds of playing time in the fourth period this season, less than half of the 12-minute quarter.
He's not happy talking about it, but he insists he is not down. "I think I've been through too much for me to be down," he said. "But I know the situation that's in front of me. I'm not going to adjust, but I just have to keep going forward. I think to adjust would [make me] become complacent and accept a role that I don't want to accept."
Webber said Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks has been "very clear" on what his role would be. Asked what Cheeks told him, Webber replied, "You'll have to ask him."
Cheeks, however, said he hasn't told Webber anything specific about reducing his minutes. He said he is more concerned about matchups, and when the opponent goes to a small lineup, he will respond by playing one big man, or none, if the situation warrants.
"I made it clear to him it's an adjusted role based on the way we play - that's all," Cheeks said. "It's not like we've done anything different. I've made it clear the way we're going to play. I'm not worrying about who's going to play and who's not going to play." If he needs to play one big man, be it the 6-foot-10 Webber, 6-11 Samuel Dalembert or 7-foot Steven Hunter, "I'll make the choice based on the game," the coach said.
"If I think somebody is playing better, or if they have a 7-footer out there that I think Sam can guard, I'll make it that way," he said. "If they have a 6-8, 6-9 guy out there that I think Chris can guard, I'll base it on that.
"I'm not putting a lot of thought into it in terms of: Am I worrying about somebody? No, that's not where I'm at. I'm putting guys on the floor at that time that are going to help us win games ." Webber worked out diligently in the off-season and said in training camp that his left knee, which underwent microfracture surgery on June 10, 2003, was feeling better than at any time since the surgery. He still is a capable rebounder, averaging a team-high 9.0 per game. But other key numbers are down - 11.0 points and 37.3 percent shooting from the field as compared to last season's figures of 20.2 points and 43.4 percent - and he often struggles guarding younger, quicker players.
Webber, who is making $20.7 million this season, said he is not concerned with his shooting.
"No, not at all," he said. "You just need a rhythm and an opportunity, and I'm more concerned with that... . I started getting the touch back a little bit in Toronto [on Wednesday]. So you need opportunities in the game. Practice is one thing, but the opportunities are a different thing."
Webber has seen increased fourth-quarter action in the last two games, playing more than 21 of a possible 24 minutes. But as Cheeks goes with the best matchups down the stretch of games, Webber will have to wait for the call, even if he doesn't particularly like it.
"It's something I have to get used to," he said.
Chris Webber's Playing Time
Opponent Game Total 4th Quarter
Atlanta 33:39 5:57
Orlando 33:01 6:02
Miami 31:05 0
Indiana 24:28 0
Toronto 35:16 11:53
Denver 32:37 9:09
Average through six games: 31:41.
Average in fourth quarter: 5:30.
Average playing time last season: 38:34.
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