AleksandarN
Starter
Čarolija said:
Very well said!
When Peja gets back
- Thread starter Entity
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Very well said!
AleksandarN
Starter
VF21 said:
Of course he is not happy now. His play has sucked all year and his team is losing. I would have be worried if was happy at the same time his team is playing like crap. Also it is not first person that asked be traded or did not want to show up. People change their minds it happens in life. Holding something against a player because of that one mistake is misguided.
AleksandarN said:
He was happy and laughing after one recent loss, but that's neither here nor there.
He may not be the first person who asked to be traded but he's sure the first one I CAN REMEMBER who took his demands to the media. But that's neither here nor there either.
"People change their minds it happens in life." And your point is?
I have, once again, been honest in my feelings about Peja. If you think I"m misguided, that's your opinion and you are, of course, entitled to it. Sorry if my honesty disappoints you.
Peace and Happy New Year.
B
Bonzinator
Guest
everyone knows that peja only wants to stay in sacramento because webber is gone. but thats just my opinion
kennadog
Dog On It!
I've never favored Webber over peja or vice versa. But I disagree with you on this one VF. I agree they are co-workers, but it was Webber who went public first. actually at the time I thought he might be referring to more teammates than just Peja, but the general assumption was that he was talking about Peja. We have no idea what Peja or Webber might have said to each other behind closed doors. You can't assume that Peja didn't try to settle with Webber or the other way around.VF21 said:
If a co-worker called me out like that in front of the whole world, I don't know that I'd try and "settle" with him at that point. What would be the point? My co-worker has made it very clear to everyone what his opinion of me is. He can't take it back.
If I thought the chances of me being happy at that job anymore were fairly slim, I'd get a job somewhere else. Unfortunately, NBA players are owned by their teams. They don't have the luxury of being able to just change employers, because they want to.
Was I hurt that Peja said that? As a Kings fan, yes and I was upset. Did I feel insulted? Not in the least. However, as a Kings fan I was also hurt and upset by Webber going to the media and saying the things he did.
Unfortunately, sometimes people say things that can't be taken back and that irreparably damage things. I'm sorry either of them went public. But if the rupture was there, it was probably too late for them to "settle" with each other. No one looks good and no one wins.
We're mixing scenarios, kennadog. I was asked what I would do...and my response was if it was a co-worker, I would settle it with them.
As far as the whole Webber callout thing goes, I thought he was referring to any of his teammates who hadn't, in his mind, put it all out there on the court. Since there were only a couple of players who fit that category, it was immediately taken to mean Peja. Why? Because the shoe fit, I suspect.
My main point is that, regardless of what was said or not said, I do not think Peja has been happy in Sacramento since the departure of Vlade, which occurred that same infamous summer.
As far as going public goes, if I remember right, Webber couldn't even sneeze without the media reading something into it. His biggest mistake - and I said this all along - was EVER saying anything to them, because there was no way it would be kept in context or fully explained. Webber vented on the plane on the way back and someone on the plane told the media. It wasn't as though he called a press conference or a particular columnist to publicly air his frustrations.
Webber made a lot of mistakes but I still don't think trying to exort his teammates to do the very best job they could is one of them. Sure he was frustrated after the loss to the TWolves. Sure he said some things he probably wouldn't have said under different circumstances. He was on the team plane. When someone told the media, they assailed him with questions. At that point, Webber really had very little choice. He was pretty much screwed no matter what. Say nothing and the press castigates you for not being honest with them. Try and explain and you're going to only make it worse, which is - of course - pretty much what happened.
As far as the whole Webber callout thing goes, I thought he was referring to any of his teammates who hadn't, in his mind, put it all out there on the court. Since there were only a couple of players who fit that category, it was immediately taken to mean Peja. Why? Because the shoe fit, I suspect.
My main point is that, regardless of what was said or not said, I do not think Peja has been happy in Sacramento since the departure of Vlade, which occurred that same infamous summer.
As far as going public goes, if I remember right, Webber couldn't even sneeze without the media reading something into it. His biggest mistake - and I said this all along - was EVER saying anything to them, because there was no way it would be kept in context or fully explained. Webber vented on the plane on the way back and someone on the plane told the media. It wasn't as though he called a press conference or a particular columnist to publicly air his frustrations.
Webber made a lot of mistakes but I still don't think trying to exort his teammates to do the very best job they could is one of them. Sure he was frustrated after the loss to the TWolves. Sure he said some things he probably wouldn't have said under different circumstances. He was on the team plane. When someone told the media, they assailed him with questions. At that point, Webber really had very little choice. He was pretty much screwed no matter what. Say nothing and the press castigates you for not being honest with them. Try and explain and you're going to only make it worse, which is - of course - pretty much what happened.
Kingsgurl
Starter
He didn't 'call him out' in public. You said yourself you weren't sure if he was referring to Peja or others on the team. If a co-worker of MINE went public with a statement that he wanted to play with warriors (read, work with people whose hearts were in it) I'd be in complete agreement with him. Then again, I would know he sure as hell wasn't talking about ME and I happen to agree wholeheartedly with the concept. If we had less people mailing it in, wouldn't you say we would be better off?
kennadog
Dog On It!
I agree completely that you can't win with the press. That's why anyone in the public eye has to be very careful. I'd hate having eveything I said or did scrutinized, because ANYONE can be made to look bad or good, depending on who's reporting it, how they report it and what their agenda is. And I do understand that Webber was completely frustrated.
Of course we're better off if people don't "mail it in." Exhorting your teammates to do their best can be fine, but how you do it can be crucial. You say you know it wouldn't be you. How would you feel if you thought you were doing everything you could and they were, in fact, talking about you? I've seen people who worked extremely hard be called on the carpet and I've seen people deservedly called out, who knew for sure it couldn't possibly be them.
My feeling was, however it got out to the public, I wish Webber's and Peja's feelings hadn't come out so publicly. They both could have handled it better. I don't think it did the TEAM any good at all. Maybe at that point, it was too late anyway. I really have little doubt that the feelings were already in the open inside the locker room, anyway.
No favorites here. They both disappointed me as a fan. That was my personal feelings at the time and I was probably being a pollyanna about the team and its vaunted chemistry, anyway. I thoughtthe Kings had something special. The cracks appeared, the egg was broken and it couldn't be put together again.
(Yep, that ship has sailed. And I still miss it. I pretty much try to stay focused on this team. So forgive my momentary lapse.)
Of course we're better off if people don't "mail it in." Exhorting your teammates to do their best can be fine, but how you do it can be crucial. You say you know it wouldn't be you. How would you feel if you thought you were doing everything you could and they were, in fact, talking about you? I've seen people who worked extremely hard be called on the carpet and I've seen people deservedly called out, who knew for sure it couldn't possibly be them.
My feeling was, however it got out to the public, I wish Webber's and Peja's feelings hadn't come out so publicly. They both could have handled it better. I don't think it did the TEAM any good at all. Maybe at that point, it was too late anyway. I really have little doubt that the feelings were already in the open inside the locker room, anyway.
No favorites here. They both disappointed me as a fan. That was my personal feelings at the time and I was probably being a pollyanna about the team and its vaunted chemistry, anyway. I thoughtthe Kings had something special. The cracks appeared, the egg was broken and it couldn't be put together again.
(Yep, that ship has sailed. And I still miss it. I pretty much try to stay focused on this team. So forgive my momentary lapse.)
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kennadog said:
I remember reading an interview with Webb after those comments. He was asked to explain. Although he danced around the issue a lot, I think his main issue may have been with Vlade. If you remember, with the lack of playing time, Vlade's conditioning was way below even the acceptable Vlade level. Chris made comments about how can a center in the West expect to go up against guys like Shaq without lifting weights and working out.
Anyone else remember any of that, or am I way off?
At this point, Sparky, what good does it do?
I loved that team. It broke my heart to see it fall apart, and know that had Webb not crumpled to the floor in a heap in Dallas, we wouldn't be talking about any of this.
The vaunted chemistry suffered because what had pretty much become Webber's team had to learn to play without him. And when he was finally ready to come back, they couldn't put the pieces back together the same way...
I do not mean to always sound like I blame Peja for everything although I know some people think I do... I curse the fates for all that could have been but wasn't because of one searing memory that will never be erased from my mind.
They were SO good, and then - before any of us were ready to say goodbye - it was all over. I agree with Kennadog. I had a lapse, too. It isn't about the team then. It's about the team NOW.
I love this team, warts, wrinkles, media gaffes, and everything else...well, except those gold uniforms.
Once, now and forever...it's GO KINGS!!!!!
I loved that team. It broke my heart to see it fall apart, and know that had Webb not crumpled to the floor in a heap in Dallas, we wouldn't be talking about any of this.
The vaunted chemistry suffered because what had pretty much become Webber's team had to learn to play without him. And when he was finally ready to come back, they couldn't put the pieces back together the same way...
I do not mean to always sound like I blame Peja for everything although I know some people think I do... I curse the fates for all that could have been but wasn't because of one searing memory that will never be erased from my mind.
They were SO good, and then - before any of us were ready to say goodbye - it was all over. I agree with Kennadog. I had a lapse, too. It isn't about the team then. It's about the team NOW.
I love this team, warts, wrinkles, media gaffes, and everything else...well, except those gold uniforms.
Once, now and forever...it's GO KINGS!!!!!
VF21 said:
The point I was trying to make is that numerous posters seem to belive that Webb was singling Peja out in those comments, and that their relationship was strained. If Webb was not talking about Peja then that theory does not hold up. Unless Peja took umbrage that Webb would insult Vlade. But you are right. It's ancient history.
BawLa
Starter
D-Mass said:...and the statue.
It just occurred to me DMASS when I look at your avatar. We need Matt Foley to come over and speak motivatively(probably not a word) to our team. He should say to Peja, "Oh sure, I was once an NBA MVP candidate too. But if you don't start hitting some shots you will find yourself living in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!"
Burrito06
Bench
playmaker0017 said:
It is not like Peja all of a sudden began to suck. He has been rapidly declining for the past 2-3 years. He has also been injury prone these past 2 years. For a guy that stands still behind the arc and refuses to rebound he sure gets injured a lot. I have been one of the most critical posters on Peja. He is a player that I believe should have been dealt 2 years ago when he was at his best because I knew that he would fall off as fast as he has. Frankly, I am getting tired of guessing what Peja is going to show up night to night. I am also getting tired of that Chewbacca sound he makes when he gets fouled under the basket.
Sacto=Slappo
G-League
Burrito06 said:
OMG! That's the funniest thing I've ever read! AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH.....
P
playmaker0017
Guest
Burrito06 said:
I disagree.
He's been who he has been since the dawn of time. People are adjusting to his style. Peja isn't good enough with the ball to adapt to that.
But - Peja is still Peja.
That's the biggest problem... people thought he was an all-star superstud, but he wasn't. He was a guy getting the beneficial pass in wide open spots. He can't create space. Period.
I think the same Peja shows up - it's just that people don't realize what Peja is or is capable of. He's extremely limited. Once people realize it and quit holding him to this all-star image they have ... the sooner this can be done with.
He's a spot up shooter. That's it, that's all.
Actually, Burrito06 has a point. Peja has been nagged with injuries since his bout of plantar fasciitis. These back problems, groin pulls, protrunding discs, etc. could all be inter-related.
As far as the "what Peja is going to show up" question, I think it also has merit. But it's not night to night. It's basically quarter to quarter.
If you've been here for very long, you know the VF21 First Rule of Peja Basketball: Peja Stojakovic will not have more than two quarters of good basketball in any one game. If he's got the hot hand in the first quarter, you don't even want to sit him down between quarters. Ride him until he's exhausted. Why? Because odds are after he's been off the court and cooled down, he will - literally - have cooled down.
As far as the "what Peja is going to show up" question, I think it also has merit. But it's not night to night. It's basically quarter to quarter.
If you've been here for very long, you know the VF21 First Rule of Peja Basketball: Peja Stojakovic will not have more than two quarters of good basketball in any one game. If he's got the hot hand in the first quarter, you don't even want to sit him down between quarters. Ride him until he's exhausted. Why? Because odds are after he's been off the court and cooled down, he will - literally - have cooled down.
GoGoGadget
All-Star
I, personally, am of the opinion that Peja is a huge energy vampire.
However, that's a knock on the rest of the team as much as it is on Peja.
However, that's a knock on the rest of the team as much as it is on Peja.
AleksandarN
Starter
GoGoGadget said:
It is not Pedja causing the chemical problems on this team. Chemistry never existed on this team this year to begin with.
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