Webber missing in action yet again
With his team on the ropes, Sacramento's Chris Webber assumed his standard playoff position: missing in action. Once again, the only thing standing in the Kings' way seemed to be the reputation their star player had for disappearing in must-win situations. Well, Chris Webber's reputation is secure.
By Bill Ingram Sports Central Columnist
It was nearly a foregone conclusion that the Los Angeles Lakers would find themselves in the NBA Finals again this season. Most everyone had them inked into their Finals predictions before the season even started, but the Sacramento Kings had other plans. The only thing standing in Kings' way seemed to be the reputation their star player had for disappearing in must-win situations. Well, Chris Webber's reputation is secure. Ask anyone, and they will tell you the MVP of the Sacramento Kings is Chris Webber. Well, at least that was true before the playoff started. The Kings run an extremely deadly and balanced attack, but Webber is the catalyst that makes it all work.
The problem is that Chris Webber is not one to step up when the pressure's on. Sure, C-Webb averaged 25 points per game against the Lakers, but when the Kings needed a basket, it was newcomer Mike Bibby who got the call.
Game 7 is a perfect example of the Kings' primary difficulty with relying on their "star player." Webber scored 14 points in the first half of the Kings' elimination game, but as the game got tighter, Webber became less and less of a factor. After 51 minutes of action, Webber had amassed just 20 points, meaning he scored exactly six points in the second half and overtime, when the Kings needed him most.
Meanwhile, Mike Bibby scored 14 of his 19 in the second half and the overtime period, meaning Bibby has more of a sense of what it means to be the star player than Webber does.
In a game that would determine whether the Kings advanced to the NBA Finals or go home early, Doug Christie, who was oh-for the second half, and Peja Stojakovic, who was limping around on a severely sprained ankle, took the three most important shots of the game, series, and season. All misses.
The Kings had an awesome season. They built the best record in the NBA and sustained it until June. They got within one miracle shot (Robert Horry, Game 5) of being in the NBA Finals. But, unless Chris Webber figures out how to show up for the big games, the Kings will have to wait for Shaq to retire before they make it to the NBA Finals.
Article courtesy of Sports Central.
It was nearly a foregone conclusion that the Los Angeles Lakers would find themselves in the NBA Finals again this season. Most everyone had them inked into their Finals predictions before the season even started, but the Sacramento Kings had other plans. The only thing standing in Kings' way seemed to be the reputation their star player had for disappearing in must-win situations. Well, Chris Webber's reputation is secure. Ask anyone, and they will tell you the MVP of the Sacramento Kings is Chris Webber. Well, at least that was true before the playoff started. The Kings run an extremely deadly and balanced attack, but Webber is the catalyst that makes it all work.
The problem is that Chris Webber is not one to step up when the pressure's on. Sure, C-Webb averaged 25 points per game against the Lakers, but when the Kings needed a basket, it was newcomer Mike Bibby who got the call.
Game 7 is a perfect example of the Kings' primary difficulty with relying on their "star player." Webber scored 14 points in the first half of the Kings' elimination game, but as the game got tighter, Webber became less and less of a factor. After 51 minutes of action, Webber had amassed just 20 points, meaning he scored exactly six points in the second half and overtime, when the Kings needed him most.
Meanwhile, Mike Bibby scored 14 of his 19 in the second half and the overtime period, meaning Bibby has more of a sense of what it means to be the star player than Webber does.
In a game that would determine whether the Kings advanced to the NBA Finals or go home early, Doug Christie, who was oh-for the second half, and Peja Stojakovic, who was limping around on a severely sprained ankle, took the three most important shots of the game, series, and season. All misses.
The Kings had an awesome season. They built the best record in the NBA and sustained it until June. They got within one miracle shot (Robert Horry, Game 5) of being in the NBA Finals. But, unless Chris Webber figures out how to show up for the big games, the Kings will have to wait for Shaq to retire before they make it to the NBA Finals.
Article courtesy of Sports Central.
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