I stumbled across an old tape of mine, with Game 7 of the WCF between Lakers and Kings.
It was a interesting refresh on a few things.
1.Chris Webber is/was overrated.
It was the biggest game of his life, but he just looked casual, kept making these weird facial expressions when making a few open J's that Shaq just gave him (ie. acting like a tool), and got a Tech for arguing at a crucial part of the game in the fourth quarter. Seems he is a born 'loser'. Also, Christie and Peja completely cracked under pressure. Peja was a bit injured, but he completely airballed a shot for the win. It was not even close.
2.Kobe and Shaq should have won 5 or 6 rings together.
In this series they combined beautifully - but Kobe was mouthing off and complaining the whole game about not getting enough touches- you can actually see him in the background cracking it st*ts all the time. I have no doubt in my mind his selfishness in this area of team play caused the team to break up.
My conclusion is the Kings should have been Champions that year, but completely blew it in the 7th game
Chris Webber was a great player, but he was never a franchise player, and im a Webber fan, I wish Washington would have held onto him. Its just unfortuante coinsidance that he never won a championship, and did not catch breaks in the clutch. Of course you can point to some crucial mental lapses in the clutch that Webber made, but, I really think its just coinsidance that he never played well in important late stages of important games. I still, however, think its unfair for people to call him a born loser, when there are plenty of beloved players who never won the big game, including, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, etc.
I still, however, think its unfair for people to call him a born loser, when there are plenty of beloved players who never won the big game, including, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, etc.
barkley and miller always stood up under pressure, and often hit the big shot.
Regardless of rings, they always brought it in the big games.
Webber is different - the opportunities were there and he didnt bring it
Webber is different - the opportunities were there and he didnt bring it
Having a triple-double in game 7, and then manning up and telling Vlade he would guard Shaq, and actually guarding Shaq BETTER than Vlade isn't "bringing it"?
Having a triple-double in game 7, and then manning up and telling Vlade he would guard Shaq, and actually guarding Shaq BETTER than Vlade isn't "bringing it"?
No its not. Webber stopped shaq twice when he guarded him - congratulations.
He got a stupid tech, was absent under pressure, and generally acted like a tool.
He should have gone to work had 40/20, and shut his mouth. He looked like an enormously talented kid playing in a mans game, and when it mattered he goes missing
Lakers vs. Kings 2003
poor king fans!
