So today, eleven games into Chris' new career as key prop to opposing power forwards' obstacle course on the way to the basket. we can view how Chris is handling being the key reason the Kings keep having to dig themselves out of 17 point deficit holes.
He blames the media.
Apparently, he believes the media is responsible for the fans and others to be upset with his game since his return from serious knee surgery. As reported on local radio this morning, Webbers says it has been the media's negative take on his contributions to the Kings that have made the fans boo him at the ever-faithful Arco Arena twice since his return, including Sunday's game against the Rockets.
And here I was thinking the fans, not at all the blithering fools in sheep's clothing he thinks they are, actually noticed on their own that he took 18 mostly uncontested shots in the Houston game and only made 4 of them. Or that his confused handling of the ball resulted in five extremely unnecessary turnovers. Or even that 5 of 8 from the line was absolutely the best we can hope for on a good night from our franchise player.
While his rebounding and late passing were helpful in the outcome, the outcome was in doubt earlier every time he touched the ball. The Rockets, by design or by neglect, left Chris alone to twiddle with the ball until he dropped it into their laps or they picked off the easy rebound from his clanks around the rim. Screaming at the TV screen for Adelman to insert Songaila or Massenburg fell on deaf rabbit ears, so periodic switching to the History Channel to soothe my rattled nerves watching the horrors of war were necessary respites.
While other King's shooters, such as Peja Stojakovich (10 for 16), Mike Bibby (7 for 14), and even aging-as-we-watch Vlade Divac (5 for7) watched the slow-motion offense stagnate once again as soon as Chris touched the ball, I must place suitable blame on these other teammates not all flocking to the basket, as did the Rockets, anticipating the miss and going for the rebound. How come it was only Chris who was getting completely open looks? The other King's shooters still managed a better shooting percentage with Rocket fuel drenched all over them.
As Chris said, it's the responsibility of the media to lie to the public about what he is really trying to do, which apparently is just to get ready for the playoffs. Makes you wonder what kind of playoffs he is actually getting ready for, doesn't it?
Taking what I would say were at least six shots more then he should have, if our team leader truly expects the offense to run through him, then HE should be the first guy on the court to recognize when he can't shoot, and get the ball into the hands of teammates who can. Like Peja, who attempted two less shots, made six more, including 5 three pointers - this new math is killing me. As is Chris' game frequently since his return.
Not every night, which is a problem in itself. When Chris is hitting his shots, I say take them and take them every time. But when you clearly are not making them, become the team player you claim to be and recognize it early, then get your hands off the ball.
Songaila wouldn't miss that many shots in a game. For one, he is smart enough to realyze his team would benefit more if he did not shoot the ball 18 times in the game in the first place, even though he would likely make half of them.
And intuitively, he would also know the damned media would be out there telling the ignorant fans that it would be wrong for him to shoot the ball 18 times in the first place, stagnating the best offense in the League, and be booed by the Arco faithful as Marty McNeal of the Sacramento Bee (or whomever) orchestrates the boos from his media seat at Arco.
You see, the fans would never even think of booing a 120 million dollar franchise player who would lie to a grand jury, spend his money on the opposite of drug therapy, get suspended eight games total for these transgressions, then nearly shoot the team out of several games, while clearly not able to play a lick of defense unless the media were there to tell them these awful truths in the first place.
I mean, like, couldn't we, like, think for ourselves, fur sure?
