I wonder if Webber is really healthy? Sac-bee and other BBS rumors are that he's still in pain. Kings, Wolves and Lakers may be in the same boat come playoff time, still trying to work major starter and bench compenents into the line-up. Kings/Webber/BJax, Wolves/Kandi/Wally/Hudson and Lakers/Malone/Kobe.
Here's the article about Webber vs. Golden State:
Chris Webber's best might be yet to come, but it's likely his worst came out Tuesday during the Kings' 96-92 victory over Golden State at Arco Arena.
Webber was 2 for 21 from the field and showed no capacity to finish or power up against physical, athletic defenders. Webber had five points and a team-high 11 rebounds, but most of those came on his misses.
"I don't think this is anything to be over-analyzed," Webber said afterward. "I think it was one of those days everybody has."
Well, not really. Only players of Webber's status have coaches who let them go 2 for 21, as Philadelphia's Allen Iverson did Wednesday against the New York Knicks.
No matter. The Kings improved to 47-16.
"You can say it was horrible, horrific, terrible and a couple of words you can't use on TV," Webber said. "But that's about it. I felt very good. It wasn't knee-related. It wasn't leg-related. It was shot-related. It was wrist-related. It would have really, really hurt if we didn't get the win, but the guys came through."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said he wasn't surprised by the rough night.
"There was no secret that he was going to have ups and downs," Adelman said of Webber, who played 33 minutes. "He kept playing, and you're going to have to live with that. It's not like he hasn't been out nine months. And he's only been back a week.
"So I think it's a matter of him fighting through it and getting to the point where he feels comfortable. But I don't think anybody on our team shot the ball very well."
Actually, it was Webber and Brad Miller (3 for 13) who pulled Sacramento's field-goal shooting down to 38 of 94 (38.3 percent). It was the first time in 11 games the Kings won when failing to shoot 40 percent from the field.
But 21 offensive rebounds and 18-of-22 shooting from the free-throw line when the Warriors shot just 13 of 24 helped the Kings get over the hump.
Either Webber's prolonged presence in the game or his inability to score prompted the Arco faithful (?) to boo him in the third quarter.
Vlade Divac said he never likes to hear the home crowd boo its own player.
"Everybody has their own opinion," Divac said. "But we're all on the same page. C-Webb is in a special situation. He's trying to work his way back. He's not missing on purpose."
Webber said he would take the booing in stride.
"What can you do about it?" he said with a grin. "I'll remember it, but that's it."
Luckily for the Kings' fans, the threesome of Mike Bibby (21 points), Doug Christie (23 points, five rebounds, six assists and untold energy) and Peja Stojakovic (20 points) came through down the stretch.
Meanwhile, the Warriors - losers of six consecutive games - had numerous chances to take advantage of poor Kings play but could not.
Golden State was within 83-82, then missed six consecutive shots and went four minutes without scoring before Rusty LaRue hit a three-pointer to end the skid with 17.8 seconds left.
By that time, the Kings led 89-82, thanks to back-to-back baskets from Bibby, the first a jump shot after the guard used picks by Miller and Divac.
"The shot fell off, and I was lucky it went in," said Bibby, who shot 8 of 12 from the field. "But I got it because of great picks from those guys."
The Warriors (25-37) were led by Erick Dampier's 26 points and 18 rebounds.
Golden State coach Eric Musselman had an easy explanation for the Warriors' loss.
"Lack of converting from the foul line, Sacramento's rebounding and our three-point shooting (5 of 17)," Musselman said.
