Hi Rolando, good to have you back -
WOW, I was going to counter your points at first, but then I stopped and thought about it. I have to concede most of the points you made, but just with some slight differences.
Peja's problem is not that he does not so much lack the mental edge, or that he lost energy during the playoffs, though the minutes he played in the much more tense games had to be draining for anyone. He has no solid backup behind him, though, and that puts all the pressure on him to be on the floor. This, in my mind, is strictly a coaching flaw of Adelman's. He provided no break for Peja to sit during the games and observe the action. The constant stress was just a mental strain on him and he probably is not suited to that level of stress, at least he plays as if he is not, so it is the same thing.
But of more concern is that Peja's much less athletic then his opponents. That means he is not going to necessarily free himself for shots in the playoffs without considerable help from teamates setting screens. Because of his off-season obligations, he never has time to work on low post moves, which would get him to the line more often and also free up shots from the outside as opponents lay off him more.
Primarily, I would like to see how Peja would do with better coaching. Adelman's motion offense is ideal for his skills - but since Rick does not use a motion offense in the playoffs, reduces his post season bench to a bare six or seven players deep, and disciplines players by severely frowning at them, I have to figure that this might be the best we can expect to see from Peja.
Webber's lack of leadership in the post season has become legendary, though mostly undeserved. But since no team he has played on has achieved enough, that is totally understandable if he gets paid the most to produce. But the criticism this year is offbase. Webber, at best, played this year at about seventy percent of his prior level. His effort never slacked off and though his shooting and defense at times were clearly beyond what he could do well, once again I have to blame the coach for not sitting him down and letting him observe the game from the bench more then from the court when that happened.
But the main fault of Webber is that he really does not shoulder any of the blame for the failings of his team, or his life, or affecting the lifes of those around him. His criticism of teammates after the last Wolves' game, which most thought was directed at Peja, was out of place considering his own contributions in that game led as much to the loss. Though his effort cannot be questioned, nor his heart, he clearly does not have "clutch" anywhere in his body. And you can have heart and effort, but just not be clutch, WOW. You also do not have to possess any self-blame either, so it seems.
The difference in that game between Webber and Peja, and to which Webber was bragging about in that post game interview, was that at least HE was willing to take and miss that last second shot and take the heat afterwards. In part, Chris was quoted as saying:
"No matter the occupation, always go with the hard workers,'' Webber said ``Go with the guys like Doug Christie. Go with the ones who'll be the scapegoat. It's really easy to disappear in tough times...."
No, Chris certainly does not disappear. No, you cannot say that about him. Late in that last game, his two missed layups, one for four shooting from the free throw line, and final missed three pointer made his presence on the court very clear to everyone indeed.
Peja must have told his team in the prior time out that he should not be allowed to take that final shot. At least, no effort to get him the ball was ever part of the last play.
