Webber still isn't fitting in with 76ers
But no one can explain star's lack of minutes, offense
updated 7:57 p.m. ET March 16, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Chris Webber politely tried his best to put a positive spin on Philadelphia’s chances of making a championship run if the 76ers can reach the playoffs.
“All you need is opportunity,” Webber said, looking up from his locker chair with his beaming smile.
Webber may as well have been talking about himself.
Ten games into Webber’s tenure with the Sixers, the five-time All-Star forward still hasn’t fit in with his new teammates and new system. He’s been booed, shut out of the offense and looked little like a player who was supposed to make the Sixers contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Webber’s numbers have dropped dramatically and Philadelphia has faltered in the Atlantic Division race. Surely, this wasn’t what Webber or the Sixers envisioned when the stunning deal with Sacramento was completed on the eve of the trade deadline.
“It could have been a lot more easy, but I will try and make the adjustments,” Webber said. “The biggest thing is for us to make the playoffs, because anything can happen when you’re there.”
Can Webber help get them there? Well, the 5-5 record with Webber certainly doesn’t all fall on his shoulders.
The Sixers have failed to really understand coach Jim O’Brien’s defense and their points allowed per game is one of the worst in the league. Allen Iverson continues to dominate the ball and O’Brien has mysteriously sat Webber for long stretches at a time.
Twice already, Webber has failed to score in double digits, with the low point coming in Tuesday night’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Webber scored Philly’s first two baskets of the game, then missed his last six shots and finished with five points.
Webber remained a team player, saying he was still confused over his role, but he only cared about making the playoffs.
“It’s frustrating, but I’d rather be frustrated with a 20-point blowout (win) than frustrated (over) not winning,” Webber said. “When it comes down to it, I’d rather make the playoffs.”
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant — who played many memorable games against Webber and the Kings in the playoffs — said Webber would return to form once he adjusted to Philadelphia’s system.
“It’s tough to take a player out of that structure who’s been doing it for years and completely change and be extremely productive in a new system like that,” Bryant said, snapping his fingers.
Webber said he’s never had trouble finding his role in an offense before, from high school to the NBA.
In 46 games with the Kings, Webber averaged 21.3 points and 9.7 rebounds. With the Sixers, he’s down to 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and a dreadful 37 percent shooting percentage.
O’Brien’s message at Wednesday’s practice was the same as it’s been after the last few games: He needed to do a better job of getting C-Webb involved.
“I am not pleased with Chris Webber getting the amount of shots that he did last night,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said one problem was the amount of traps and double-teams Webber faced, making it harder to get him the ball. With the Kings, teams had to worry about Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley from the perimeter and Webber and Brad Miller inside.
With the Sixers, Iverson is the only other option.
“Our perimeter people are not used to having a low-post presence like Chris,” O’Brien said. “When they trap, we need to pass the ball out, which he’s doing, but then we have to be aware of getting a second pass back into the post.”
If Iverson, the NBA’s leading scorer, can’t play Friday at Cleveland because of a chipped bone in his left thumb, O’Brien said there would be more of a “concentrated effort” to get Webber the ball.
Of course, it hasn’t helped that Brian Skinner, Corliss Williamson and Kenny Thomas all have flourished with the Kings. Thomas was yanked in and out of the lineup by O’Brien, and the Sixers coach had little use for Skinner.
Skinner went from averaging only 2.0 points and 2.6 rebounds a game with the 76ers to nearly 10 points and nine rebounds with the Kings, although he’s playing more with Miller out for at least a month.
Clearly, Webber feels the heat.
“I’m the one who’s getting beat up and talked about,” he said. “I feel it. My focus is just on the playoffs and that’s all I can put my attention on now.”
© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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