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ShareFor Chris Webber, Showtime Starts Nov. 1
It's been a preseason full of learning for Chris Webber. He's had to learn how to play with some new teammates, he's had to learn how to gel with the ones that he already knows, and he's had to learn a new system under Head Coach Maurice Cheeks. It hasn't all been easy, but he's taking in as much as he can and respects Cheeks' coaching style.
"It's a positive environment, but he will definitely let you know what's going on," said Webber. "Positive doesn't mean not telling you what you're doing wrong, or not getting on you, because he does that without even thinking about it. But just having somebody understand, that's been there, that's been hurt, or that's played, or been tired, or came in and didn't do his best in practice and knew that you can't lie to him knowing that he knows that you're (lying). It's good to have a coach that you have to look straight in the eyes and see if you're doing it right or wrong. And with him that's the way it is. I'm just trying to soak up as much as I can. I mean, he's played with Moses, Barkley, guys that I myself admire. So for me when he says something, I kind of look at him as the player that played with them and try to steal hi knowledget that way too."
Yet, for most of the preseason, Webber has had to do his learning from the sidelines. He is yet to get into a game and has only recently gotten back into practice because of a right quad strain. But no matter how important it is to get onto the floor, Webber and the Sixers coaching staff have been cautious this preseason about bringing him back too quickly.
“You definitely don’t want to go out there and try to do anything stupid or over-aggressive in a preseason game and end up missing the other ones,” said Webber after practice on Oct. 24. Webber has missed six preseason games so far but has felt good at practice and wants to get onto the game floor.
“I feel good and I’ve been practicing really the last couple of weeks, some of the half court stuff, but I feel good so I’ll get out there tomorrow and get to work with my team. It will feel good,” stated Webber. “I’m definitely looking forward to getting action. If you have a great game it means nothing, and if you have a bad game it means just come back and be ready again, because it is the preseason. But I’m definitely looking forward to getting back out on the floor and shooting and getting running back on that arena, getting used to Wachovia again, playing there.”
While Webber may have the itch to get on the floor and produce, Head Coach Maurice Cheeks is still hesitant about rushing him out before he’s fully healed.
“Well, he went full tilt today, and if there’s anything wrong with him at all I’d rather him sit out and play in a regular season game rather than a preseason game,” said Cheeks. “Although I’ve said before, I think guys need to get a game or two under their belt to play to get ready for the regular season. It’s not that they have to, but I’d like to see that. And if he doesn’t, Chris is a seasoned enough veteran that he knows how to step in and play and I’m not worried about that.”
Webber is listed as probable on the team’s injury report for the game on Oct. 25, but even if he is able to go, the perceived starting lineup for the team will still have not been on the game floor together. Center Samuel Dalembert has also been out the entire preseason with a leg injury and will be a game time decision for Tuesday night’s game, and starting point guard Allen Iverson will miss the game for personal reasons. But, even with all of the missed time, Webber is not worried about the team’s chemistry on the court.
“I definitely think myself and Allen will be cool,” said Webber. “I think it’s good for everybody to get together and just see how we play together. It’s going to be a learning process in the beginning but it should be easy to get back to it…Since we have basically the same starting line-up as last year, we’ve been on the court together, so we pretty much know each other pretty well.”
If there has been any doubt as to whether or not Webber will be on the court when the regular season officially kicks off at the Sixers home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks, he put it to rest with one quote on Monday.
“Nov. 1…that’s showtime.”
"It's a positive environment, but he will definitely let you know what's going on," said Webber. "Positive doesn't mean not telling you what you're doing wrong, or not getting on you, because he does that without even thinking about it. But just having somebody understand, that's been there, that's been hurt, or that's played, or been tired, or came in and didn't do his best in practice and knew that you can't lie to him knowing that he knows that you're (lying). It's good to have a coach that you have to look straight in the eyes and see if you're doing it right or wrong. And with him that's the way it is. I'm just trying to soak up as much as I can. I mean, he's played with Moses, Barkley, guys that I myself admire. So for me when he says something, I kind of look at him as the player that played with them and try to steal hi knowledget that way too."
Yet, for most of the preseason, Webber has had to do his learning from the sidelines. He is yet to get into a game and has only recently gotten back into practice because of a right quad strain. But no matter how important it is to get onto the floor, Webber and the Sixers coaching staff have been cautious this preseason about bringing him back too quickly.
“You definitely don’t want to go out there and try to do anything stupid or over-aggressive in a preseason game and end up missing the other ones,” said Webber after practice on Oct. 24. Webber has missed six preseason games so far but has felt good at practice and wants to get onto the game floor.
“I feel good and I’ve been practicing really the last couple of weeks, some of the half court stuff, but I feel good so I’ll get out there tomorrow and get to work with my team. It will feel good,” stated Webber. “I’m definitely looking forward to getting action. If you have a great game it means nothing, and if you have a bad game it means just come back and be ready again, because it is the preseason. But I’m definitely looking forward to getting back out on the floor and shooting and getting running back on that arena, getting used to Wachovia again, playing there.”
While Webber may have the itch to get on the floor and produce, Head Coach Maurice Cheeks is still hesitant about rushing him out before he’s fully healed.
“Well, he went full tilt today, and if there’s anything wrong with him at all I’d rather him sit out and play in a regular season game rather than a preseason game,” said Cheeks. “Although I’ve said before, I think guys need to get a game or two under their belt to play to get ready for the regular season. It’s not that they have to, but I’d like to see that. And if he doesn’t, Chris is a seasoned enough veteran that he knows how to step in and play and I’m not worried about that.”
Webber is listed as probable on the team’s injury report for the game on Oct. 25, but even if he is able to go, the perceived starting lineup for the team will still have not been on the game floor together. Center Samuel Dalembert has also been out the entire preseason with a leg injury and will be a game time decision for Tuesday night’s game, and starting point guard Allen Iverson will miss the game for personal reasons. But, even with all of the missed time, Webber is not worried about the team’s chemistry on the court.
“I definitely think myself and Allen will be cool,” said Webber. “I think it’s good for everybody to get together and just see how we play together. It’s going to be a learning process in the beginning but it should be easy to get back to it…Since we have basically the same starting line-up as last year, we’ve been on the court together, so we pretty much know each other pretty well.”
If there has been any doubt as to whether or not Webber will be on the court when the regular season officially kicks off at the Sixers home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks, he put it to rest with one quote on Monday.
“Nov. 1…that’s showtime.”
