Post by Philadelphia 76ers on Jan 5, 2008 19:31:57 GMT -5
The drama continues in Philly. Center Chris Webber was sent home early from practice yesterday and management says it was because he was sick.
This comes one day after Webber“threw a tantrum.” On Thursday, before the Philly were to play the Washington Wizards, Webber showed up for the morning shoot-a-round and took to the court late when Philly no longer had any centers out practicing. As Webber left the court, he smashed a row of water bottles and tossed it into the stands.
A day later, on Friday, Webber showed up five minutes before the practice session and was promptly sent home. The 76ers practiced with a necktie in place of Webber.
“He got here a little bit late, he wasn’t feeling good,” Philly coach Mo Cheeks. “He wanted to go practice, but I told him not to. It was best he went home for the day.” Cheeks added that he fully expected Webber to return to practice on Saturday and that he would back up Sean Williams as the 76ers host the Charlotte Bobcats. Cheeks wasn’t around to see the “tantrum” incident but heard about it afterward and said general manager Bryan Colangelo addressed it with Webber.
“I didn’t talk to (Webber), I know the gist of their conversation,” Cheeks said. “It’s an issue that Bryan dealt with him on and I’ve nothing more to say on it.”
76ers captain Kevin Garnett was a little more insightful regarding the incident. “To get considered for a start, (the coaching staff) is looking for (Webber) to show that he wants to be in there,” Garnett told the Philadelphia Inquirer “You have to work hard in practice to show that you want to play.
Most of the players in Philly feel that Webber isn’t a distraction from the game at the moment. Still, one wonders how much longer the 76ers will hold on to Webber if the attitude continues. The consensus seems to be that Webber isn’t working hard enough to challenge Williams for the number one spot and, as a result, is throwing a bit of a hissy fit about his diminished role
This comes one day after Webber“threw a tantrum.” On Thursday, before the Philly were to play the Washington Wizards, Webber showed up for the morning shoot-a-round and took to the court late when Philly no longer had any centers out practicing. As Webber left the court, he smashed a row of water bottles and tossed it into the stands.
A day later, on Friday, Webber showed up five minutes before the practice session and was promptly sent home. The 76ers practiced with a necktie in place of Webber.
“He got here a little bit late, he wasn’t feeling good,” Philly coach Mo Cheeks. “He wanted to go practice, but I told him not to. It was best he went home for the day.” Cheeks added that he fully expected Webber to return to practice on Saturday and that he would back up Sean Williams as the 76ers host the Charlotte Bobcats. Cheeks wasn’t around to see the “tantrum” incident but heard about it afterward and said general manager Bryan Colangelo addressed it with Webber.
“I didn’t talk to (Webber), I know the gist of their conversation,” Cheeks said. “It’s an issue that Bryan dealt with him on and I’ve nothing more to say on it.”
76ers captain Kevin Garnett was a little more insightful regarding the incident. “To get considered for a start, (the coaching staff) is looking for (Webber) to show that he wants to be in there,” Garnett told the Philadelphia Inquirer “You have to work hard in practice to show that you want to play.
Most of the players in Philly feel that Webber isn’t a distraction from the game at the moment. Still, one wonders how much longer the 76ers will hold on to Webber if the attitude continues. The consensus seems to be that Webber isn’t working hard enough to challenge Williams for the number one spot and, as a result, is throwing a bit of a hissy fit about his diminished role