I personally see Peja making this game aginst the U.S his own, I see an impassioned Yugo team. I see Peja being the best player on the floor tonight. This game is going to go down to the last minute.
Now let me share with you some of my thoughts on
Peja Stojakovic. (sorry if you've heard before)
Your going to be taken to school when the U.S meets Yugo, class 101 Peja is a future superstar. there is nobody in the NBA currently that has a worse reputation per what their game in reality is than Peja.
Number 1 he can be a first option, he can be a leader and can carry a team and yes he is clutch. Let's discount his injured playoff stint. Coming into the playoffs he was known as the most clutch King, not Bibby. King's fans clamored for him to have the ball when nutcutting time came. He has single handedly taken over games down the stretch it is basically beyond your knowledge if you don't know his game intimately. In 2001, there were winning shots in the last few seconds (3 seconds or less) against the Spurs and Raptors, both in overtimes by Peja. This year it was icing the Sonics and Mavs in the final two minutes of the game with 6-7 pt spurts. These are the only tangible incidents I can think of right now, all 4 without Webber when he was called on. He can score 25 ppg or more right now if he were given free reign to, period. Unfortunately he is on a couple of stacked teams right now.
Number 2 let me continue to dispell the myth until hopefully it no longer exists, he plays good defense not bad. Not average either, I said good. He hasn't played below average d since the first half of his 2nd season in the league. He has good work ethic, he competes, he gets down in stance, he shuts down players below their average nightly, he shuts down Dirk in the playoffs. Do you think Chad Ford is lying when he states, "By now you know Peja can light it up from beyond the arc, but it was his surprising improvement on the defensive end that helped push the Kings to the brink of the NBA Finals."* I'd like for you to personally watch Peja on that side of the floor tomorrow (if your watching the USA vrs Yugo game), and I'd like for you to witness the fact that be it Pierce or Finley, whoever he is guarding will have below their tournament average against him or you can personally pm me and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.
Not only all of this, but I attest he is better right now than he was even 4 months ago when I last saw him play. He is now even a great passer as well who can break down defenses and find people easily in transition. If you have the inclination if you are watching note this as well. He will improve himself til he is a top tier superstar in my mind, or atleast that is my hope.
He does have 2 deficiencies in his game however. He needs to develop more of a mid-range game. He has one, he just needs to be a lot more proficient posting and shooting off the dribble mid-range (he can do these things above average, just not at a superstar level yet). He is also an average rebounder (not bad). But I don't think there is a kid under 25 that does not have atleast a couple holes in their games left to fill. I'm confident he has the work ethic to make us forget he even had those holes 3 years from now, just as he improved other holes he had when he first came into the league.
I think that he is better than any U.S representative right now, and I think Yuogslavia will win tomorrow. Should be a good game.
(I know yall think I'm insane or have no life devoting this entire diatribe to my boy Peja, but hey, he is my favorite player and I don't like the fact that he is the most underrated player in the league. He needs recognition)
*
http://espn.go.com/nba/s/2002/0826/1422930.html
Peja Stojakovic - random thoughts
Peja Stojakovic - random thoughts
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