The Mitchell Report: Webber will provide balance, experience
Flickr/thejcgerm
Don Nelson has been reunited with Chris Webber in Golden State.
published: January 31 2008 11:34 PM updated:: February 01 2008 12:24 AM

One of the big topics in the NBA this week is the return of Chris Webber to the Golden State Warriors.

There are many questions surrounding his return.

Can Webber be able to co-exist with coach Don Nelson?

Can the 34-year-old keep up with the Warriors’ fast-paced offense?

Webber believes since he and Nelson are older, they will be able to work together efficiently.

As far as C-Webb keeping up with that high-octane offense, he will answer that question as the season winds down.

Personally, I feel the move is a good one, though it shocked me when I first heard the news.

Webber is one of the best passing big men in the league.

Because of his passing abilities, a team can run their offense through him, just as the Sacramento Kings did when he starred for them.

It also helps that he has averaged 20.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in his 14-year career.

He can also bring a sense of experience to the team.

He knows he is not a superstar anymore and is willing to accept a lesser role, and playing with Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, Webber will have no choice.

When he was with the Detroit Pistons last season, he accepted that role, playing alongside Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups.

He still averaged 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

I am curious to watch his first game with the Warriors.

Golden State traded for Webber on draft night in 1993 after the Orlando Magic took the former Michigan Wolverine with the first overall pick.

After C-Webb’s first season, he asked for a trade because he could not get along with Nelson.

There is no denying Webber can play.

He is a five-time NBA All-Star selection as well as a five-time All-NBA pick.

He also has been to the playoffs 10 times averaging almost 19 points and 9 rebounds.

All that experience means Webber can be the calm force that keeps the team together when Davis leaves the floor.

And I'm sure Golden State fans are happy with the team bringing the man who led them in the early 90s back to the Bay Area.

MVP Race

It is hard making a top five for my MVPs.

I know Steve Nash is averaging more assists this season and his three-point percentage is his highest ever.

However, his team is already good. I believe he should have won the award last year over Dirk Nowitzki to give him three in a row.

Watching Chris Paul lead the New Orleans Hornets is exciting and shows me that there is a new point guard in town.

I will not say he is better than Nash.

It's just no one picked his team to do what they are doing now.

That is the reason Nash has not made my list yet.

Chris Paul

Coming into Thursday, Paul has led the Hornets to the best record in the Western Conference at 32-12. It also helps when you average 20.6 points and 10.7 assists a game.

Kevin Garnett

The Big Ticket has made tickets hard to come by at Boston Celtics' games. The team is 35-8 after beating Dallas Thursday night.

Dwight Howard

This kid still amazes. He will participate in the Slam-Dunk competition over All-Star weekend. The Orlando Magic are 28-18 behind Howard’s 22 points and 15 rebounds per game.

Kobe Bryant

After Andrew Bynum went down, I started to question who was really the MVP of the Lakers. Nevertheless, Kobe still gets his stats and has his team in playoff position.

LeBron James

James is one of the most explosive players in the league if not the most. The way he attacks the basket is crazy. If he sees an opening in the lane, he is going to take it. He will also take a few more victories as the Cleveland Cavaliers are sitting at 24-19.

Editor: Cliff Chartrand

Comments

#1

GoldenGod commented, on February 1, 2008 at 5:26 p.m.:

How can you claim Nash deserved the MVP over Dirk when Nash is playing with 2 other SUPERSTARS while Dirk doesn't even have another true all-satr playing next to him.

And even with the PERFECT team constructed around Nash he still hasn't been to the NBA Finals, while Dirk LOST Nash and got to the Finals without him.

Um.. hello. Just because Nash is fun to watch and maximizes his abilities doesn't amke him the MVP.

Nash's teammates make him look just as good as he makes them look. Dirk has no one else making him better. Which is why the Golden State Warriors were able to take him out of the game with double and triple teams and the Mavs couldn't punish them for it.

#2

PlatinumGod commented, on February 1, 2008 at 11:31 p.m.:

MVP's don't lose in the first round of the playoffs to eight seeds.

MVP's don't blow two game leads in the NBA Finals.

Phoenix was terrible before Nash got there, and without him they would be terrible now.

Dirk is not a big game player and never will be.

He's not even in the top 10 most valuable players in the league.

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