"He does have to show some sort of growth," the Eastern Conference exec said. "Even if it's just cosmetic. That's what he needs to show."
There'll never been another player like Iverson. Except now he has to follow a pattern that's been set before him. The older veteran yielding, acknowledging he can no longer dominate, helping out where he can.
For example …
"Gary Payton with the Heat," the Eastern Conference executive said. "You're going to tell me AI couldn't do that?"
Uh, what? You want Iverson -- Allen Iverson -- to do this?
Marc Stein expressed a similar sentiment yesterday on ESPN.com.
What I don’t get is, WHY DON’T THESE GUYS GET IT?
Growth? Acceptance? Seriously? Come on. We know who Iverson is. He’s been the same player* with the same mentality, more or less, since Georgetown. It comes down to two main things with him:
1. He wants to start
2. He wants his teams to play hard and try their damndest to win
That’s it. If you’re willing to accept that, AI will be good for your team. He will. Why is this so hard to understand?
Per Marc Stein:
Iverson missed almost all of training camp with a slightly torn hamstring, played 18 minutes in his Grizzlies debut after missing the first three regular-season games, then complained immediately and loudly about coming off the bench and playing a reduced role.
The Answer's unforgettable prac-tiss routine made more sense.**
No player on Earth goes from an injury that severe straight into heavy minutes … especially not after missing all of camp with his new team. You'll note that even the most desperate team on Earth -- New Jersey -- has been bringing Devin Harris off the bench since the Nets' lone All-Star returned this weekend from his groin troubles.
“Heavy minutes” and “starting” are not one in the same. You can start Iverson and play him only 10-15 a night until he gets his legs back. He will accept this. He will. What he won’t accept is coming off the bench. Yes, that’s unconventional. Yes, Devin Harris is willing to do that. But AI isn’t. So?
Is this a little ridiculous? Maybe. But this is who the man is.
I’m not defending it, nor am I judging it.*** I’m just saying that it is what it is. It’s what’s on the table, and it’s what’s been on the table, for almost 15 years. So how are so many coaches, GMs, sports writers, etc., not seeing it?
You know how I feel about seeing Iverson in a Sixers uni again. I know it won’t mean much in terms of wins and losses, and I know we’ll be starting over again next year -- pretty much from scratch -- without him. F it. The thought of The Answer playing for us again gives me a warm feeling I haven’t had about Sixers basketball in a long, long time.
Let’s hope Snider and Jordan don’t eff it up. Just let him start, gentlemen. Just let him start.
-G
* All right, not quite the same. That explosive first step is gone, for one thing.
** I hate that this story won’t die. Especially since no one remembers the whole story. Let’s consider the context of the infamous “prac-tiss” interview: Spring 2002, first round of the playoffs against the C’s. After dropping the first two games, AI put the team on his back and scored a combined 71 points over the next two games to even it up. He said after Game Four: “Win. It’s the only thing we can think about. We fought hard to get back in the series...the only thing I care about is finishing out.” But come Game Five, AI was the only Sixer who showed up; the rest of the team was sleepwalking. They got bounced. HARD. In the post-game press conference, a frustrated Larry Brown inexplicably saw fit to talk about Allen’s absence from practices during the season. (Now, was Iverson guilty of this? Undoubtedly. But there’s a time and a place for criticism. And this was not it, LB.) So when it was Iverson’s turn at the mic, they went after him. Iverson answered (upset): “Franchise players don’t go through this. Franchise players’ daughters don’t have to go to school and hear, ‘Is your daddy coming back? What’s going on with your daddy and Coach Brown?’ And yadda yadda. She’s 7 years old and that’s what she has to deal with. It hurts because...I do all I can for this city, this team, this franchise and my teammates. I don’t think nobody in the world plays harder than me. I’m tired, you know. Everybody in Philadelphia knows that I want to be a Sixer for the rest of my career. But I’m tired and hurt, too.” Then a reporter fired back with this: “Allen, could you be clear about your practicing habits since we can’t see you practice?” THAT’S when Iverson went off. And you know what? I would’ve gone off, too.
*** Okay, I’m defending it a little. AI has always been a team leader, and being a starter is important to him. It’s a psychological thing. As his coach, I’d be more than proud and happy to start Allen. You can’t run a successful team if the players aren’t 100% dedicated to the cause. Why piss off one of your key guys over something so small and insignificant? Seriously? Why, why, why? Can you tell I want to pull my own hair out?!
2 comments:
Last year, when you brought up getting AI in free agency I told you to let the past stay in the past. I used a couple of old girlfriend metaphors and basically called you a sloppy sentimentalist. Today, with AI available for $400, a bic lighter and a pack of Red Hots, I couldn't be more in favor of this move. I will list some facts in no particular order.
1. AI needs a home. He needs to be in a place where he feels the love. It's the reason he plays this game. Not for the competition (like MJ or Kobe), for the love and adoration of the fans. Philly is his town. And we are his flock. We are his best chance to succeed.
2. We need a shooting guard that can shoot...and get his own shot off the dribble. Been needin' it.
3. This young team needs some heart and an identity. We have talent, athleticism, potential, etc. Iggy knows he can't carry this team; at least not now. And he knows, AI (even if just for now) can.
4. We have nothing to lose. We already have the team Stefanski wanted. Mostly, anyway. We got the big free agent signing. We brought back our young guys. We have a new coach, with a new system. This is it. Given that, the current results and the future prognosis, we need to keep tweaking.
5. AI has everything to lose. AI can not afford to leave Philly poorly a second time. If he wants to keep playing in this league (which he does). If he cares about his legacy (which he does). We've got to give him what he wants in terms of starting, and that's about it. One thing about AI and starting time...he's never not performed when given starter status and appropriate minutes. He was putting up 27.0 a night in Denver before being traded. He's not EB struggling to hit double figures. He was doing what he always had done until someone decided he needed to fall back. Let him start. Play him 32-35 minutes a night. Period, end of story.
6. The circumstances are so bad and desperate on both sides that this just might work. Of course, the cynic in us thinks the circumstances are ripe for disaster. But how much worse can it get for us or him. AI's not going to poison the locker room. These guys got here being who they are. Even in the worst scenario, AI's not going to change who they are for the worse in 3/4 of a season. The chances are much better that he will infuse some warrior spirit in these young bucks.
7. This is the best team (on paper) Iverson would ever be a part of as a Sixer. It wasn't built for or around him, but it might as well have been. He's got a low post threat (Elton). He's got a utility guy (Iggy). He's got guys who can score from inside and get putbacks (Speights, Thad). He's got an entire team of young horses to run with. He's got big guards who can defend next to him (Ivey, Green, Holiday). He's even got a mini-me in Lou Williams. Other than not having outside shooting, this is a fairly complete team of players. What it lacks is the team defense approach that would make it really formidable. And it lacks some veteran leadership. We'll see if AI can help in that department.
Once everyone's healthy, your
2010 Philadelphia 76ers would be:
Lou (Holiday, Ivey)
AI (Green)
Iggy (Carney, Capano)
Thad (Elton, J. Smith )
Sam (Speights, Brezec)
Obviously, we have a problem with Elton and Sammy not earning their salaries. On the plus side, AI and Lou is a hellacious backcourt for defenses to deal with. Iggy goes back where he belongs, at the three. Willie Green's not starting. Sammy's contract becomes trade bait this summer. Speights can play center once Sammy's gone, and an Iggy, Thad, Speights front court will be as good as most others over the next 5-7 years.
Last point, bringing in AI has the potential to show off what a dynamic scorer at the 2 can do for this team. Maybe it serves to entice some of the free agent guards over the next year or two.
You both are reasonably smart gentlemen who both know a lot of basketball. But I must ask, what are you two smoking and where can I get some? First off, to say he is the same guy now that he was 15 years from now is just wrong. NO NO NO NO NO NO. Nobody is the same person who they were 15 years ago. Mr. Howard, you had more hair for iexample. So I can't buy that at all. Here is a list of the basketball stars who changed from the time they got to the league : David Robinson, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierece, Ray Allen, Shaquille O' Neal, Michael Jordan (He was little more than a flashy, athletic scorer when he got in the league), Kobe Bryant (Ditto) And the list goes on. The point is players do one of three things: Evolve, like his Airness and Black Mamba. Change and still play a significant part in a championship, like The Boston Trio or the Admiral. Or you hold on to your former glory and burn out on a loser team with very little future, like the Answer.
And now the counterpoints
1) He has nobody to blame but himself. If he ever developed any true basketball skills besides run faster than anybody else and running into players full speed he would have had his pick of suitors.
2) He can't SHOOT. He could never shoot! Ever. That was never his strong point.I'm calling foul on you for this one. He could slash. But he is the definition of streaky.
3) This team needs to lose. And lose a lot. If they get some heart, they are last year's team at best. The worst team in a middle of the pack bunch. AI can't carry this team. Not 2009 AI.
4) Nothing to lose? More like we have nothing. Period.
5) AI has nobody to blame for his situation but himself. When you never work on your game and only rely on your talents, this is what happens. Case in point was Denver. He held Denver back. He put up good individual stats, but Billups took that team to another level. It wasn't even close. AI was averaging that much because that team featured a top 5 player in Melo, and some very exceptional talent. They didn't focus on AI, didn't double him.
6) WHAT? This seems more like an rehash of point 3. Running out of facts huh?
7) Seriously? Green and Ivy almost shouldn't be playing in this league. I know guys in pick up games better than them. Dalembert has the basketball IQ of a shoe. Go back to soccer. Williams is not a starter, same goes for Brand. Iggy has no shot, no dribble, no moves, just an insane amount of athletic ability. Lastly, this AI is not 2001-2006 AI. He just doesn't have it. Speights and Thad Young are the ONLY two worth keeping on this squad for sure, maybe Holiday. Other than that, torch it.
I'm getting tired listing the reasons that you fine fellows are wrong. But it's simply like this. He was asked the question would you rather serve in heaven than rule in hell(or in the sixers case purgatory) and he chose to burn baby burn.
Listen, I love Allen Iverson. I grew up watching him. But even if you can go home, sometimes you should not.
Post a Comment