Say it ain’t so
I remember two plays in general that convinced me my body was not equipped to play any more.
I was with the Houston Rockets and we were playing the Mavericks. Charles Barkley threw me a cross court pass and my brain said, “Move forward and jump.” The problem was that when the message got to my legs, a Maverick had jumped in front of me and was headed the other way. We called a timeout and as I was walking to the bench, Charles was laughing and I said my legs would not move. It was the weirdest feeling I had ever had in my basketball life.
The second thing was when I noticed I had no brakes anymore. The basket support was my breaks and it became laughable every time I was driving to the basket. One time I missed the support and ran halfway to the locker room before I could stop.
I still was productive despite my problems, but I knew the time was near and when the Rockets acquired Scottie Pippen and put me on the injured list during the lockout season. I knew my time was over. I had the toughest and most difficult time dealing with the fact it was over, but I took solace in knowing that I exhausted every ounce of my basketball energy.
I knew, despite teams inquiring, that I was done. I retired at the ripe old age of 40.
Allen Iverson, you are not done. You have so much more to show us. Stop listening to the people who probably have you in this frame of mind today.
You know, the ones who sat around all day waiting for you to come home while you were at practice working your rear off.
You know, the ones who relied on you to make sure all their bills were paid and gifts flowing in their direction.
You know, the ones who walked behind you and thought they were you and demanded respect from people like you received.
You know, the ones who told you constantly it was always your teammates and the coach’s fault when negative reactions were directed at you.
You know, the ones who probably weren’t too happy you got married and started to raise a family, because it took your attention away from them.
I am just guessing here, but just watching you over the course of your career you have always remained loyal to your past. I applaud you for the gesture and commitment, but it’s time to put yourself first and listen to your conscience and not anyone else’s.
Just watching you over the last 13 years and the way you threw your body around, playing hurt, averaging 41 minutes a game for your career… You proved to me and anyone who watched you that Allen Iverson is the toughest player pound for pound in the history of the game.
That commitment is unbreakable. Allen, you are married to this game. You can’t just walk away because you can’t make the adjustment. You have been married a number of years. Adjustments is what you do when you love someone and something.
Why can’t you mentor young players while still helping a team get to the playoffs or win a championship?
Why are you fighting against helping and teaching the very players who purchased your shoes and grew up wanting to be Allen Iverson?
Why are you walking away from a game that made Allen Iverson a cult figure so soon because you are expected to make a change?
We loved your game because you fought, scratched and clawed your way into becoming a first ballot Hall of Famer. So why go away without showing younger players that you can make a change and still help teams win?
Michael Jordan showed me a lot when he didn’t care about perception. He knew he would struggle playing with the Washington Wizards. He played because he loved the game and he felt that he had more to give. He is not even remembered for those few years with the Wizards and is still considered the greatest basketball player ever.
Allen, we are not dumb. We know your numbers and production will go down because you will have to make adjustments. What we would like to see you do is playing for a contender.
Allen, don’t you realize you could tip the scales for a number of potential championship teams this season by becoming their sixth man.
The Celtics, Magic, Cavaliers, Hawks, Suns, Lakers, Spurs could all use you in the right capacity.
Allen, here is my advice… Take a month off and go talk to a number of great players like Karl Malone, Barkley, John Stockton and Patrick Ewing and ask them what they would do to win a championship and what would they do in your shoes?
You have time to change your decision and this time look in the mirror and do what is right for Allen Iverson.
I say you will come back. You are The Answer and we will be waiting.
Robert Geczi Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 1:12 am
Great article, Eddie. I couldn’t agree more on the points you listed. I also share the same stubborness as A.I., and only when we “get it”, can we truly grow to new heights, and make an even greater name for ourselves. You have to “go with the flow” and right now, his flow is what you mentioned, being a super 6th man for a contender. Noone will look down on him for “settling” in this new role, if anything, they will applaud him for doing the right thing, and finally working within a team setup, which is what basketball is anyways, right?
Team. What do people say usually, there is no “I” in team.
Todd Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:23 am
Eddie,
Is there something more going on here? As I mentioned in a previous post of yours - was OJ or Conley better than him? Of course not, so why didn’t the powers that be recognize that? I know “we need to build for the future” (of a team going nowhere) and AI couldn’t possibly help or influence those guys - right???
We hear Larry Brown is and has been making phone calls on his behalf and the Knicks was all but a done deal - what’s really going on. Is this blacklisting? You know the game and the business side of it - is there any possibility the league has finally paid back AI’s influence on the generation? You know, since he made thugs fashionable he’s now unemployable…
jthrii Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:44 am
A I has a lot of game to give….he’s one of the best ever….everybody need to stop tripping….if i was a coach…i wish i had a few more with his heart and passion……..give it a break….this guy is no where near finished…….he can help a lot of teams……..jthrii
jthrii Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:48 am
eddie johnson…thank you for you heart felt words….allen needed to hear it from someone that really cares….God bless you brother…..allen…get back to work so i can go back to watching basketball…..jthrii
Stan Van Vundy Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:50 am
Well, as much as i agree with the toughness dedication and heart A.I has brought, what you do not realize E.J, is that Iverson is simply not big enough to come off the bench and play in the “right capacity”.
I loved A.I and I am a die-hard Pacer fan, he is the Eminem of baskerball, and played the game in which so few players do today, for love, from the heart. But the fact remains he needs to be “The Man” or no man at all, and that’s what he choose…
eddie Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:52 am
You guys don’t get it. this has nothing to do with blacklisting. This has to do with AI understanding that he will not be at the top of the food chain anymore. When Karl Malone and Gary Payton went to the Lakers what happened? they played a role. When Ray Allen went to Boston he did what? plays a role.
this is not personal. AI happens to be a guard that scores. Most teams want a point guard that runs the offense. if AI was 6′4 we would not be having this discussion, but it so happens he has to play point guard and teams are afraid of his dominating the ball. So thats why i say go prove it on a winning team. Play a huge role whatever it is and win a title.
kobeog24 Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:55 am
allen iverson is the best im a laker fan and i would have no problem if we can have answer help our bench and score 13 PPG thats fine with me we can even start him at point and bring big shot Dfish off the bench damm iverson is a stright basketball legend memphis is stupid juss look there whole organization is juss messed up AI come to L.A
Charles Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 3:01 am
Eddie that was one the best columns you’ve ever written my brother. You got to the core of the problem, which is AI letting others dictate his own future and worth. We all know he hangs around a crowd of leech’s, and It’s now his turn to make his own descision and realize what’s best for him and his legacy. There is still a lot of basketball left in him, and hopefully he comes to that realization. I’m sure I speak for everyone, we don’t wanna see AI go out like this. It’s sad to see a man that’s given so much to the game, not understand how to receive and reap the benifits of that same game he loves.
quan Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 3:15 am
Iverson, cum back mannn u aint dne, when I heard u retired and stuff I went and turned in my nba 2k10 cuz I been playin wit u snice nba 2k, u can’t leave dis game man, nba aint da nba with out the answer, it would just be nb lol, stop playin get yo mind right, and get sign to a contender and play ya role, if its a six man den get yo 25 to 30min play the game down the strech of the 4th quater, you will put up 20pts and 8assist with no problem, and the most important thing u will be winning and proving all these people who tryna dwn u wrng, stop playin iverson….2 me this is like my father bein upset when mj left the nba….u my mj and u aint dwn and out yet man…..letz get it 2gather AI, so I can get 2k10 back
nazt Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 4:27 am
@eddie
but those are not the type of teams trying to sign AI… Why couldn’t he have started over Mike Conley? Hurt or not, AI is miles above that guy. I don’t know what really happened Denver and now, but I believe Iverson is getting a raw deal here…
Daniel Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 7:26 am
AI please come back! You are one of my childhood heroes and I know that you have a lot left in the tank! Just swallow all your pride and put the word out there that you are willing to accept a sixth man role for a chance of winning a title. Believe me you will not regret it! Just like Eddie wrote, talk to Ewing, Stockton, Malone, Barkley, Reggie, and ask them what they would have done. I know that all of them would sell their sole to satan for that one last chance of winning ait all.
You can be the spark plug off the bench when they are trailing and need a scorer to give them a boost. You can come in for 4-6 minutes once every quarter or so and dominate the ball and do what you do best. I think a team like Atlanta or maybe Orlando needs someone like you to get them over the hump.
Reconsider everything you have said and listen to your heart. I’m beggin you please don’t retire!
Kostas Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 8:11 am
Yea Allen, don’t give up. Plenty of teams out there willing to have a locker room cancer and a ”me-first” - attitude player .
Bobbo Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 8:17 am
At the end of last season, as they do every year, the people at NBA TV compile Top 10 lists for a variety of moves–buzzer beaters, dunks, steals, assists, etc. Iverson had two of the top ten assists, both beauties. He ain’t done. He might have a hard time dealing with an athlete’s “first death” but he has a lot of talent. He will return.
Todd Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 8:25 am
I guess my bigger question is why does he have to accept being a role player? There are only 8 guys averaging 25+ and barely 15 @20+ ppg right now. There is no indication that he can’t still perform as an elite player outside of the seemingly covert fact that no one wants him to…It doesn’t appear he could accept a role player position on a “contender” even if he wanted to.
Tobi Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 8:57 am
Now here is the thing about the Allen Iverson situation: About everybody is like “No way should Iverson retire. He should continue playing in the NBA”. That includes like every player, owner, manager. Everybody goes like “He should play on a team”. But, honestly, everybody in their minds adds “He should play on some team, just not mine”. And that’s the bottom line. AI just will not find a team anymore. Bottom line
daTRUTH Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 10:04 am
good article. great player but a team killer. rather retire than come off bench? be careful what u wish for my brotha. stop listening to ur ‘entourage’ and get back to playin’ the game u luv. check ur ego at the door and maybe just maybe another team will be willing to give u another chance. u are not billups, nash, kidd, fisher. these 30+ leaders put team first. hence, they are given the keys to the car. memphis was only team willing to take a chance on u and u screwed it up. U would be starter by now! guess memphis was not good enuf for u or ur family. heard they didnt want to move to memphis either. stop acting like retirement was ur choice — after knicks nixed u what other choice did u have? what ‘contender’ would risk putting u on team with ur me first attitude? if i was a GM all I would have to do was take a look at Denver situation. Instead of leading an impressionable young star like melo in the ‘right way’ u led with ur me first attitude and that team with 2 all stars went no where. exchange u for billups and melo suddenly grows up, looses braids, works on his game, puts team first, nuggets elite team now. I hope u can humble urself and put a team before AI. But at 34 u are what u are — a great player without a team.
allen Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Yes iverson, come back to the nba. i really repsect your passion for the game but you are one of the most selfish players i’ve seen. come back and ruin other players/coaches and teams hopes because of your natural talent as a locker room cancer…
i do wish you the best of luck in your new life venture.
James Turman Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
@Eddie Johnson I Love this article, I Finally see someone with media influence standing up for the man. Personally I Believe he has been somewhat blacklisted, Nobody made a big deal with iverson coming off the bench until he said he will retire before he comes off the bench. The past two years he has happened to have bad hands dealt to him. All Denver needed was a distributor and they could’ve gone places, AI didn’t mess Denver Up. I saw 2 of his games he played on memphis and he still looks like an ai that can get you 20 and 8, I Believe its the fact he speaks what is in his heart whether its the right or wrong thing to say. People have been waiting for years to kick this man out the league. Its messed up because he has tatoos, braids, jewelry, and presents his self as a product of his environment he is just a selfish punk thug, thats what most conservative americans would say,
To My Big Brother Iverson
Keep your head up, You don’t need to retire because you still have game left in you right now. My high school career ended awhile back and my stomach is still filled with regrets and pain from not winning my school a title, There are millions who would kill to be in your shoes right now. You can still start in my eyes but there are a lot of politics involved. Next to MJ you have had the biggest influence on my generation of basketball. Who started making wearing sleeves and headbands cool? who started the braids? You were a trend setter and stayed very true to yourself. I Have always looked up to you since i first seen you play in the 01 finals. you have been my hero for the last ten years and you cant go out like that. This is like a good movie with a bad ending. I know when you seen Garnett crying after the finals you seen his pain and joy released. People said Garnett would never win a title and there he proved critics wrong. I want to see you on that stand one day crying for your ring. Gary Payton was in your position and got a title at almost 40. He put 20 years into it almost before he got his ring. That is something i really want to see is my all time favorite player win a title. Personnally i say you are top 5 to ever touch a basketball and would love to see you in june celebrating. Make the right decision big bro and prove everyone wrong
Fred Towes Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Todd,
The answer to your question & the proposition underpinning Eddie’s piece is that no NBA team is willing to allow Allen Iverson to be the player whose oncourt role is dominating the basketball on the dribble; shooting from any given range at his own indiscriminate discretion, while hurling his body into every tile on the court; & playing the game as per the tenets of “21-Hustle” rather than Naismith, to the ultimate detriment of his own physical condition, the development of its young assets & the incorporation of other skilled veteran players on offense.
The day when NBA clubs considered leaving their competitive fates in the shooting wrists & dribbling palms of “Answers” & “Franchises”, “Starburys” & “Stack” “Truths” a viable (that is, “cost efficient”) approach to professional play are done, too; as are the days when an NBA coach worth his mettle weds his own career prospects to such folly.
Philadelphia took this post-lockout approach to building competitive clubs to its maxim 1999-2003. The NBA incorporated legal zones in 2001, & over the next four or five years most clubs honed some version of the zone: as the Pistons reminded the pro basketball establishment circa ‘03/’04, committed spatial defense featuring long-armed, active defenders & mobile bigs are exceptionally difficult to defeat by one man bouncing & firing away.
By decade’s end, the only club/coach left willing to let a guard Hustle & Gun away games is Golden State/Nellie. & these Warriors already employ five younger players (at least) who play variants of Ivey ball: Maggette, Ellis, Curry, Randolph & Morrow. I’m not a fan of sporting cliches, but there is only one basketball in this game. For all the Warriors’ running & gunning, they could not provide Iverson with sufficient shots to satisfy the “Answer’s” Ego, nor the Answer’s Entourage.
As the deeper point that wise Eddie Johnson from the West Side of Chi-town is making is that Iverson’s clique & “extended family” are (& have been) afforded undue sway in determining the trajectory of the young man’s career, particularly as relates off-the-court decision-making. The implication is that the Entourage is a living impediment in Iverson’s career, one that Iverson himself is allowing to dictate the last days of his time in the game (much as a post-adolescent Bubba Chuck allowed them to dictate the first days), in his refusal/inability to let go of childish things.
Finally, Eddie’s response re: blacklisting was generous but unnecessary, as the story he shared at the outset of his original piece served as ample & enlightening explanation. The game is life in microcosm. (now, for some life cliches) You learn life’s rules, navigate its ebb & flow, make sense of its whimsy, get smart through trial & gain wisdom through error, attempt to chart your own path all the while recognizing that Fate is properly spelled with a capital “F” & we are neither its sole nor its primary author.
Review the player nicknames mentioned above — in life’s microcosm, when an athlete comes to grips with rules & flow & whimsy & smarts & wisdom & Fate, only then is he reconciling himself with life & with the game. When he attempts to fight game, ignore fate, & place self above life’s ruling order, then he will leave the game in most undesirable fashion, & perhaps (in a case like Iverson’s), damage the chronicle of his own life accomplishments. He is thereby blacklisting himself.
As fans of the game, we do not want to bear witness to such avoidable heresy regarding who Iverson the player was & what he did; as a fan of Ivey, I wish his career path its more fitting end.
Peace,
MT
Charles Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
I know this is off the subject…but I would also like to commend Shaq for recently paying for a little girl’s funeral. We do have a lot of great people in the NBA, and one thing that needs to be recognized, is that NBA players are human as well. Kudos to Shaq!
By the way EJ, my uncle played with you at Illinois your freshman year, then he transfered to W. State afterwards. He had only good things to say about you. Keep up the good work EJ…
Regards,
Charles
BUCK Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Most people play in the NBA for three reasons. Money,play against the best,an to win a title. A.I. has done two out of three. He made one dumb move by playing for Mem. I hope he talks to John Thompson and comes to one single fact. If you want to win a title you have to play with the Lakers or Boston, or posibles Cavs or Magic. He has to come off the bench and he will not be the star. If A.I. can’t do this, then he should retire and play in the parks and he can shoot as much as he wants and be the star. Thank u “BUCK
Elie Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
Great post Eddie, we need AI !
I’m so sad to see him retire like that, basketball is what he did almost all his life, and i would love to see the NBA giving him back respect and help while he is needing it right now.
He can still be the answer to a lot of things.
lew Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:21 pm
retirement? did AI have a choice here? no one wanted him over summer (save grizzlies) and no one wants him now! guess retirement is a nice way of saying ‘ur fired!’ says a lot when bad teams that he could really help dont give him a shot. maybe just take time off and then get the word out that he’s changed and willing to do ‘whatever’ the team that picks him up needs him to do. hope he got a big slice of humble pie over thanksgiving. sure this is not the way he wanted to go out but he WILL get a chance to rewrite this ending.
weapon_x Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
@Fred Towes
good comment Fred, i enjoyed reading it a lot! Quality!
Nice article from mr. Eddie Johnson too!
Josh Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:26 pm
Never thought Id say this but AI comming of the bench In the barbosa role would be an upgrade for the suns IMO. I know they have some great chemistry right now with thier bench squad and robert sarver surely wouldnt dare write a check out for a risk like him but man, come playoff basketball when we need someone to get to the line with our second unit in, AI would be our man.
Also mentally AI is leaps and bounds ahead of barbs in terms of decision making and just overall mental toughness.
Todd Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
@Eddie, Karl Malone and Gary Payton “accepted a role” and both started when they went to the Lakers (playing w/Shaq & Kobe). Ray Allen “accepted a role” (w/PP &KG) - but still starting…GP (Shaq/DWade) only accepted his “role” post Lakers when his skills had significantly diminished. This whole discussion comes about b/c the overwhelming sentiment was for AI to accept a role in Memphis - c’mon!
@Fred: Perhaps I’m just ignorant - I can’t think of any team in the league that he couldn’t start for - Really, what team has two guards better? OK Ok, I know it’s more than who is a better individual player vs. team guy. I know with his own actions/reactions he has compromised his chances. I’m not naive to the fact he has to change his game and mindset - it’s just so sad that it’s come to this.
enigma Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Todd,
so u tell me that if A.I goes to Boston u gone bench Ray Allen? Ur gonna tell me that if he goes to the Lakers u ll start him over Kobe? If he goes to the Magic u’ll start him over Vince? If he goes to the Spurs you gone bench Ginobili more in order for A.I. to play?no way…then u gone tell me that if u memphis u rather have him play 40 min. at the expense of Mayo or Conley knowing this team wont make the playoffs anytime soon?…this guy put himself into this situation…if this summer he would have tell everybody he would accept a lesser role (and meaning it) I think Boston, Orlando, Cavs (maybe), even the Lakers (maybe) might have try to get him…he would be playing know about 25 min. per on a winning team no prob…and look at Orland with Nelson, A.I. could get the same amount of min. Jay Williams is getting right now (which means about 35 min. per as a starter)…
A.I., the game’s been really good to u, u made a lot of money out of it, but u human like all of us which means u’r getting older…u go to memphis where young guys try to make a name for theirself but u want to steal the spotlite and make sure its all about u…i have a hard time respecting that
eddie Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Todd
would you rather start and play 20 minutes or come off the bench and play 25? starting is overrated. take it from someone who started the first 5 years of his career and came off the bench the rest. i got more shots and just as many minutes coming off the bench because the starters were watching from the bench.
Don Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
i agree with this article except for one sentence. i’m sure my childhood Idol is coming back… and btw, the sentence would be “You know, the ones who sat around all day waiting for you to come home while you were at PRACTICE working your rear off.”
we all know, AI doesn’t go full speed in practice. he said it himself. more than once.
B-Ball Knowledge Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
Just read Fred Towes comments, and I swear it was written by Zo Williams from the Foxxhole channel on sirius/xm! lol
(that’s a compliment homey…don’t trip)
Eddie you’re on point, but when you said he hasn’t been blacklisted, you’re wrong there. I think he’s been blacklisted. Not in a vindictive type of way, where he’s a pariah or has done something that can’t be forgiven, but blacklisted all the same.
AI’s always been seen as pound for pound the toughest player in the league (possibly pound for pound the best player in the league). He doesn’t take plays off (well when you’re playing 41-45 mins a night, you’re allowed to save a little on defence every now and then I guess). He plays like it’s life or death. All of that is just a fact……. BUT….. he’s also had instances where he’s come out of a controversy looking selfish and seeming to be a “me” guy.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and hangin with AI (and his crew that you speak of Eddie), and he’s a nice dude, but he’s also not oblivious to his spot in the pecking order of the NBA, both on and off the court!
So to ask him to back-off and allow a Mike Conley to finish a game…. or to ask him to give up crunch time minutes to a Rodney Stuckey is A LOT to ask! He’s not gonna go for that….AS WELL HE SHOULDN’T!
Currently Jamal Tinsley and Marcus Williams have been closing out games in Memphis. Was this the plan all along? Bring in AI to sell some seasons tickets, then find a way to get a “true future star” like Jamal Tinsley, and we’ll let him close games?
I think many people are missing the point. Most starters also finish! There are not that many guys out there that start, and then see minimal minutes late in the 4th. And if they do, they’re usually role players who fit well with 4 other guys in the starting unit, but in another circumstance they would never start for another team (Carlos Delfino, Mike Finley, Martell Webster….)
So when AI says he wants to start, you could just as easily assume he figures that means he’d be on the court when the buzzer sounds as well…….why would anyone want a first ballot hall-of-famer with the skills to still go for 30 and 7, want him to feel differently???
As you said Eddie, you were a starter at one point and then a sixth man extraodinaire for the remainder of your career. But you knew your play would get you minutes late in the game. You knew you were going to get some respect from the bench boss, and if you were not finishing a game it was because someone better than you was.
Well if Hollins thinks Tinsley is better suited to finish a game than AI, well then we all need to step back and not blame Ai for how things went in Memphis.
I agree, starting isn’t the true portion of the game for a gamer…..but asking AI to sit at the start and then watch the end of a game when he’s still better than the majority of the league isn’t right! HE’S NOT SOME SCRUB! He’s AI. We all know he can still do it when given the chance (I’d say a 58 FG% is Answer enough).
Now there isn’t a plan set out by the league to not sign AI, but the prevailing thought is “if he’s not starting, we can’t bring him in and mess up our chemistry”. So AI has indeed been “blacklisted” by the associations 29 or 30 decision makers, as they can’t figure out a way to integrate him into their fold. When you consider his potential productivity level, how could we not see that as being a type of blacklisting?
AI has made his bed….and he hasn’t helped his case with some of the stuff he’s said, but I too was not so happy seeing a rookie head coach (Michael Curry) decide whether AI or Rip would be in there with the game on the line….but somehow Rodney Stuckey (who is a shoot first PG) seemed to be anointed a notch above both of those guys.
It’s not something we would see happen to Gary Payton at this stage (still a starter in year 13 and 14). it’s not something we saw happen to Karl Malone at this stage (still a starter, with starters minutes). it’s not something that happened to Barkley…….. so why do we want AI to “accept” a role as a back-up? Why do we want him to scale back, when in fact he can still do the damn thing?
And just for the record……did I read someone mention Vince Carter, and question whether AI could take his place on that Magic squad??? So you’ve got the pound-for-pound toughest cat in the association, and you wanna bring up one of the softest guys to come along in any sport??? ….please
Courtney Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 5:36 pm
Eddie … When he played for the Nuggets you never wrote anything like he should come off the bench or he was not making the team better….all this bad talk about AI came when he went to the Pistons…well we see how that went…coach was fired and the players hated him…Back to AI his last year in Denver they won 50 games and lost to the lakers…last year the nuggets won 54 games and lost Lakers…cmon he still plays like he is in his prime…GP was washed up when he came to Lakers an won with Heat….sir Charles should have come off thebench for the rockets. Because he was to fat to slow…AI IZSUE WAS NOT THAT HE DIDNT START …IT WAS AT THE END OF GAMES HE WAS ON THR BENCH…CHECK THE GAMES PISTON & MEMPHIS HAD HIM ON THE BENCH WHEN THE GAME WASNON THE LINE…COME MAN AI ON THE BENCH IN THE 4th & OVERTIME PLEASE UN HEARD OF…this has nothin to do with people hangs around it has to do with coaches (ex players) trying to show it’s there team and they will not let one person out shine the rest…AI to the Heat Dwade could use him
Fred Towes Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Todd,
I completely agree with the awful — yet predictable — sadness of this, my friend. The legendary athletic end this most resembles in my mind is that of Mike Tyson in the boxing ring. From the 1990 Buster Douglas through Holyfield’s cannibalized ear, everything in Tyson’s macabre ring career was a tragic given. Same can be said of Ivey from the 2003 Eastern Conference second round playoff series versus Detroit, when he was confounded to a very nearly teary-eyed elimination & Larry Brown (yes, the very same) begged Bubba Chuck to shoot over & through Tayshaun Prince’s seven-foot-plus wing span. Everything that has happened with Ivey since has been sad and unfortunate and painful in that it had to happen; as no one, much less Iverson himself, forced the young man to deal with life in the game on its own terms.
But as to teams on which Iverson should start at the two, our positions are opposite. On name & talent, he likely could & should start at his natural shooting guard position for every NBA squad aside the Lakers, Blazers, Heat, Celtics, & Hawks. Each of those five lineups currently features a player superior to Iverson at the two guard.
The other 25 clubs? The very fact that the Houston Rockets — a hustling bunch that could surely use a twenty-point scorer on the cheap while McGrady heals & Yao is out, and could feature a perimeter duo of two of 00 basketball’s five premier wing scorers once Mac returns — has not even blinked an aye at Iverson, should tell us everything that we need to know about the Answer, the stances he he has taken relative to the game, & the game’s response to him.
Time ain’t on this Answer’s side, my friend.
Peace,
MT
Fred Towes Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
& Orlando . . . yes, “enigma” is correct, Vince Carter is superior to Iverson. So is Ginobli holistically speaking — but I did not include San Antonio, because were I Pop, I could bring Manu off of the bench behind Ivey, move Hill to the reserve one, deactivate Mason, & gain a few steps. If Iverson had accepted the game & Fate, this would have/could have been an ideal way for him to ride into the victor’s West Texas sunset.
So sad.
Peace,
MT
James Turman Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
Nobody made a big deal about iverson coming off the bench until he said i wont do it, had he not been traded he’d be on denver starting right now. saying iverson cant start is saying he is not a top 60 player in the league. (pg,sg) and that is a lie, why are you trying to develop players if you are trying to make a playoff push NOW? why are you building for the future if playoff contention is the goal? I’d be mad as iverson if i watched conley shoot 39% from the field and im coming off the bench out performing him
knowitall Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
It’s funny to me people saying allen has lost a step, but steve”overated” nash is supposedly in prime condition. An allen iverson that has lost a step is still quicker and faster than steve nash. Allen should not being coming off the bench anywhere! Yes his attitude and mind frame are terrible at time but that tunnel vision and stubburnness is what helped make him the great player he is today. Imagine Iverson on the cavs…the cavs need reliable scoring and that is a.i’s specialty. they would be amazing, I cannot fathom the ignorance of these’s owners and gm’s.
TwittLink - Your headlines on Twitter Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 1:25 am
[...] Tweets about this great post on TwittLink.com [...]
enigma Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 3:16 am
at james…a.i. was pissed after playing 3 games!!!and i remind u that he didnt even play the preseason and was on a new team!!!a lot of good players wouldnt have start right away! hell a.i might have been a starter by now…
philip Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 3:29 am
AI is the man!!!!! He’s the best athlete to ever compete in the NBA, this guy can do everything. This guy is a former highschool football player. Go to Boston or LA or wherever, Get yourself a ring You desrve it!!!!!!!!!!!
Allen I-verson Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 3:40 am
I shoot. I score. I win game for my team. I am old. I am no wanted no more. I take my ball and go home now.
Thank you for buying MY shoes. I am I-verson.
Goodbye.
- Allen I-verson
Michal Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 3:53 am
Great article Eddie, although I’m not an AI fan I got goose bumps jump all over my body reading this one
I think this whole thing is in Allen’s hands and he can ultimately decide whether it’s more important to him to be starting and playing 35mpg or to win the title while coming off the bench as a sixth man and playing 20mpg, giving his team much needed instant offense with the second unit and being allowed to take the shots he was used to and control the game the way he was used to.
AI still has a lot left, but I definitely don’t think he can bring it for 30 minutes a night. Instead, he could be a valuable energy player off the bench for a contender and could get the chance to win a NBA title.
The only thing he has to do is to claim he’s fine with coming off the bench and playing lesser role.
Allen Iverson’s love for the game and the desire to win a championship — OR — Allen Iverson’s ego
What will prevail?? I, as a fan of basketball, hope the first one.
Bob W Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 4:58 am
Tragic? No. Save that description for people who have terminal illnesses, who have no food to bring home to their kids, who live and die in Sudan, North Korea, Iraq, etc.
What we have here is a talented jerk, coming off making around $125-150 Mil in his career, deciding that he still wants all the attention, all the time. you guys keep on talking about him being “better” than most guards in the league, still. “Better” how? In his impact? NO WAY.
Has anyone noticed that Philly got better AFTER they traded him, despite all the gloomy predictions prior to Iverson’s departure? Could their young players have ever developed with him being around? No way.
What happened to Denver once he was replaced by a real team player? Had its BEST NBA season ever.
What happened to Detroit? Had its BIGGEST drop in wins in who knows how long + coach got fired.
Has anyone noticed that Memphis has been playing MUCH BETTER without this idiot?
Larry Brown “making calls on his behalf.” Can anything be more insulting? The media keeps on printing this garbage without asking Mr. Brown the most obvious Q: If you love him so much, y not sign him?
This ego maniac will continue to get coaches fired, destabilize teams, talk about being a “winner” while immediately complaining about HIS stats, HIS minutes, his coach. Why would any coach want to lose his job for this clueless moron?
Individual ability has little to do with it. It’s about working with others, respecting the game that has been so incredibly good to you, not making yourself the show all the time, actually CARING about winning, etc.
He was a great 1-on-1 player, and, without a doubt, the toughest player ever for his size. But he also monopolized the ball, took more bad shots than anyone (other than Antoine Walker, of course), and has always been an asshole. I don’t think you’d want his buddies in your house. This is the guy who said that he wants to make a winner out of Memphis and lead it to the playoffs… by complaining publicly that his butt hurt from sitting on the bench, after his FIRST GAME BACK, following being out for 3-4 weeks with an injury!
I didn’t hear Devin Harris complaining publicly about coming off the bench, after an injury, and he’s one of 2 franchise players in NJ.
Iverson clearly is screaming for attention, with this pathetic “retirement” announcement. He couldn’t even do it himself. Is there even a doubt that he jumps on the next job he can get, just like he did with Memphis? Someone should give him a dictionary, so he actually knows what the word means.
No one forced him to “leave” the game. He simply cannot admit that being an asshole for so long has finally caught up with him. Poor little AI. Life can be so unfair.
Timmy D Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 5:27 am
He is an ego maniac. He cant deal with the fact that him playing 40 minutes for a team doesnt really help anymore. He is the worst team player maybe ever
Giorgos Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Unfortunately times have changed and “one man show” players from the NBA can’t stand in the European League.I’d love to see him in olympiakos jersey though!
From a fan of yours from Greece!:-)
Fred Towes Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
B-Ball Knowledge,
Good word & truth spoken throughout. Yet in comparing Ivey to Carter — or, Ivey to McGrady, for that matter — the flaws in their basketball character find balance, in my mind. Five years ago, I would have taken Iverson over both of them without blink, stutter or stumble. Today, Carter is the most effective of those three on the court, given his physical abilities.
It is both an unfortunate & an ironic game reality that Carter’s well-preserved physical state at 32-33 years-old is a function of his soft, contact-averse, arch-dwelling game much as it is of his Given ability.
Peace,
MT
eddie Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
knowitall Said,
November 27, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
It’s funny to me people saying allen has lost a step, but steve”overated” nash is supposedly in prime condition. An allen iverson that has lost a step is still quicker and faster than steve nash. Allen should not being coming off the bench anywhere! Yes his attitude and mind frame are terrible at time but that tunnel vision and stubburnness is what helped make him the great player he is today. Imagine Iverson on the cavs…the cavs need reliable scoring and that is a.i’s specialty. they would be amazing, I cannot fathom the ignorance of these’s owners and gm’s
————— So what you are saying is that Allen Iverson can do what Nash does correct? If your answer is yes, then we know your feelings are in your comments and not your knowledge.
Iverson is a scorer and teams are afraid of point guards who want to shoot before passing. that statement applies to every level of basketball.
Todd Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
@enigma: I attempted to clarify my statement with the individual vs. team comment but to clarify, I certainly agree with the fact that yes there are indeed teams out there…
@Fred - Thanks for your words throughout this post - they are on point and I have no issue with them.
@Eddie - I truly value your experience in this regard and defer to your wisdom. With all of your success - Sixth Man KING; I bet you weren’t the happiest man in the locker room when they said you will not be starting and now you have to “accept your role”.
This situation is rare - when has a player of his caliber been subjected to this storyline without going through a potentially career ending injury? I’m really that big a fan of his anyway but something about the whole thing just don’t smell right - that’s all I’m sayin’.
batmana Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
The thing is, as some posters have said it, AI couldn’t accept coming off the bench for a poor team like Memphis (and playing only 10 mins.) behind a player like Conley who couldn’t buy a shot and who would struggle to get 20 PPG even in the WNBA. Yes, I would play AI 40+ mins in Memphis and let Conley rot on the bench, AI and Mayo and Gay is an offense that could get 100+ points EVERY night. If you saw any of his 3 games for Memphis, the amazing thing is AI came in, found his shot immediately, scored 10 points in 10 mins., then he was taken out and never returned. I think every player in his position would protest. Lionel Hollins sucks as a coach and Mike Conley is one of the worst starters in the NBA.
Todd Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
This situation is rare - when has a player of his caliber been subjected to this storyline without going through a potentially career ending injury? I’m really NOT that big a fan of his anyway but something about the whole thing just don’t smell right - that’s all I’m sayin’.
J Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
As long as AI either gets double teamed or sells tickets there will always be a team to take interest in him.
Courtney Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
AI ISSUE WAS NOT THAT HE DIDNT START …IT WAS AT THE END OF GAMES HE WAS ON THR BENCH…CHECK THE GAMES PISTON & MEMPHIS HAD HIM ON THE BENCH WHEN THE GAME WASNON THE LINE…COME MAN AI ON THE BENCH IN THE 4th & OVERTIME PLEASE UN HEARD OF
eddie Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
Todd asked
@Eddie - I truly value your experience in this regard and defer to your wisdom. With all of your success - Sixth Man KING; I bet you weren’t the happiest man in the locker room when they said you will not be starting and now you have to “accept your role”.
—- I was extremely mad, but i calmed down when i realized that i would still play good minutes and that i would play in the fourth quarter if deserved. I feel Allen would wear those same shoes.
eddie Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
Courtney Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
AI ISSUE WAS NOT THAT HE DIDNT START …IT WAS AT THE END OF GAMES HE WAS ON THR BENCH…CHECK THE GAMES PISTON & MEMPHIS HAD HIM ON THE BENCH WHEN THE GAME WASNON THE LINE…COME MAN AI ON THE BENCH IN THE 4th & OVERTIME PLEASE UN HEARD OF
——-that would have changed if he had given it time. he missed the whole training camp and the locker room would have fractured if Hollins had given him a starters roll and big minutes right away.
luke Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Good article. The game has changed. Superstars like Iverson now have to play with at least two or three other superstars or upcoming superstars and share the ball. I go crazy when I hear people speak of Ginobili as good as Iverson if he had the chance. Iverson actually is way too good and always has been too good to come off the bench. I do think he has to learn how to play other roles in basketball. He is limited to his roles though. Let’s face it. He can’t play forward or Center. He can commit to making players around him better. It would hurt to see him come off the bench, though. We’re not talking about a guy who is washed up. I did like the comparison of Iverson to Karl Malone. I think that is more justified than Ginobili (even though Ginobili does have rings).
Federico Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
I loved AI when he was in Philly: he was a true warrior, he gave his heart in every single game, every single minute…then, after that coach Brown went away, something was broken: clearly he didn’t do that type of adjustements needed if you want to compete: Allen is a great scorer, but his team needed him to help his teammates to get better (that’s what true champions do in sport). Instead he failed in that, and suspects became to grow near to him. When in Denver he had good numbers, but with him that team (the same team who went to the Conference Finals last year) didn’t go far…Pistons experience was even worse. Now, I think that Memphis did the right thing to get rid of him: they cannot win this year, but have to develop their young players. I’m sorry to say that, but Iverson is not ready to mentor other young guys. I would love to see him play, but he has to understand that he has to adjuste something: if he LOVES this game, this is the time to GIVE something. To the league, to the youngsters who still love him, to the other young players who grew up watching him…to himself. The talent is still there: a good season with less shoots and more assists, more defense, more leadership (helping the teammates to get better) would be a prove to lot of contenders that would love to have him, if he’s ready to play more for the team and less for himself. I think he would love to win a championship, but maybe his pride makes him think he has to do that playing a main role. But THAT is the point: Kobe won again when finally learned to make teammates better and, above all, to let sometimes lead the way to some other guy. That’s exactly what he has to do, that’s the only way for him to try to get the ring that he deserves…
Federico Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
To Luke
Maybe you’re right about the talent: Ginobili has not the type of talent that maked (still makes) Iverson special as a scorer. But this isn’t a one-against-one game. Pure talent is not enough. Not to mention that Ginobili is taller and a better defender (not a great one, but way better than AI), he also his a better fit in a team. Prove is that nobody wants to have AI as a free-agent, and instead next year Ginobili, if he wants, can go wherever he wants. Ginobili knows when to step up and when to let the teammates lead the show. Above all, Ginobili makes his team BETTER. He’s a WINNER, and by saying that, I mean that he’s ready to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to make his team win. I’m sorry to say that, but AI is ready to play injured, but not to step aside and let somebody else to lead the way. I know that Ginobili played with Duncan and AI didn’t, but it’s also true that AI had the chance to play with great players, and just it didn’t work. If Billups could do with both Detroit and Denver something that AI wasn’t able to do, then there IS something wrong with him after all…tell me whatever you want, but if I have to pick one for a TEAM, I take Manu, not AI…
Federico Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
Sorry if sometimes I’m wrong writing (for example I wrote makes instead of made)
I’m Italian
Federico Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
maked, makes was right…
knowitall Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Eddie, i was not at all saying iverson is the same type of player as nash…not at all. But athletically iverson is the superior, you have to agree with me there. They are saying that iverson cannot be the focus of a team’s attack anymore…but nash can run at 36? my point is that steve nash would be in the same position if he had iverson’s attitude. I just want the gm’s to be honest and say they don’t like iverson as a person and leave it at that. Because nash is older than a.i and less athletic but has the keys to suns. That is all i am saying…nash is amazing….BUT SO IS ALLEN IVERSON.
Karewa Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 10:58 am
hope a.i will read this…
but why couldnt he see this in the 1st place himself ?
was he so blinded by the ppl around him ?
or the fact that is really takes two hands to clap ?
i tot he would revive his career like michael owen did with man utd…
he will definitely be da coolest sixth man ever..!
come on a.i…
nothing embarassing bout being the elites of sixth man….
u r so marketable !!! dun let it go !!
Crushah Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 11:00 am
Where AI goes from here is entirely up to AI. While I have always been a fan of his abilities and he is a guaranteed Hall-of-Famer, he carries with him a tragic flaw that (imo) will always hold him back. That is to say that while there is no “I” in team, there is a massive one in “AI”. I’m not saying that he doesn’t have the ability to put a team over the top. What I’m saying is that if the ball isn’t in his hand 24/7 he becomes upset, takes the ball and goes home (ie. Memphis).
Basketball is a team game and ultimately you have to be willing to cater to team goals over personal goals if you want to be an asset to your organization. I get the fact that Iverson believes that any given team has a better chance of winning with the ball in his hands. I respect that, but still believe that at the end of the day you have the responsibility to do what the organization you are involved with asks of you. That’s what having a job is all about. The biggest question mark about the Answer has always been is he willing to do this? While I believe he will leave it all on the floor for you, I don’t believe he will necessarily do what you ask of him. If that is the case then you have to ask whether or not the skills he brings to the table are worth the price if it he stifles the ability of his team mates to contribute. That is why I get it when teams are reluctant to sacrifice their young players’ development in favour of having a veteran with more immediate value on the court at all times.
A contributing factor has always been Iverson’s size and his style of play. He is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body. Teams have tried him at point, but he has a shoot-first mentality that doesn’t suit the position. Teams have tried him at off-guard but he isn’t big enough to be able to guard that spot effectively over the long haul. Thus his physical size has made utilizing him effectively while building a championship calibre team very challenging.
I would love to see him turn a corner in his mind and become a 3rd guard in the tradition of Vinnie Johnson. I would eat my words gladly were he to put aside the individual in favour of the greater team good. I mean, imagine if he were to do that in L.A.? That team is already so deep, were a team-oriented AI to blend in there it could be truly awesome. He “could” be invaluable to so many teams “if” he could just let his need to dominate go.
I thought his late pick-up would have been an eye-opener for him. I thought he would go to Memphis, be a model citizen and try to earn his way onto a contender next year or by the trade deadline by showing what a good team mate he could be. I thought maybe something had changed with Allen Iverson. I thought wrong. At least that is what his walking out on Memphis meant to me. Please prove me wrong, Allen. Show me that you can be a leader and team-player without having to score 30 points a game, then you become great.
Steve Watkins Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
It interesting that Eddie said the first time he realized it was time to leave was when he couldn’t stop and jump. That ability has been a big part of AI’s game over the years and I am sure it is still there but not while playing 40 minutes a game. AI is already a good passer and playmaker and I would love to see him start doing a lot more of that. It is really a shame if that potential went to waste.
MARLON MANGUIAT Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
ai being traded to detroit was really really bad for his career!!! detroit really dont want iverson they only want is his expiring contract… They dont respect him.. will bynum has more minutes than a.i that season!!! bynum over ai come on man!!! michael curry and joe dumars are the real reason why a.i’s career was destroyed!!! i watched his 1st game in memphis and i was really sad for a.i… the game went to OT but iverson was on the bench!!! are you serious!!! even the most part pf the 4th qtr he’s on the bench!!!that aint right!!!!!
Chad Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
Lol @ knowitall.
Very wrong. It is true that A.I. was a better player than Nash for is career but cannot run a team like Nash. The skills A.I. used to be great have diminished. With age, Iverson has lost the speed and athleticism that made him a must start. Nash is the same player he was since he came in to the league, just smarter. As long as he can run he can do what he does now. He is a skilled player. He shoots 50% from the field. And 90% from the FT. Thats all skill. Iverson is career 42%. Thats not going to cut it. Even if nash had the attitude it wouldnt matter. Skill always wins, which is why Duncan can still play and shaq cant ….skill. Once the athletic ability goes you have to rely on skill and fundamentals.
Chad Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
The only way I see A.I. being effective is if he takes a sort of Jamal Crawford role, and he would still get min, like Eddie said
knowitall Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
lol @ chad
so you are saying allen iverson has no skill???? and what NBA team do u play for again???
you guys need to get over your man crush(steve nash). He can only play in an unstructured system, so that tells all really. when he was in a traditional system he was steve kerr with ball handling skills. He maximizes his talents which i admire. But he is not Chris paul nor deron Williams whom which both can play in any system and maintain their success. But back to Iverson, if philly picks him up you guys will see. When he comes back puttin up 25ppg, everyone is going to jump back on his bandwagon. Joe dumars was the man but he has lost his touch, the past two seasons nothing he has done has made any sense so that Detroit experiment which everyone is judging allen over was a wash from the beginning. people seem to forget he was just in denver averaging 26. Iverson was alot quicker and faster than everyone , so if he did lose a step he is still quicker and faster than most. I am disappointed in you guys…i can tell by your comments alot of you never played basketball and if you did you were not very successful at it.
Steve Watkins Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 7:38 pm
Chad
You are right that Iverson is still quicker than practically everyone. There is no way however that he should be scoring 25 ppg and any team that allows him to do that is going to underachieve, just like Denver did. AI should have been thinking about adjusting his game a long time ago. Anyone who is a threat to score from anywhere on the court and is quick as lightning has tremendous potential as a point guard. Being a threat to score is more valuable to a team than actually scoring. AI could be better than Nash if he would just recognize that.
Steve Watkins Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
My last comment was to Knowitall, not Chad -sorry
knowitall Said,
November 29, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
Steve Watkins, PLEASE understand i do not condone iverson’s attitude or selfish outlook. I was just tired of everyone acting like it was actually basketball related reasons he was not playing when that is not the case. He refuses to conform (which is how he has been basically his entire career) that is why these gm’s do not want him. I wish A.I would play the game and say what they want to hear so he can start playing in the league again. Hell, RON ARTEST is playing for the lakers and he has serious mental issues but he says what the suits want to hear. Allen has never messed up a team like artest or a Stephen Jackson is capable of. Allen is in the wrong i agree but if these teams REALLY want to win. He would be playing. allen is not a horrible person just stubborn and has alot of pride. Is that really so bad? I mean he believes something and he is standing up for it…he believes in his heart he should be starting and on 90 percent of teams he should be. I mean the man was coming off the bench for the GRIZZLES guys!!! The average fan couldn’t name a player on their team,lol. Let me put it like this, think of the people at work who are in charge, who you know in your heart you could outperform…now you may say it to yourself or to friends but should you lose your opportunity to work because you believe that?
Steve Watkins Said,
November 30, 2009 @ 11:32 am
knowitall
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, I don’t know but I do know he needs to think about cutting back on his minutes. You can’t move quickly, then stop and jump with tired legs because you will be off balance just a little bit, and that is enough to throw off his shot. I think it gets worse as the season wears on also. I remember when Calvin Murphy was getting to the end of his career with Houston and he started coming off the bench. He was the best I have ever seen at stopping and popping and he was a key player on a Houston team that went to the NBA championship. He had to have fresh legs to make that contribution.
Chad Said,
November 30, 2009 @ 11:57 am
Im not sayin A.I. isnt skilled. Im just saying nash can play at this high level for years. The way A.I. plays he cant. He is a shoot first player. Nash can just pass and when people play off he can hit shots at a great rate. I actually dont even like Nash, but in this situation, I would take him over Iverson. Iverson dominates the ball, he is 5′11 and shoots a bad fg%. If he averaged 25, how many shots would it take? Probably 25 shots a game.
You are right about Nash, he is not an MVP by no imagination and he plays in a system, but he could fit on every team. If A.I. could take the Crawford role, he would command a whole second unit, he could be awesome, even on the Lakers and still get 25 min a game
And with your ron artest comparision, Artest is 6′7 250. He is an imposing player who can defend and hit shots. Iverson can’t defend and has to take all of the shots. And doesn’t hit threes well.
And yes a college basketball player…I am
frank b Said,
November 30, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Eddie,
Good article.
AI is a polarizing figure, you either really dig the guy or you think he is a jerk.
Eddie, you are asking Allen to become a different player than he has been his whole career. I don’t think he is going to wake up and want a championship so badly that he is going to accept a lesser role. I have never ever heard him say that he really wants a championship.
It seems that teams are not interested in a mid thirties 6 foot tall not as good as he once was volume shooter who has to play off guard and has to have the ball in his hands to be effective.
I don’t think there is a blacklisting of AI. I think just like Stephen Marbury, AI brings more negatives to the team than positives. Look at all the young guards that have entered the league in the last two years. Teams are not desperate for short guards who can score.
Eddie, you were a little wiser than AI, and that is why you lasted as long as you did.
knowitall Said,
November 30, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
To chad and steve watkins
I obviously know iverson would be great asset off the bench, if i feel he would be one starting. I know it could work, but i don’t think he should have to come of the bench but its not the end of the world if he does. Because he would end up starting anyway unless he signs to lakers or Miami. Another thing i want to address Iverson is no maubury! his old teammates love him as do the rest of his peers. It’s crazy to me that people don’t see that, they act as if he is this horrible teammate. oh yeah, chad iverson may not be a great on ball defender but he disrupts on defense hence him being a steals leader for many years.
Chad i wish u well in the rest of basketball career, because as an analyst you would starve.lol.
jthrii Said,
December 1, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
eddie j…you are a phoney…you said the knicks did the right thing in not signing AI…but then you say he shouldn’t retire….you’re full of it””underneath all the sh….you talk you’re a hater…i saw you play your whole career and i will admitt you were pretty good with a great jump shot…but you were no where near as good as iverson and you know it….stop acting like you are in his corner when you are not….jthrii
space Said,
December 3, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
i am not even sweating this.
as i write this iverson already signed a 1-year deal with the sixers. both a good and bad move on his part. he needed to be somewhere but he kind of squashed his opportunity to go to a contender.
iverson has a bunch of years left. if he completely changed his game and became a slash and pass point guard, more on the nashish side and found himself a dominant go-to-player then he could rewrite an even better trip to the hall of fame as a 13pts 13assists 3 steals playoff point guard. without a doubt boston, LA, would have gone to sign him going into the post season. barring the expected late season injuries, many other teams would scramble to get him.
he had/has many options. iverson realistically could have another 5-6 years in the league if he really chose. maybe he’s found his perfect fit right now. he can act as a setup man and a bailout for iguadola. he has the horse he never had in brand [if he is still that player]. he has a center who can defend and is good for running the floor and getting a few assist-dunks. he has young big bodies on the bench. young, speights and jason too. and more importantly, philly is his town. this actually could be a deep playoff contender with iverson on board now.
they need him to run the lead point.
satch Said,
December 5, 2009 @ 2:59 am
ai can,t hold nash,s jock.can,t shoot ,can,t pass get real.even in ai,s so called prime he never got anybody a ton of easy layups,how many easy shots nash teamates get?a modern day world b free except world could shoot but same selfish tude
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 10:07 am
To Frederico or any Knick fans who commented on Eddie’s previous article.
I saw Danilo Gallinari’a monster game against the Suns and was extremely impressed with his game.
Of course he did a lot of damage against a soft and old frontline, 37 year-old Grant Hill or soft as marshmallows Channing Frye, but a fantastic game none the less.
All-NBA Amare Stoudemire was still on the court and I think he was a bit embarrassed by not being the best big on the court. He followed up that thrashing by the Knicks wit a 12 rebound game the next night and 21 against the Kings young athletes.
If Gallinari can consistently have games like that one, he will prove the detractors wrong. I hope he stays healthy, he looked awesome!
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 8:30 pm
Space you sure are delusional.
No team , let alone a contending team had any interest in signing Iverson.
There are only two reasons Philly offered him a non-guaranteed, pro-tated veterans minimum contract.
1) Lou Williams broke his jaw.
2) Philly ranks 29th in attendance. 29th out of 30 teams. For the 76ers, that is beyond pathetic.
They are only a few hundred fans per game ahead of last place Memphis. The 0-17 and now 1-19 New Jersey Nets have a higher attendance.
Ed Stefanski signed him to sell tickets, period. If there is any whiff of problems and the 76ers aren’t selling a substantial number of additional tickets or winning games when Lou Williams comes back, then Iverson will be sent packing.
What happens when starting PG Lou Williams comes back? He has already said that he hasn’t done anything to merit going to the bench. What about the development of the future PG Jrue Holiday? Iverson isn’t exactly Steve Nash when it comes to being a professional, going to practice and mentoring your future replacement, such as Nash does with Goran Dragic.
“Without a doubt, Boston or L.A. would have gone to sign him going into the post season”.
Without a doubt? What are you smoking? There wasn’t any doubt nobody was interested.
The Celtics had internal discussions about signing Iverson but they declined.
“We have had internal discussions about (Iverson),” team president Danny Ainge said, “but a decision like this has to be unanimous, and it wasn’t.”
The Lakers run the infamous Triangle offense which takes up to a year to learn. So Phil Jackson is going to add a selfish, ball-dominating shooter like Iverson prior to the post-season? ROLMFAO!
They get the least number of points from their PG spot because of necessity.
1st option: Kobe gets 22 shots.
2nd option: Gasol is getting 12 but is working is way back from injury.
3rd option Bynum is getting 13.
4th option Artest is getting 10.
5th option Odom is getting 8.
6th option Fisher is getting 7.
Iverson refuses to come off the bench, so you are going to bump the ultimate team player and Mr. Clutch (no disrespect to Mr. West), Derek Fisher to the bench? The guy who started helped the Lakers win three titles? Yeah, right.
Iverson has/had many options? Oh, really? He had so many that he retired even though he still wanted to play.
You can’t play if no team wants you.
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
KnowItAll, I see you are just as delusional as Space.
“I mean he believes something and he is standing up for it…he believes in his heart he should be starting and on 90 percent of teams he should be.”
That is 27 teams out of the current 30.
You know literally nothing about basketball if you believe that.
I won’t waste my time by listing the 27 PGs who would never be replaced by Iverson. It would be so much easier to try and name even one team that would be better off starting Iverson over their current starting PG.
How about Mike Conley @ Memphis? Hollins refused to do so because he had O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay starting. Iverson is too selfish, I don’t question Hollins on why he wouldn’t start Iverson.
How about with his old buddy Larry Brown @ Charlotte? Raymond Felton is an adequate PG but Brown had ZERO interest in Iverson.
New York with Chris Duhon? I actually thought this was a good fit but D’Antoni wants a pass-first PG. That is why he traded Marbury from the Suns to the Knicks in the 1st place.
That is it. You are out of your basketball mind.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 8, 2009 @ 10:01 am
Mihajlo,
Gallinari is looking really good lately. You know when he gets an open shot he is going to make it and he has great range. I have to take my hat off to D’Antoni because he has manged to motivate this team the past few games, which is something no coach in the last 10 years or so has been able to do, including Larry Brown and Lenny Wilkins. I think the benching of Nate Robinson sent a message ‘You guys need to stop screwing around and get serious”. It is amazing how the Knicks defense has tightened up since then. I saw the game where Robinson scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and although it was a spectacular show, the team as a whole was lethargic. Orlando was able to get anything they wanted in the paint every time Robinso scored. I think Jeffries has been a big part of this turnaround.
patra7 Said,
December 9, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
EDDIE I AM AN OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS FAN I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PLAYING FOR MY TEAM I AM REALLY PROUD…
OLYMPIAKOS GATE 7 WE LL NEVER FORGET YOU MAN
Jrock Said,
December 10, 2009 @ 1:12 am
The thing that drives me crazy about AI is that he never developed his point guard game. He has the skills to be a great point guard but he just isn’t wired for that. He would be so much more dangerous if he passed the ball. He could easily play for much longer if he just changed his approach to the game.
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
December 10, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Yeah Steve, I’ve been impressed with the Knicks recent little run and improvement.
I’ve never been a big D’Antoni fan because I believe he is too rigid and doesn’t seem to have the ability to adapt his vaunted SSOL system to the players he has to work with.
Secondly he has been too much of a players coach, was too afraid to confront star players. I still don’t think he would bench a Nash, Stoudemire, James, Wade, or Bosh but he has benched Harrington and Robinson.
I’m also not a Marbury fan, I have disliked him since he forced his way out of Minnesota because the Wolves gave Garnett that huge contract. I hated that Colangelo traded Jason Kidd for him, one of the worst trades in Suns history. But I don’t think D’Antoni should have banned him like he did. The Knicks were going to suck for two seasons anyway, why not get your $20 millions dollars worth out of Marbury for a year?
It isn’t like the Knicks had a young star or stars in the making like the Suns did with Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire. That was part of the rationale in shipping Marbury to New York, they didn’t want Marbury to impede the development on those two youngsters, specifically they didn’t want the then ultra-passive Johnson to defer to Marbury in crunch-time. they wanted to see if Joe Johnson could become the player he is today. As you see, it worked out too well, Joe excelled so much and came out of his shell that he wanted to be the star of his own team.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 10, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
I saw the story about ticket sales and I have a solution, but I am sure the league will never do it. Very simple - get rid of the game clock. First team to 100 wins. This is the way basketball was meant to be played. I am tired of this “foul to give” nonsense. Who got the idea that a team should gain an advantage by committing a foul? The last two minutes are the most boring part of the game and take forever to play because of all the fouling. I am tired of seeing a great athlete intentionally hack a player across the arms and then act like he didn’t really mean to do it. The only reason for it is to extend the game when you are behind. If you play to a score, a foul at the end would actually penalize a team by shortening the game rather than extending. Shouldn’t teams be penalized for committing fouls? Instead of all the delays, we would see clean, tenacious play as the score got closer to the end and that is what fans pay their money to see. You can get anyone off the street to come in and commit an intentional foul. Who wants to see that?
Also, the game clock complicates the game unnecessarily. There are too many arguments over how much time is left on the clock. Who cares if there are 1.7 or 2.3 seconds left. Do fans really want to sit in there seats for 15 minutes while two coaches argue about it?
Major league baseball doesn’t have a game clock and they seem to do pretty well without one.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 10, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
The reason the league will never do it is because David Stern doesn’t have the balls to make NBA basketball the greatest game on earth.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 11, 2009 @ 5:30 am
Once we get rid of the game clock, we could probably get rid of the 24 second clock as well. The 24 second clock was added to keep teams from stalling and so there would no longer be a need for it. Actually, there would be a natuaral incentive to get a shot up without excessive delay because the longer a team holds the ball, the more likely they are to commit a turnover. But the first step is to get rid of the game clock.
Also, one more point about the intentional fouling that the game clock promotes at the end of games; if you go back and look at the brawl between the Pacers and Pistons a few years ago, you will see that the whole thing started when Ron Artest committed one of thes cheap little fouls on Ben Wallace at the end of the game and Ben Wallace took exception to it. If they were playing to a score, Artest would have no incentive to make that foul and the whole thing would have never happened. Even if a guy is only a 50 per cent free throw shooter, you don’t want to just send him to the line because if you play tough, clean defense, that team’s chance of scoring is less than 50 per cent. So that is your best bet and you see that playing to a score actually promotes good sportsmanship. Isn’t that what the league should be trying to do? If not, why don’t we get this McMahaon ncharacter from WWF to come in and run the league?
It is time to take the shackles off and let the players play. Eddie, if you agree with me, maybe you could send a message to David Stern. I would do it myself except I am just a fan and cannot get through.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 11, 2009 @ 10:24 am
Going back and looking at that brawl again, I can’t say that it wouldn’t have happened. The Pacers were content to let Wallace go and hammer him on his layup and actually Wallace was well below 50 per cent on his free throws. But playing to a score would still promote cleaner, tougher play - especially at the end - and better sportsmanship.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 12, 2009 @ 10:31 am
If my team is down by two points close to the end of the game, my team has a much better chance if we can get 10 more possesions before the end of the game rather than one. That is why we start fouling the heck out of the other team. If we are down by two and the other team needs just two points to win the game, there is no way I am putting them on the line (except if I can find a 40 per cent free throw shooter to foul). We are just going to have to suck it up and play tough defense.
Now a lot of coaches have developed elaborate schemes for managing the foul frenzy at the end of games. These coaches can tell you exactly who to foul, how to foul, where to foul, and when to foul. They have the “foul to give” concept down to a science. Hack them hard because you have nothing to lose. You actually benefit because you pressure them to get a shot off with little time left in the game or on the 24 second clock. You don’t have to rely on tough, clean defense - the league actually discourages it!
There is only one problem - fans don’t pay to see this nonsense. Fans want to see relentless competition between great athletes.
Now if you can’t shoot free throws better than 50 per cent, you are a liability and you do not belong on the floor. If you have some sort of physical problem with your wrist or for wahtever reason you cannot make 50 per cent with the conventional technique, find another way. Start shooting the ball underhanded. It is a matter of fact that an underhand shot is about 20 per cent softer than an overhand shot anyway, and I can prove it mathematically. Further, the bigger you are, the softer the underhand shot is. The basic reason is that you release the ball lower and further ahead of the line. This is the same reason why a shot from 10 feet away is softer than a shot from 14 feet away. The ball arrives at the hoop with less speed so if it is a little off target, it will not bounce far away and is more likely to drop in.
If I was a coach and saw a guy on the floor who could only shoot free throws at 40 per cent, I would instruct my team to put him on the line at every opportunity. The player is eventually going to get frustrated and I would instruct my team to not retaliate, whatever he does. That way we could get a technical foul against him also. The player is a liability and does not belong on the floor. It is his own fault.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 12, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
I remember a national chapionship game between - I believe it was Georgetown and North Carolina - where Georgetown was losing and it was very close to the end of the game. John Thompson instructed his team to take the ball and throw it up into the stands after a made basket.
I remember Billy Packer saying what a great play that was because it stopped the clock. You gotta be kidding me! Somebody should have taken the game clock and thrown it up into the stands where someone was waiing with a hammer to smash it to pieces.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 19, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
I was just watching the Sports Center recap of the Butler-Xavier game. The end of the game was incredible. With 1.2 seconds left, Butler made a layup to put them ahead after a mad scramble for a loose ball. The officials then conferred and decided the game clock had inadvertently stopped for a duration of 1.3 seconds with 14 seconds left in the game. Based on that ruling, the officials took away Xaviers last chance to score and declared the game over. This left the entire Xavier team livid and ready to do bodily harm to the officials.
This ridiculousness ruined a great game and never should have never happened. The only fair and honest way to end a basketball game is when a team scores X number of points.
Why are people afraid to simpilfy the game. Are the best things in life kept simple or are they made complicated?
I remember a couple of years ago I watched a great, great women’s game between Tennesse and Rutgers. It was a fiercely played game between both sides. Tennesse was behind by a point and inbounded the ball with about 4 seconds left. Tennessee scored with anout 0.2 seconds left in the game to win it. However, the replay showed that the clock didn’t start running for about a second after the ball was inbounded. If the clock had started when it should have started, time would have expired and Rutgers would have won. Since the game was played at Tennessee, questions were raised about whether this was an honest mistake. This whole thing should have never occurred.
Isn’t it better to prevent problems from ever occurring rather than let the problem occur and try to repair the damage afterward? Isn’t that really just a basic fundamental of life on this earth?
These are just a couple of examples of the fundamental flaw of using a game clock in basketball and there are many, many more. Does anyone remember the US-Soviet Union Olymic game in 1972?
By the way in my last post, the game where John Thompson instructed his team to throw the ball up in the stands to stop the game clock was between Georgetown and Villanova, not Georgetown-North Carolina.
Eddie, I am just honing my argument here for future use since the AI issue seems to be settled - hope you don’t mind.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 9:05 am
Regarding the Rutgers-Tennesse matchup I referred to ealier, I found this information:
A “Precision Time” device keeps time for all NBA games and many NCAA Division I contests. Tennessee officials claimed that only referees can control the start or stop of the clock by blowing their whistles to trigger a wireless communication device strapped to their belts. However, the timekeeper at the scorer’s table also has the capability of starting and stopping the clock. The time keeper can override the belt packs to assist the officials.
Mike Tranghese (Big East commissioner ) said that the officials did not ask the timekeeper at the scorer’s table about a possible clock stoppage, preferring to review the tape in slow motion to determine how much was remaining.
After the game, Rutgers athletic director Bob Mulcahy made these comments:
“I think there were two mistakes made at the end of the game. The officiating crew did not ask the timer whether or not he stopped the clock and the lead official did not use a stopwatch with the replay monitor, which is something that officials are instructed to do in these types of situations.
“No one wants to accept responsibility. It’s one thing for human error to be directly responsible for the outcome of a game and entirely another when appropriate action is not taken as a result. We all accept human error because we’re all human and we all make mistakes. In this case, I believe that the officials did not do what they were supposed to do. That’s unfortunate because that dashes the hopes and aspirations of our team and our coaches particularly when I think it could have been corrected.”
In fact, there is only one mistake made: implementing such an overly complicated, ridiculous system in the first place. Why can’t we simply play to a score? Does anyone who works on this “Precision Timing” system even have a remote interest in the game of basketball? How can we allow a game to be decided this way? Is the problem really that tough? The Rutgers Athletic director and Big East Commissioner have to get involved? Why not bring the president of the USA to handle the problem?
The comment by the Rutgers athletic director about correcting the problem is fine but why doesn’t he think about PREVENTING THE PROBLEM???!!!
Steve Watkins Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Apparantly the precision timing system that keeps time for all NBA games is even more complicated than I described in my last post. Microphones are attached to the referees’ whistles that communicate wirelessly to devices worn on the referees’ belts. Whichever signal is picked up first - the sound of the ref’s whistle, the click of the belt-pack button or the pressing of the timekeeper’s button, officially controls the clock. An official must hit a button on his belt pack to restart the clock - it can’t be restarted with a whistle. Batteries are replaced in the Precision System before every game and the system is tested to ensure it is working very, very precisely.
However, the clock can freeze for one or two seconds if an official hesitates to hit the button on his belt pack. So with all of the high tech gadgets, THE SYSTEM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PRECISION AT WHICH SOMEONE CAN PUSH A BUTTON!!! If someone fails to hit a button at the exact right time in a close game - and we are talking fractions of seconds - then we easily introduce controversy.
Should the game rightfully be decided based on the precision at which a referee can press a button on his belt pack? Wouldn’t we rather see the game decided based on the ability of a team to score a basket in the clutch?
Steve Watkins Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
When it comes down to a close game, I am sure that refs get very sensitive about hitting the button or blowing the whistle at the exact right time. The last thing a ref wants to do is decide the game. The refs thank their lucky stars once they get through the last minute without any controversy. I know this because I used to ref games in High School. So what a ref will do I am sure is to try to anticipate a call so they don’t hesitate to press the button and what happens is they inadvertantly stop the clock and then quickly restart it. This is just like linemen in football trying to come off the line at the exact moment the ball is snapped - sometimes they are offsides.
So not only will players and coaches be happier if the clock is eradicated, but refs will also. The less things refs have to worry about things that are not important, the better they can focus on things that are important such as who was the last one to touch the ball before it went out of bounds etc.
Andrew Said,
December 21, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
Eddie,
I can’t be the first to say this, but it is a huge pleasure to read your articles. Not only are you incredibly knowledgeable, you write exceptionally well, your content is superb, you always tell the truth as you see it and you never write the pointless puff pieces and foolish rants that most basketball journalists seem to specialize in. It is a genuine privilege to read everything you write.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 22, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Playing basketball with a game clock is like playing poker with too many wild cards. Can you imagine what a relief it will be if we can get rid of it? No one gets excited about committing phony intentional fouls. Coaches don’t want to teach that, players don’t want to commit them, fans don’t want to see it, and refs don’t want to be forced to call them. Everyone would prefer not to have any controversy rather than let a controverial situation occur and then have to argue about it. Everyone just wants to focus their attention on pure, clean, tenaciousously aggressive basketball.
Imagine how exciting the game would be if we could all do that.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 24, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
I sent a letter to the league office and raised the points from my previous posts. I toned it down quite a bit and took out anything negative I said about David Stern, which was uncalled for considering I don’t know him.
I am trying to think of a reason for keeping the game clock. The only thing I can come up with is that this is how pickup games are played and the NBA should not stoop to the level of a pickup game. My response would be that the rules of pickup games are superior when it comes to determining the winner. The only controversy in pickup games is over issues that a NBA ref oversees, such as fouls and out-of-bounds possession. By allowing an NBA ref to focus more intently on those aspects, thoses controversies will be minimized which will further improve the quality of the NBA game. The simplicity of pickup games is what makes them popular. Pickup basketball is played in every neighborhood in the U.S. How popular would the game be if players had to argue over time? No one wants more issues to argue about.
Another reason may be that the game clocks leads to more close games because teams keep fouling until they can catch up. Maybe the league wants more close games. The problem is that the more teams foul, the more boring the game is so that is a catch-22 situation. Also there is a natural tendency in all of sports for the team in the lead to slack off and the team behind to catch up. I believe that is because the team in the lead isn’t pressured to work as hard and the team behind is pressured to work harder so avoid humiliation. That is why the rest of the world got better in basketball after the dream team dominated the Olympics. Why not let nature take its course here? As soon as we try to micromanage the game, the game gets messed up.
Steve Watkins Said,
December 25, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
Merry Christmas!
Antother possible argument for keeping the game clock may be that it is easier to control the length of a game, which would be important for TV scheduling. This may be somewhat valid but consider other sports determine a winner. In football for example, there may be great variation in scoring. One team may win after scoring 50 points and another may win by scoring 10. In ice hockey or soccer, the winning team may end up with eight goals or they may end up with one. It is difficult to pick a score to play to in these sports because the scoring can occur so infrequently.
Compare this to baseball. Although there is great variation in number of runs scored, outs are recorded on a more regular basis. The inventors of baseball recognized this and wisely chose the winner after 27 outs rather needlessly introducing a clock. Points are also scored on a regular basis in volleball and tennis so there is no reason to introduce a clock in those games.
Basketball was invented in 1891 and the original rules stated that the winner was whoever was ahead after two 15 minute halves were completed. The score of the first basketball game ever played was one basket to zero! Under that level of offensive skill, I would agree that it is best to use a game clock because it may take forever to complete a game if you choose the winner based on X number of baskets.
Of course the game has eveolved considerably since 1891. Today, scoring is made on a more regualar basis in basketball than any other sport. It is easier to predict the length of a basketball game than a game in any other sport, including baseball. Keep in mind that baseball allows excessive delays such as conferences between the pitcher and manager, etc. warmups for pitchers coming out of the bullpen, arguments between the umpires and players or managers, etc. The sport of baseball gaway with all of this nonsense and still manages to schedule more games on TV than any sport.
It has been 119 years - isn’t it time for a change? The NBA should be putting Major League Baseball to shame! Let’s go!!!