The news that Allen Iverson has agreed to play for Pablo Nuevo in the Dominican Republic for a month didn’t come as a shock because Iverson has always been the kind of player whose heart pumped molten, pebbly orange rubber, a player who would keep playing until his body could no longer sustain him, and then play some more. He’s a competitor in the mold of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Kevin Garnett—guys whose only satisfaction comes from competition. A former NBA superstar signing on as a one-month mercenary in a small foreign league will no doubt be seen by some as sad or desperate, a reminder of the long, slow fade of players like Dominique Wilkins.
But I can’t think of it like that because Iverson was in many ways the player who set me on the path to loving basketball. He’s my radioactive spider, my government-replacing-my-skeleton-with-adamantium, my parents-getting-killed-in-an-alley-robbery. He’s my origin story.
In the summer of 1999 I was living in New York City, but spending most of my weekends in the Berkshires in Massachusetts playing shows with my band. While up there, I would stay with the other guitarist/singer and he introduced me to the joy of NHL Faceoff ‘99 for the PlayStation. I knew absolutely nothing about hockey, but became infatuated with it over a summer spent pulling off one-timers and slapshots with the Dallas Stars. But ever since high school, when I’d adopted the Atlanta Hawks and Dominique Wilkins because they showed their games on TNT all the time, I’d considered basketball sort of my sport, even though I barely followed it.
That fall, along with a move back to Massachusetts came a Sega Dreamcast and NBA2K. It’s borderline hilarious to look at the game now and consider how cutting edge it seemed then. Just look at the ridiculously buff Kobe Bryant in this clip at about 4:22:
But Iverson was the cover athlete and the game was unmistakably his, what with his ability to shake defenders and slither to the hoop. I played as his Sixers most of the time and had no idea who any of the other players even were, outside of the fact that Larry Hughes looked like Iverson and Matt Geiger looked like a nightmare. And so as I learned the game via the Dreamcast, I started following the Sixers in real life. In the same way that Dominique Wilkins had captured my attention with his larger than life dunks years before, Iverson captured it with his array of crossovers and hesitation dribbles. It was a way of playing basketball I was completely unfamiliar with and everything about Iverson, from his cornrows to his tattoos, said he was a new kind of player. He also might have been the last with a truly great nickname.
When “The Answer†took the Sixers to the NBA Finals the next year against the Lakers, he did it with people saying he was killing his team by taking too many shots, that he was a selfish player, that he couldn’t make other players better. But with hindsight, it’s possible to see that Iverson may have been the first player to make his teammates better by not getting them involved. How else can you explain a Finals run with this team? When your second leading scorer is Theo Ratliff, when Dikembe Mutombo at a conservative 34 years of age is anchoring the middle, when your team relies heavily on contributions from Eric Snow and Aaron McKie, is it any wonder that Iverson’s usage rate was 36%? In the playoffs, Iverson averaged a shocking 32.9 ppg and just looking down his points during those playoffs is amazing: 45 against Indiana, 54 and 52 against Toronto, a string of 46, 44, and 48 against Milwaukee and the Lakers. Yes, they eventually lost to Kobe and Shaq (who earned my hatred in the process), but Iverson’s 2000-01 season and playoffs surely stand as one of the greatest examples of grit and determination in the NBA.
But there’s a flipside to that. Weirdly, Iverson played on better teams than that 2000-01 Sixers team with less success, and a lot of that is because of him. He demanded the team work around him and everywhere he’s landed, from Denver to Detroit to Memphis back to Philly and on to Europe and now Latin America, he’s encountered obstacles apparently greater than playing with Eric Snow. As it is with so many, his greatest strength is also his greatest undoing. When the team was all about him, he led them to the Finals. When he’s been given more, he’s done less. When he’s done more—more passing, more deferring—he’s gotten less. He’s earned every criticism leveled at him, but he’s also shrugged them off. So as unlikely as it might seem that he’ll be arriving in the Dominican Republic on Sunday to play in his first game there, it’s entirely understandable that he just can’t stop playing.
To me, though, he’ll always be the guy who did this to Anthony Daniels:
And if you want a longer look at Iverson, check this video hosted by Stephon Marbury (!):
What if the Spurs had accepted Seattle’s offer of Shawn Kemp for the #1 pick in the 1997 draft (and the right to draft Tim Duncan)? Would the Sonics still be in Seattle? Would Duncan still have risen to the top as the game’s greatest-4-ever without the tailor-made-for-a-title-veteran-infrastructure he found already in place with the Spurs? Or would a ‘still in his prime’ GP have been enough for similar results? Would we revere him as highly without the front office that provided Parker and Manu when Sean Elliott and David Robinson moved on?
What if the Lakers and Raptors had decided to pull the trigger on the much rumored deal centered around Eddie Jones and Tracy McGrady? Would Kobe’s growth have been stunted or is the cream’s rise inevitable? What if the Lakers had actually gotten talent in return for Elden Campbell and Eddie Jones instead of what soon became the corpse of Glen Rice? Would that first three-peat club have been even more dominant or was the stripping of young talent a necessary condition to Shaq and Kobe’s growing into their eventual roles?
What if Toni Braxton had never heard of Dallas? Would the “Three-J Offense†have enjoyed success? Would Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn be remembered as more than just footnotes on the 90s’ page in history? Maybe Kidd would be esteemed like Nash will ten years from now, as the linchpin of the deadliest offense of his era. Is Jason Kidd the most underrated point guard in league history – consistently elite [through his prime], but never the very best (Payton, Nash, CP3)?
What if Jordan had just simply never come back? Would he still be revered as history’s greatest with just 3? Or would the premature end add to his mystique as it does for so many young entertainers? Where would Pippen have been dealt and how would that have affected the league’s power structure? Maybe the Rockets and Bulls would have revisited discussions from ‘93 allowing Houston to add to their Drexler/Olajuwon core and Dream would have been, with more hardware, seen today as the legend he truly was rather than just some Gandolph “elder†figure for today’s stars.
What if the Wolves had just kept Ray Allen instead of dealing him for Georgia Tech’s Stephon Marbury? With greater success early on, would Kevin Garnett not suffer from his current complex or would he still find prey in point guards and Euro big-men? Or would these two beta-achievers still have needed the help Paul Pierce brings them in a collective effort?
What if there had been no Allen Iverson? Was the playground’s manifestation in the association a historical inevitability or was Iverson the triggering point? Has there been a more culturally iconic go-to move/accessory than Iverson’s “crossover†dribble? – emulated and sanctified by devotees, yet banned from professional play and scorned by purists.
What if Dirk hadn’t missed the free throw that allowed the Heat to win Game 3 and get back into the series? It can be argued that without that chokejob, there would be no “Big 3†in Miami. Consider: had the Mavs held on to win, taking a commanding 0-3 lead, they likely go on to take the title. Without the experience of that championship, it’s probable that Wade isn’t as patient with Heat management as he was these past few years, sticking things out with a weak supporting cast through faith in the greater plan. Even if he doesn’t demand a trade, does he stay as loyal to the Heat this offseason remaining firm as the sole superstar with unwavering desire to remain with his current team? Is Riley as appealing to Lebron–despite the titles with the Lakers–without the ring won through building the Heat?
Jeremy Schmidt is the author Bucksketball. He’s a lifelong Iverson fan and felt the eulogy needed to be written as Iverson prepares to… whatever going to Turkey involves.
Is it the confidence we have in ourselves that breeds success or the success we experience that breeds the confidence?  We’ll never know of course. For now, we just know they go hand in hand. In the NBA we’re talking about a group that represents the very finest in their field. All of these players have been the best player on their teams for nearly all their lives by the time they enter the league. For the most elite, the very best of the best, they’ve never seen themselves or had others treat them like anything less than a star.
But what happens when their stars burn out and they’re left looking like just another guy on the court? That’s when fairy tale careers end and choose your own adventure books start. A player has to decide if he’s willing to admit he’s not what he used to be. It involves a lot of pride swallowing and harsh realities, but if a player wants to stick around past his prime, he needs to understand things won’t be like they once were. That’s the first route a player can choose.
Or a player can be Allen Iverson.
The Answer has always played by his own rules. We’ve known for years now about Iverson’s aversion to practice and bad boy persona. We’ve always suspected it was all about scoring and ball dominating with him, but there were some who thought maybe that’s just the way he knows how to win. He’s always figured he was the best option on the court, they’d say, maybe he just wants to win games by getting himself the ball. Recent reports of his flirtation with a Turkish team have really shown Iverson’s basketball frame of mind to all of us outside of his head. To think that a player who three years ago averaged over 25 points per game can’t even get a minimum salary job in the NBA goes quite a ways in illustrating what sort of reality Iverson lives in.
He can’t admit to himself that he can’t score 25 a night for a 55 win team any more. In our reality, Iverson could be useful to an NBA team as a scoring guard playing limited minutes off the bench. There’s no reason to think that, in theory, Iverson couldn’t fill a similar role to the one Jerryd Bayless plays at times with the Blazers. Come off the bench, get points, return to bench, repeat process later. Its the theoretical dream job for an aging gunner like Iverson.
But he can’t let go.
That’s why he freaked out after three games and 22 minutes a night in Memphis. That’s why he doesn’t get a call from any NBA team this summer and that’s why he’s job hunting in Europe. It isn’t about the money any more, it’s about a player who can’t come to terms with who he is at this stage in his career. He was at the forefront of Philadelphia’s attempts to recapture an NBA title in the late 90‘s into the 2000‘s and like so many other veterans he could be spending his time now offering his services out to contenders. But no one is interested and it’s as if he can’t understand why. He’s gone wrong where so many others went right.
Gary Payton was another outspoken guard with a penchant for getting himself in trouble when he was with the Sonics. Not unlike Iverson, he came ohsoclose to the title he likely felt he deserved, only to fall to The Greatest Basketball Team of All-Time in 1997. It never happened in Seattle again for Gary and he eventually was shipped out for fresh blood in the Ray Allen deal. After a shaky half-season with Milwaukee, Payton was at a crossroads at age 34. He wasn’t the player he used to be, but still could be effective thanks to his size and knowledge of the game. Payton took reduced roles over the next four years with the Lakers, Celtics and finally the Heat and eventually won that title he had always been looking for.
Allen Iverson is 34 years old. His crossroad came last season and he made his choice. His confidence has gotten the best of him.
We bid you farewell Answer, we wish you could have stayed here in reality longer.
REASONS TO WATCH THE GAMES OF THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TONIGHT:
Ain’t That a Shame
Charlotte at Indiana
Danny Granger v. Gerald Wallace would have been worth the price of admission alone, if Danny didn’t have to injure himself and spoil our fun. Even though the souring Granger and the soaring Wallace are currently headed in different directions, it’s still one of the premier offense-defense match-ups that the Eastern Conference has to offer. Plus, with the way Gerald’s been rebounding and scoring lately, he could actually demand that the Bobcats are must-see TV, as long as you’re a masochist who can deal with the rest of the team’s (Jax excluded) inability to put the ball in the damn hoop.
Luckily, there’s still plenty to like about this match-up, even if you aren’t particularly interested in either team. TJ Ford and Raymond Felton are both equally frustrating in their own way, but Felton’s defense and Ford’s offense (when his head is right) make for an interesting give and take. Tyson Chandler will be chasing Troy Murphy for stretches, which in itself seems like a strange, punchline-less joke. And Stephen Jackson-Mike Dunleavy? Too much. A priceless face-off of former Warriors, once swapped for each other, who play completely different yet eerily similar styles. Don’t question it, just nod along.
Care to Explain?
Toronto at Orlando
Every time the Raptors play, I take it upon myself to mention just how bad their defense is. Consider this a change of pace.
Despite the fact that the Raps have the same interior as a Cadbury Cream Egg, they’ve had some pretty remarkable success against Dwight Howard this season. 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds may not strike you as noteworthy defense, but Howard’s FG% is what sticks out to me: In his two games against Toronto this season, Howard is averaging just 34.6% shooting from the field. Toss in a half-tick above his usual turnover rate, and you’ve got a head-scratcher. That’s Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, and a bit of Amir Johnson and Rasho Nesterovic holding one of the league leaders in FG% (2nd, if you wanna be specific) to a miserable percentage on his attempts. What gives?
You Have My Attention, and Now You Have Five Seconds to Completely Sway My Opinion
Cleveland at Philadelphia
The fun has been gone from Philadelphia since the bell tolled on their playoff run last season, and it has yet to come back. That’s in spite of some early success from Marreese Speights, who is still one of my favorite young players in the league. That’s in spite of bringing back a high-profile, energizing player in Allen Iverson. That’s in spite of Jrue Holiday, who while he isn’t all that great at running an offense, has the potential to be a terrific defender at the 1. And that’s in spite of Philly finally winning one after dropping twelve straight. The Sixers are all over the place, as long as the place doesn’t involve anything resembling offensive efficiency. Their style of play may be a sight to behold if only for all the questions that have no answers, but for the moment I’ve deemed them unwatchable. I’ve seen the novelty of a bad team with nowhere left to turn, and while it’s always a tad interesting to watch the flames begin to consume everything.
But tonight, I may give them a few seconds of my full attention. If, in one random possession, the Sixers can do something to pique my interest? Well, maybe we can do business together. But otherwise, I’m not that interested in watching Cleveland hand them yet another loss.
Feeling Bad Never Felt So Good
Memphis at Atlanta
Honestly, I feel horrible for the Grizzlies. After fighting to hang with the Celtics, Ray Allen decided that it was his personal mission to make the city of Memphis miserable…that is, if the city of Memphis managed to burden itself with even looking at the final score. But almost every Grizzly in the rotation had a solid night or better, and to deny them a win simply because Ray Allen is Ray Allen? I know that nothing in this world is fair, but they deserved better. Shame on you, basketball gods. Shame on you, precise mechanics of Ray’s jumper.
Still, it’s hard not to feel good about just how well Memphis has played lately, and tonight is another opportunity for them to earn some street cred. The Hawks are among the class of the East, and a win over a quality team like that suddenly adds legitimacy to their extended run. Wins over the Mavs and the Cavs were nice, but a short burst in the schedule could be nothing more than an aberration. A win tonight not only carries the literal impact of having a quality win over a quality opponent, but it authenticates everything that the Grizzlies have done of late is more than just streaky play and some good luck. 10-14 is a pretty swell record, but 11-14 is that much closer to the almighty .500, and that much closer to some respect.
No Respect, Nyah-Nyah-Nyah!
Utah at New Jersey
It’s so easy to count out the Utah Jazz. I mostly blame Carlos Boozer, who remains a public enemy. His style is just so easily disregarded, so typically understated, and yet so utterly productive. And as much as we love to pick on him for his passive defense and his tendency to get his shots swatted, he’s probably an all-star. That’s not nothin’, and considering all the completely pleasant players in Utah, I’m honestly surprised they don’t get more credit for being a credible team. Deron Williams is about as real as point guards get, Mehmet Okur’s still tougher and more reliable than people think, and Andrei Kirilenko is just a peach. Plus, Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor? Two of the best rookies living out of the spotlight, even if only one of them gets consistent PT.
The Nets are similarly situated in terms of public perception, at least relative to their predicted standing. Whereas the Jazz were expected to be sub-elite (which they are, if you’ve been paying attention…another reason why I don’t understand the Jazz disregard), the Nets were expected to be bad, but not awful. And despite what their record says, that’s what they are. There’s been so much written trying to make sense of Jersey’s miraculously awful start, and I’m not sure that the formula is anything remotely simple. But the odds were certainly stacked against the Nets, and although that doesn’t excuse their effort in some of their losses, no one expected the Nets to be good. No one expected them to be mediocre. And even though every rebuilding process doesn’t involve reaching historical levels of failure, this is the kind of thing that happens when an already limited team trades away part of its core, integrates new pieces, finds minutes for younger players, and faces a boatload of injuries. The Nets are a bad team, just not as bad as other indicators would have you believe.
Last Time, on NBA Team Missing Their Star Contributors
LAL at Milwaukee
I’m still warming up to the concept that Michael Redd is a part of this Bucks team. The team still sends out the paychecks and Redd will probably be under contract until next season (he has a player option for 2010-2011), but I’d just grown accustomed to Milwaukee games being about the progress of Andrew Bogut, the return of Ersan Ilyasova, and the arrival of Brandon Jennings. Just add Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and you’ve got a squad with all the scrap, the defense, and the bursts of greatness that you’d want out of what was supposed to be a depressing year for a depressing franchise. And for whatever reason, Redd doesn’t seem to be a part of that. There’s nothing wrong with his attitude, his work ethic, or even his play (the Bucks were already using the long ball as their calling card, and they could use Redd’s mid-range shooting), but just this feeling in the pit of my stomach that he’s loitering in a space that doesn’t belong to him anymore.
The Lakers are completely different, even if I’m still acclimating myself to Pau Gasol’s return…which was about a month ago. With Pau in the lineup, the Lakers have lost just one game. One game. I kept telling myself that with everyone healthy and on the court, something was bound to fall apart. Maybe Artest would go haywire, or Bynum would feel alienated, or Derek Fisher would try to play from the convenience of his Rascal. But instead, they just use every single game as an argument of why they’re the best team in basketball. With the way the Lakers started the season defensively, I knew they’d be good. But I don’t think I was prepared to acknowledge that they’re as good as they are. The supposed offensive juggernaut is simply slaughtering teams with their defense alone, and I’m not sure that I want to live in a world where these Lakers solve all of their problems offensively. It’s just not fair.
Remember When He Was… Uhh…Had to Cross All That Broken Glass Without Shoes On, and There Was Nothing He Could Do About It So He Just Walked On All the Broken Glass With His Bare Feet? Did You Like That?
Detroit at New Orleans
Yes Chris, I did. I liked it when Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince were injured, and the Pistons had to make do because there was nothing they could do about it. I liked how it opened up the game for Stuckey, Bynum, Villanueva, Jerebko, and Daye. I liked how they desperately tried to keep their heads above water, even as the realities of having a team full of average players weighed against them. It’s not a slight to the team or their effort, but just an honest appraisal of a team that lacks legitimate difference-makers on both ends.
And Yes, Chris, I did. I liked it when Chris Paul was injured, and the Hornets had to make do because there was nothing they could do about it. So they found more minutes for Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton, and now those two are rotation mainstays even with Paul back in the mix. I liked how the team still managed to win games, even when David West, the next in line and logical candidate for more shots and more points, struggled. I liked how they put together a few solid defensive efforts, even though the team as a whole is not very strong on that end of the court.
But mostly, I liked how both team will now be better for all of it. They have their proven stars who we know can produce, and now they have valuable young parts that are plenty capable of contributing under any circumstances.
Sometimes You’re the Windshield, Sometimes You’re the Sledgehammer of a Disgruntled Ex-Employee Who Has Plenty of Free Time, Nothing to Lose, and Endless Rage
San Antonio at Golden State
Oh boy, the Warriors are going to get it tonight. The Phoenix held San Antonio at arm’s length last night, and even though this year’s Spurs outfit is going through some growing pains, they’re a prideful team. And Golden State is a bad team. Not exactly the best combination for a competitive match-up, but it could be yet another opportunity for the Spurs to get their paperwork in order.
While I don’t understand why Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Richard Jefferson are always on different pages, I do know that Gregg Popovich has all the tools necessary to play stop-n-go with the Dubs. Duncan can slow the game down, and even though his post moves are a little bit less reliable than we’re used to, he’s still a force…especially when Corey Maggette is playing serious minutes at center. Then, when TD gets tired or just plain bored, the Spurs speed unit is more than capable of pacing Monta Ellis and company. To make matters worse, the Warriors haven’t topped 101 points in the last three games (all losses), despite playing at the fastest pace. Wins over the Warriors aren’t quite a recipe for righting the ship, but sometimes you’ve just gotta pick out the smallest kid on the playground, and bully him until you feel better about yourself.
The $1 Beer Night Debacle That Will Take My Life
Washington at Sacramento (Zach Harper)
I’m not going to lie; someone is going to jail tonight at this Kings game. The Kings were given a nationally televised game by ESPN a couple of weeks ago. Because attendance has been so poor for the Kings (I’d be shocked if there have been more than 9,000 people in any given home game after the home opener), the Kings had to think of something to fill the arena for this game. So they decided to offer $1 beer through the end of halftime in order to fill up the stadium. And it worked. As of yesterday, there were fewer than 900 tickets left for sale for this game. The problem is the Kings didn’t realize the arena will still look empty on TV for the first half because everybody will be on the concourse, standing in line for beer. At some point, there will be far too many drinks in far too many people and there will be a riot. You’ll get a text from your friends saying, “OMG there’s a riot at the Kings game turn on ESPN!!!†Just watch the game from the start so you don’t have to wait for the replay at midnight to watch the Sacramento Apocalypse.
Return of the Mc
Rockets at Nuggets, 9:00PM EST (Zach Harper)
Get it? Return of the Mc sounds like Return of the Mack, that song by Mark Morrison from like 1996. It’s clever. Okay, well it’s sort of clever. And Tracy McGrady isn’t really a “mack†anymore. He’s more of a “you know if he stays healthy and can spread the floor with Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier then the Rockets will have a nice balance of scoring all over the court and… OHLOOKIT’SSOMETHINGSHINYOVERTHERE†kind of story. McGrady probably won’t play more than 10 minutes in this game. Actually, it’s the second night of a back-to-back so he might play at all even though he played just eight minutes last night. But if he gets on the court, we might get a little flash of McGrady versus Carmelo that could provide scoring delight for a couple of minutes.
LET’S HAVE OURSELVES A HOE-DOWN! (Oh, Sorry Dirk.)
Dallas at OKC, 8:00 EST (Matt Moore)
Josh Howard and Kevin Durant against one another? Jason Kidd versus Russell Westbrook? Dirk being guarded by Green? Erick Dampier versus Nenad Krstic? This couldn’t be better. Unless there were jelly sammiches. Because that would be better.
YOUR NIGHTLY HORROR
Clip at Wolves, 8:00EST (Matt Moore)
I suggest wrapping presents and thinking happy thoughts while watching this. On second thought, nothing with scissors.
It’s official now, Allen Iverson informed the 76ers on Wednesday morning that he will accept their one-year, non-guaranteed offer. The contract is for a pro-rated veteran’s minimum of $1.3 million. And you know what, the reunion of the two sides that served each other so well for a decade is more than just a great story; it makes basketball sense and provides fringe benefits for both sides
The Philadelphia 76ers have desperately needed back-court help all season and Lou Williams’ injury was the nail in that coffin. Former franchise icon, Allen Iverson, desperately needed a home. It’s a match made in heaven or maybe hell, we’ll see.
Philadunkia with a terrific piece on Iverson who came to terms with the Sixers today.
There are maybe, maybe three teams that could have signed Iverson where I would think it was a good idea. New York, Charlotte, and Philadelphia. This feels right, whereas Memphis felt so, so wrong. He returns to the city that gave him his career. A city as hard-edged as he is. A team that desperately needs scoring, which is the biggest (only?) thing he can provide at this point. Iguodala-Brand-Young-Speights-eh. IVERSON-BRAND-IGUODALA-YOUNG-SPEIGHTS-ROAR!
There’s no downside here. The rest of the team is full of pretty good defenders. There’s no weird cultural split. He’s not coming into a tighknit group like like in Detroit or a team trying to find itself like in Memphis. That was the mistake. Iverson doesn’t need to find himself. He knows who he is, who he’s always been, and that’s who he’ll always be. People thinking he might become a team player? A role component? Get it out of your heads. It won’t happen. He’s going to look to score, to dribble, to dominate the ball. And that’s fine. Because it takes pressure off the rest of the team, and the rest of that team is pretty talented.
We’ll have to see if he and Eddie Jordan can co-exist, but given Jordan’s work with Arenas, Iverson can’t be that hard… can it?
Larry Brown has a message for Allen Iverson: don’t give up.
Iverson’s former coach said Friday he thinks the 10-time All-Star “still has a passion to play” and shouldn’t retire. An online report this week indicated Iverson had decided to end his career after receiving little interest from NBA teams.
Brown, who coached Iverson in Philadelphia when he was voted league MVP in 2001 while leading the 76ers to the NBA finals, said he’s been trying to get in touch with him.
“Anybody that knows him understands how much he loves to play,” said Brown, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats.
In the preseason, when Iverson was shopping himself, Brown talked about his former All-Star and said that he didn’t think Charlotte would be a good location because they weren’t competing for a championship. And while that’s definitely true, shouldn’t you still, you know, NOT say that in public? Just sends kind of a downer message to a team that you need to fight in every game. Now comes Brown talking about Iverson after passing on him when no one else would take him, which would have provided him an ideal situation, advising him not to give up. Brown’s been very involved in Iverson’s career this year, talking to his management team when he left the Grizzlies. Yet he’s not bringing him onto his team.
I’m not saying he’s got to avoid saying anything about other teams. He’s an elder statesman for the league and has been around long enough to do what he wants. But if he wants to be mentoring a player he’s not coaching, should he be coaching? The Bobcats need his attention and he seems focused on a former player’s career being extended elsewhere.
A.I. never adapted. And while “me against the world” is admirable when it truly is you against the world, at some point you have to realize that you have four other guys with you, on your side, against the world. And they’re not interested in fighting your fight. They’re interested in winning the game.
And that hurts. Iverson accomplished quite a bit, but I’ll never shake the feeling that so much was left unaccomplished. That he could have learned so much and contributed so much to this game had he not decided to essentially flatline in his early 20s.
Two years ago, the Nuggets are in a late season fight with the Warriors for the last playoff spot. Every single game matters. Every possession is life and death. The Nuggets are at home against the Kings. There’s a Kings turnover and Iverson gets the ball on the right baseline at half court on the break. Kleiza is sprinting down the left side, he’s also ungaurded, wide open, and has 20+ points. If Iverson passes to him, it’s an easy two. He does not. He elects instead to try and force his way into traffic with two defenders guarding him, then waits for Carmelo Anthony to catch up, who is also being defended. Carmelo misses the layup. The Kings run the break and score at the other end.
It’s not just that he failed to pass to Kleiza, which looked very much like a decision and not a matter of failing to see him. It’s that it flies in what is such an instinctive and simple decision: pass to the open guy whose closest to the basket. I’m not going to say I pity Iverson, because I honestly don’t believe he thinks he should have done anything different. He make the choice to do things his way. And he never wavered. If you make that choice, you live with the consequences, but never have to say you wavered.
And it won’t be because Allen Iverson had even the resemblance of a positive impact on this team. Maybe now Mr. Heisley will accept the reality that he has a smart coach, an intelligent GM and let those men do their jobs. Heisley has a lot invested in this team and I can understand his desire to have some control over what happens with the team. However he pays people to make those calls. If he doesn’t trust them then fire them and hire someone else. Just quit thinking you know more than the experts. You don’t.
Memphis is lucky that Allen Iverson is gone. If Heisley keeps interfering they likely won’t be lucky again.
If you’d taken bets on which player would thrive and which would be gone three weeks into the season, the classic loser with effort problems facing a great young center and the #2 draft pick or the former All-Star and Finals contender whose only competition was Mike Conley? I’m betting Z-Bo would have gotten his fair share of the action. He definitely would have from me.
The Grizzlies aren’t necessarily succeeding at anything in particular, they’re just working very hard, on every play. We’ll have to see if it holds (it won’t), but for right now, they really are a fun team to watch. Of course, I said that last year about this time, and then they imploded into tiny little pieces.
…
I was going to make some sort of worn out comparison to the hot crazy girl, but it’ s played out. So instead, I will simply add that the Memphis Grizzlies give love a bad name.
