This is more of a personal assessment for me, as well as others who have been fans of Allen Iverson over the years. You may not agree with what I’m about to say, but dammit, it needs to be said.
What I’ve seen recently, in regards to the treatment of Allen Iverson, has disgusted me to the core. It’s one thing to call the man selfish, but it’s another thing to question his integrity, get mad at him for his feelings about coming off the bench (which I’ll touch on more in a minute), or question his effort. Those particular things bother the hell out of me, as well as anyone else who’s ever sat down and watched this man play basketball during his career.
I remember when this trade first went down, and telling numerous people that it was a bad move, basketball-wise. Financially, it was brilliant, and I’ll admit that much. Anyway, Detroit has a way of playing ball that’s worked for them for the past 7-8 years, and I figured it would be impossible for them and Iverson to find a way to co-exist. The only way it would work is if there were people in place that can make everyone see the big picture. With that being said, let’s look at Detroit’s past three post-seasons:
2006: Lost in East Finals to Miami (pre-Iverson)
2007: Lost in East Finals to Cleveland (pre-Iverson)
2008: Lost in East Finals to Boston (pre-Iverson)
Don’t be fooled by the fact that Detroit made the East Finals those three seasons. Anyone who watched those games knew each of them were over after Game Five, especially in 2007, when Detroit pretty much rolled over and played dead, after LeBron busted their thang open at The Palace.
So now The Answer comes to Detroit, and the adjustment isn’t as smooth as people thought, which doesn’t make a damn bit of sense, because people should have seen this coming a mile away. Iverson gets hurt, and Detroit plays better, and people have the audacity to suggest that Iverson was hurting the team when he was out there. Lets get this straight right now: Detroit was already a deteriorating team anyway, even when Mr. Big Shot was there, so all the talk about Iverson being the problem is bullsh*t. On top of that, they played better, because they’ve played together forever, but anyone with half a brain knows it wasn’t going to last. I’m not going to go as far to say they don’t respect their head coach, but just look at the team, look at the sideline, and tell me what the problem is. Face it, Detroit just isn’t that good; they weren’t that good when he was out there, and they damn sure weren’t that good when he got hurt and had to sit.
Allen Iverson is my favorite player, and has been ever since his days at Georgetown. He is way too good a player to be coming off the bench, but now that he is, don’t expect him to be the same Iverson we’ve come to know. It’s going to take time for that to work, and if he gets frustrated, he’s earned the right to be that way. He gave props to the players who can come off the bench and do their thing, but, of course, that goes unnoticed. I, along with other Iverson fans, will be glad once this is over, so this nightmare of a season can finally end.
Be easy.
-K. Masenda
www.edthesportsfan.com
Article by Kenneth Masenda
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
My sentiments exactly!
I love A.I. But man, he just dont got it anymore. It pains me to say it too. I remember back when he crossed MJ. That was so coming of age.
The aging of Iverson is one thing, but to discount him and question his game is entirely another. The man is an awesome player, at his age, still able to score at will. The media just doesn’t like the man. Somebody needs to stand up for the man. Larry Brown did a little, but more is needed. He is nothing like TO. He has tried to make it work and is trying to transition, but to rush him back when his back his ailing for 18 minutes a game is ridiculous and was an insult to AI and all he stands for. He tried all season to say and do the right things. AI, keep ya head up. We still love you.
@Angie, Yea man. They are treating him like he wasn’t that dude for a decade plus. He has more heart than 90% of the players in the league right now. I just hope he can catch on with a squad that will show him the respect he deserves, and give him a chance for a ring.
@C. Jackson, The thing is that a team with a chance for a ring already doesnt need allen iverson Unless he can come off the bench and give him a boost If he cant do that then he will just mess up the existing chemistry.
Iverson is A great player a Future Hall of Famer, but the truth of the matter is he wont fit with any team unless its his team. Detroit has declined since his arrival. This is obvious, they may have been already falling but not from to a 4th and up seeded team to an 8th spot still in danger of not making the playoffs at all.Then we have chauncy billups, who by no means is he better then iverson, goes to denver and denver goes from 6-8th west seed team to top 3 seeded team. I believe Iverson hurts teams more than he helps. All the greats eventually took submissive roles and alot of them got rings or chances at one. Gary Payton, Karl Malone for example, they may not have sat the bench but they did see there minutes cut substantially and saw themselves becoming 3 and 4th options. Iverson doesnt like being the second option let alone lower. He doesnt see that apparently his way doesnt work. hence no rings, and one finals appearance. He needs to adapt and learn how to become a ROLE player cause thats what OLD players do. Clearly Rip hamilton fits the system better. and they run more effiecient with him in the game more. so why does AI want to run the pistons on cheap gas rather than premium just to stroke his ego.
I am not a big Iverson fan but I give respect where respect is due. He is one hell of a player and will be a future hall of famer but right now he is on the downswing of his career and for him to get the ring that he wants he is going to have to accept the role of coming off the bench. If placed in the right system, coming off the bench could add more to his career. I know that he wants a rign before he hangs up his jersey so this summer he should look for a team that has a shot to win it all and who needs veteran help.
Just cause Iverson used to be sweet doesn’t mean that the Pistons should treat like like Iverson of the late 90s-early 2000s. That Iverson is gone. He got respect this year when he made an All-Star team he definitely should not have been on. You show Detroit’s past playoff record but conveniently leave off the fact that the three years before that, they went also went to the Eastern Conference finals winning twice, and the NBA championship once. Coaches have to do what they think is right for the team. Obviously Coach Curry didn’t think Iverson was being fully utilized as a starter and that he could add more value as a substitute. Nothing wrong with that, a lot of great player have done it in the waning years of their career.
Detroit was good with Billups. You don’t just make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and lose as an average team. Remember, they lost to the eventual champs. Obviously the Iverson Experiment didn’t work out. Is it because of Iverson? Probably. Not because he is who he is but because he’s not Chauncey. I mean Chauncey went to the Nuggets and now they’re second in the West. Coincidence? I think not.
I for one would to publicly say “fuck Gary Payton and Antoine Walker” for being pussy ass niggas who couldn’t win a ring for their own teams, so they rode D-Wade’s coattails for a ring.
Excuse my language.
The descent of Detroit is not Iverson’s fault. It wasn’t because of Chauncey either. It was happening long before the 2006 season. Going to the Eastern Conference finals 6 times in a row and coming away with only ONE ring, is the mark of a team with some issues. #1 of those issues, is Joe Dumars.
He makes horrible drafts.
This is the same front office the drafted Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony.
It ain’t exactly Sam Bowie and Michael Jordan, more like Greg Oden over Kevin Durant.
2ndly, it’s Rodney Stuckey’s fault. You see, Joe Dumars had it in his head that his team could not get over the hump again, so instead of rebuilding the team by keeping one of the best point guards in the league at the time, he decided to draft someone to talk over for the future…only the coach for the Pistons suck, so they didn’t know how to get Stuckey his reps while still keeping Billups as the starter. One of them had to go, and it wasn’t going to be Stuckey.
Iverson’s not coming off the bench. Everybody knows this, so assuming that he would play a secondary role, is foolish. It only made sense in the era of trying to cut down before the luxury tax comes in. Detroit had no intention of keeping A.I. and they showed as much. But to say Iverson’s skills deteriorated, is a flat out lie. He was top 10 in steals, points, and more importantly, ASSISTS over the course of his tenure at Denver. Not to mention, weren’t they a 50 win team? The only knock against them was, they couldn’t get out of the 1st round. No doubt a direct results of the matchups they drew in the first round. Let’s have a look:
Last year they drew the Lakers, the year before that San Antonio. So in the 2 years they didn’t get out of the first round, they played the two toughest teams in their conference.
Interesting.
Iverson will bounce back. He’s still got that spark in him, people are just going to have to eat those words when he does.
i just want to say one thing…iverson is (in reality) the best of his generation…even better than kobe…not now..not today…but on the entire carreer…he is the best
I can not and will not side with Iverson or his cronies EVER. The man has behavioral issues, and as a grown ass 30-something person in the public eye, he should know how to behave himself. He has been banned from all 3 casinos in Detroit, and several night clubs due to his “drama”.
Then he plays like shit.
I can say that I was a fan in the past because he used to actually be good. But now he’s washed up and needs to retire. He’s no longer in demand, and he needs to stop riding his own nuts and realize that its time for him to go before things get worse.
Sorry, I have a passionate hatred for people who stink up the Palace (I am a DIE HARD PISTONS STAN).
@ChaoticDiva,
…sorry for my foul language.
Hey Chaos,
I simply say that Iverson in his career and character has been better than most players in the NBA. He is not perfect (the practice thing), but he is a hell of a basketball player, and his grace under fire by the news media (that dislikes him) is amazing. So he get put out of casinos and night clubs, these aren’t moral or ethical places to start. When one goes to these sort of places you go to gamble, drink and act up anyway, so let’s just say he’s very good at having a good time. Oh and chill, go to a casino or night club and get some of that out. LOL.