For Allen Iverson, the road through the NBA has seen its share of ups and downs. Anywhere from requesting trades to off the court trouble including a famous incident with Larry Brown concerning a practice that Iverson missed. "We're sitting here, I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're here talking about practice,” Iverson quoted as he went on a to rant about the topic 14 times. After Iverson's 03-04 fallout with the Sixers, he has now rejuvenated his career and as of January 10, he is a projected starter for the 2010 NBA All Star Game .
Nobody could forget Iverson’s famous crossover on veteran and Hall of Fame inductee Michael Jordan during his rookie season back in 97. Iverson averaged 23.5 points that season but it looked more like a stepping stone into stardom. After that, we knew what “the answer” is: Allen Iverson.
At 6,0, 165 pounds, Iverson is truly undersized for guard. Maybe that alone was “the answer” the NBA was looking for. Million’s of Iverson jerseys were being sold every year. Every kid practiced countless hours to prefect Iverson’s crossover or even dubbed his white sleeve he wears on his right arm during games. Regardless of his antics, Iverson will always be a marketable figure.
During this season, Iverson came out of retirement to give the NBA another shot. Even though his retirement was short lived, Iverson proved his dominance like always, averaging 14.7 ppg while dishing out 4.7 apg. Along with those accolades, Iverson is on the verge of making his 11- straight All Star Game and tenth as a starter. Iverson is second amongst guards in the Eastern Conference in voting slighting ahead of Orlando Magic’s Vince Carter. Joining Iverson in the backcourt Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade.
Rounding out the Eastern Conference starting lineup will be Cavaliers LeBron James, Celtics Kevin Garnett and Magic’s Dwight Howard.
Opposing the Eastern Conference will be guards Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. Forwards Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki and center Amar'e Stoudemire.
For many college players making the leap to the NBA, there usually tends to be a transition period with bumps in the road. Denver Nuggets’ rookie Ty Lawson on the other hand has fit in quite smoothly with his new team. Lawson is averaging nine points and three assists per game for Denver in about 21 minutes off the bench. Pretty productive for a smaller point guard going up against the best night in and night out.
Lawson was a point guard genius under the nurturing of Roy Williams at the University of North Carolina. His blistering speed and perfect court sense led him to be an All-American. The saying goes, “As he goes, we go.” That in deed was true in the land of baby blue. As it turns out, Lawson led the Tar Heels to the National Championship last season alongside fellow All-American Tyler Hansbrough. So why is this guy going to be special? Let’s take a look.
Lawson comes from a very well-coached program under Roy Williams. While at UNC, he was able to develop and become the prime time point guard on the national stage. His years were well spent at UNC and allowed Lawson to adapt to many different game situations. Now, after joining the team in Denver, he has two coaches in my eyes that will help his progress even more. Number one, George Karl is the head coach and has been in the NBA for years. Many can recall his time spent with Seattle while coaching Shawn Kemp and Gary Peyton. But Karl isn’t the only one who will be mentoring the young Lawson. Chauncey Billups is the starting point guard in Denver and has been a well established point guard for years. Leading Detroit to NBA Finals appearances and making clutch shots gives him the nickname, “Mr. Big Shot.”
With Lawson being raw to the NBA style of play, what better mentor than Billups can you have? In a recent interview on Nuggets.com, Billups described Lawson’s speed a true advantage. Pick and rolls will be the go-to offensive set for Lawson, allowing him to use that speed to penetrate, score or get teammates open for opportunities to score the rock. Also, Billups credited Lawson in his ability to stay poised and not let the big play get him over hyped. This is a true testament for a rookie who is sure to bring excitement and productivity to the league for years to come.
The facts are facts and the Dallas Cowboys have yet to disprove them. The facts of not winning anything with the same group of core players plus and minus possibly 2-3 over the last three years is evident. Once December rolls around, the Cowboys are proven losers. Why is that? The talent on their roster is far better than indicated, but they don’t win anything besides the November championship. I bet the Cowboys wish there was a trophy handed out at the end of November because their trophy case would be overflowing with glamorous hardware.
But, that’s not the case and how come? Well, have you ever seen the coaching tactics and mastery of one Wade Phillips? Well you probably haven’t because there are none. The guy really does not seem to have the answer for his players or the ability to guide a team to a championship. In his press conference today aired on ESPN, Phillips was presented with a very good question regarding his team’s abilities in December. The question was simply, “Wade, you said you have a team of winners, but how do you know that. I mean the core group of guys around here hasn’t won anything and you’re willing to call them winners.” Phillips replies with, “They’ve won eight games and lost four. I don’t think we have a team of losers. Winning in the regular season gets you to the post season, right?”
Wow, what a master of ceremonies! Yes you win in the regular season gets you to the post season blockhead. But how about when you get trounced by Philadelphia last year in a must win for a shot at the playoffs. Yep, you lost loser. Against Seattle and the Giants the two years prior in the first game of your playoff stint, you lost. Loser. So why is there any debate as to not think the Dallas Cowboys with their owner who cares more about building the equivalent to a small airport to play in anything different? Bottom line is, you need to go out and win games that are meaningful and get into the postseason and win one or two. Until then, you Mr. Phillips and your whole team from top to bottom can’t be considered anything else than losers.
Also, the way Phillips answered the questions in the press conference showed that he is indeed not fit to be a head coach in the NFL. He simply stumbles over his words, has no answers and a clue of how to deal with the issues at hand. The issues of not winning late in the season and making the playoffs.
Attention: “It’ s been a while, but man am I glad to be home.” That surely was the thoughts running through the head of Allen Iverson as he was announced prior to the Sixers contest against the Denver Nuggets on Monday evening. The Wachovia Center was rocking with a sellout crowd for the first time all year and at one point, thought my television set was going to shake off the dresser. No not really, but you get my drift. Seeing Iverson back with the Sixers was truly an exciting moment in sports history and for the city of Philadelphia.
In his return home, after being introduced in pre-game introductions, Iverson went to mid court and kissed the big 76er logo at mid court. He put his head down to the floor and looked to be soaking in the emotional moment because he indeed is back. What does this mean for the Sixers franchise? More ticket sales, more energetic crowd and the hope that the 5-15 record can get back on the winning track quickly.
Playing in the Atlantic division, this really shouldn’t be much of a task with the likes of the Nets and Knicks securing the bottom half of the division along with the Sixers. The Nets are pitiful. The Knicks will have a streak of 3-4 wins then lose 7-8. With Iverson back in the saddle, the Sixers really do have the components to make a run at the second spot and contend with Toronto. Iverson brings a much needed scoring aspect to the team with the absence of Louis Williams. Andre Iguodala can’t do it all on his own. With the addition of Iverson, the Sixers improve their ability to run in the open court and get much needed fast break points.
I know Iverson only went for 11 points last night on a sub-par shooting performance, but he was quite passive in the first half. Give “The Answer” a chance to get back in the flow of playing ball and trust me, there will be some much awaited fireworks in the Wachovia Center the remainder of the season and hopefully for a few more seasons to come. Thanks for the memory “Answer” and Philadelphia is sure glad to have you back.
Stephen Jackson got what he wanted essentially and was recently let go by the Golden State Warriors and traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. Good for him and good for the Warriors, letting go their often disgruntled forward. If we take a look back at Jackson when he was actually good, he did produce and helped the Warriors in their playoff run when Baron Davis was orchestrating the flow. When Jackson first entered the league, he was a member of the New Jersey Nets in 2000. He then was shipped to the Spurs for a two year stint, Atlanta for one and Indiana for two. Golden State then entered the mix as I mentioned, where he has spent the last three seasons.
Coach Don Nelson and Jackson became pretty taught with each other during the past year and a half and that really had an impact on the trade to Charlotte. Why does Jackson have the attitude of a god’s gift to the world type of person? Hear me out on this one Mr. Jackson, you just aren’t that good. Watching the Bobcats in action last night was not a breath of fresh air or a happy moment in my life. You would think that getting a player in a trade that can supposedly shoot the ball very efficient and be tough on the court at the same time would spark interest. Nope. Stephen Jackson does not have it anymore.
The trade to Charlotte was merely a move to keep him happy while he still makes a comfortable living. Face it, the guy will not win anything nor make it close to a playoff run in his career again. The Bobcats fit Jackson perfectly if anyone wants to know. Their lackluster offense with forced shots and non-rhythmic flow are Jackson’s favorite. Whenever Jackson can get his in the offense, he is happy. Last night for example he put on a display for 26 points, but shot 21 times. The next closest shot attempt was 11!
With this in mind, what happens next for the Bobcats? Gerald Wallace has been the prime offensive weapon, averaging 16 points per night and making that a franchise best. Tyson Chandler is a big guy down low who is athletic enough to score. D.J. Augustine and Raymond Felton both like to shoot the rock in the offense. Put that all on hold because the unhappy, me type of player is in town. Jackson shot over double teams and forced the issue countless times last night. Just by watching the game, it was clear he needs to get his stats.
Actually this is pretty sad for a player who was able to thrive in the Warriors’ offense with Davis and Monta Ellis playing at a fast pace. The confusing part of this scenario is that Jackson left the Warriors who possess the athletic talents of Ellis, Kelena Azubiuke, Corey Maggette and the highly touted shooter in Stephen Curry. Seems like a fit to me. Just remember that as much as a fan you are and follower of a player or team, this is a business. Players whine, bicker and stomp their feet when they don’t get their way. Jackson did that and look what happened. A trade. Now you can watch the Bobcats struggle to win games and Jackson’s face repeatedly scrunch in frustration.
What is Larry Brown to expect from his team now? Give the ball to Jackson and let him go to work. That’s what you can expect because if that doesn’t happen, Mr. Jackson will make the front page again for wanting another trade until he gets what he wants. Listen, Jackson has been a double digit point scorer eleven out of the thirteen seasons he’s taken the floor. I don’t shun that stat out the door. He did win a title in San Antonio in the 2002-2003 season. He also was surrounded by a plethora of talent in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and the Admiral himself, David Robinson. The Indiana Pacer incident in Detroit stemmed from his time with their organization when he entered the stands with Ron Artest to take on some fans. Jackson has been notorious for his countless run ins with referees that lead to technical fouls.
The final verdict here is that the guy just doesn’t have what it takes. He’s a shoot first, no defense kind of guy who needs to get his. Have fun Charlotte and I bid you all the luck in the world. Hopefully the team can find their cohesive niche. In the meantime, Mr. Jackson, I hope you enjoy playing for a losing franchise and getting yours.
Let’s face it people, the Washington Wizards have been nothing but sub-par the last few years. Playing in the Eastern Conference where the talent has flooded recently with the likes of Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and even Atlanta, the Wizards have been non-existent. Last night marked the first time in a while in which they went out and just pounded a team. That team by the way was led by King James himself with the new addition of the, “Shaq Daddy.” This wasn’t supposed to happen. Or was it?
Listen, I watch a lot of NBA and love the game. I am a lowly Knicks fan and take pride in that. But Washington, if healthy can make some real noise in the East Division this year. Mark that down. Gilbert Arenas is back and for the most part healthy. Antawn Jamison showed his worth by pouring in 31 points in his first game returning from an injury. When you look at this roster, how can you not be excited as a basketball fan? The additions of Randy Foye, Mike Miller and now the little man, Earl Boykins presents an endless opportunity for an uptempo style of offense. Arenas, also known as Hibatchi can shoot the rock from basically anywhere in the arena and light up the scoreboard. With Jamison back, the Wizards are now able to experience from his inside/outside style of play. Let’s not forget the likes of Caron Butler who can get out and finish on the break along with knock down the long all.
Those are they key three players really to watch because for them to be on the same page means the team will go as they do. Now, inside the paint for the Wizards lies a huge body in Brendan Haywood. Haywood may not pose as a big time scoring threat but you can believe his 13 rebounds against the Cavaliers allowed for some easy transition buckets and second chance opportunities. His counter part, Andre Blatche has shown he can hit the mid range jump shot and also stick his nose in the middle of the tall maples roaming around to sniff out rebounds as well. Miller is a streaky shooter and has been his whole career, but look out when he hits his streak because you can bet the Wizards will enjoy a lot more W’s moving through the season.
Looking at the Eastern Conference as a whole, the Wizards really do control their own destiny. You can already tell that the Celtics, Cavs, Magic, Miami, Orlando and even the Hawks may indeed be playoff bound. Don’t forget there are eight teams that qualify from each division. Competing with possibly Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and even Toronto may present itself. Give me a healthy Wizards line up the for the better part of the season and get healthy for the stretch run and I’ll book it! With the health and chemistry of these dynamic offensive weapons on tap, the Wizards have all the ability in the world for a nice season and I look forward to seeing them match up against the better half of the East come post season time.
The New York Knicks and Allen Iverson have something in common. The last few years of their lives have been nothing short of disastrous. Iverson has endured a downward slide in his career after leaving the Philadelphia 76ers and heading to Denver. While in Denver he struggled to help propel the Mile High City to playoff dominance, while playing alongside the likes of Carmelo Anthony. After his stint in Denver, he was shipped to Detroit in exchange for Chauncey Billups. This did not work out at all and Iverson did not see much playing time at all. His bickering and moaning about practice made others uneasy around the locker room and eventually led to his termination from that franchise. Finally, this season Iverson was picked up by the Memphis Grizzlies who are thriving with young talent. O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay and the addition of Zack Randolph left very little space for Iverson to play the way he is accustomed to. His game consists of getting his shots in the offense and not coming off the bench.
So looking at the scenario that has played out, Iverson was released from Memphis recently. Now, Donnie Walsh and the Knicks are reported to be in talks with Iverson to possibly lure the future Hall-of-Famer to the Big Apple. This wouldn't be all so bad when you think about the way the Knicks' franchise has been in the last few years. They haven't made the playoffs or even contended for that matter. Their struggles with front office, coaching and players has led to imploding situations time and time again. Just look at what the Stephon Marbury saga brought to the all around aura of the Knicks franchise. So the debate amongst many fans is if Iverson is a good fit or not for this franchise because he too, has had attitude problems and history of not getting along with people within an organization. Here's why he will be a good fit.
1. Iverson is an offensive specialist who can score on anyone. He has proved time and time again he can put up points and basically put a team on his shoulders when the game is on the line. Look at what he did in Philadelphia when he took on Shaq and Kobe in the finals. Iverson had nothing short of mediocre talent surrounding him at that point in time and was able to show his toughness and willingness to compete at a high level. With that in mind, the Knicks need that toughness on the floor because quite frankly, right now they have none. There is not one person on the Knicks' roster who brings it every night and demands respect on the floor. Sure one or two players may have good games here and there, but teams go into Madison Square Garden expecting to add another W to their record without even a fear of losing.
2. Do I believe Iverson would be a disgruntled, uncooperative player for this team? No. Mike D'Antoni's run and gun system will allow Iverson to have the ball in his hands to make plays and also allow him to run off the ball for open jumpers. Iverson's penetration ability will be on full display and can create shots for himself or others. With Nate Robinson, Al Harrington, Danillo Gallinari able to knock down the long jumpers, this drive and draw ability will open up avenues for better offense. Also, the return of Eddy Curry around the corner could be a positive aspect that will allow Iverson to run pick and rolls create opportunities in the paint.
3. With the idea of landing a huge free agent player in the off season, signing Iverson for the rest of this year would not hurt. The younger players can have the opportunity to get used to playing with a star for once. Also, the opportunity to win more ball games can help develop the winning attitude again that has slowly and painfully vacated the arena many see as the Mecca of Basketball. Winning and playing alongside the star has tremendous upside for this franchise and when the time comes next summer, the organization can make moves and develop their game plan for landing a big time player.
If Iverson does land in a Knicks uniform sometime in the near future, it really couldn't hurt. Could it? I mean Knicks fans have to be sick of losing by now could use a little bit of positive rebuilding in their life. After all, Iverson can light up the scoreboard at any given time and provide at least a dynamic show for the Broadway Crowd.