Say it ain't so AI!!!

Chalk it up to something I don’t understand. I got this email not too long ago from SportsbyBrooks. This is an actual party flyer from the CIAA Tournament that was held in Charlotte this past weekend. Allen Iverson has been on leave from his employer, the Philadelphia 76ers, for a few weeks now to attend to his ailing daughter. His daughter is battling a sickness that doctors are having a problem diagnosing. Those with kids (and those without) should understand the fear associated with having a sick child and especially one that you have no definitive answer as to what’s wrong. I have empathy for AI on that point. Here’s the part I don’t understand,….what are you doing at the CIAA, on a flyer for throwing a party? According to many, AI was in the building.

Here’s the question:

Did the man need to ‘get away from it all’ for a while and head off to the club?

OR

Does AI not care what his employer would think WHEN this went very public?

I have long been an AI fan and have always stuck up for him, but this is really pushing it. If you are the Sixers, what would you do when this comes across your desk?

You can always go home

Allen Iverson has signed a non-guaranteed 1 year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson's time with the 76ers seemed to be over a few years ago when they traded him to the Denver Nuggets. Iverson returns to the 76ers due to the injury to Lou Williams (jaw) who will be out for almost 2 months. The good part about this team is that Iverson has a chance to show people that he can play and distribute the ball because this is one of the most talented teams that he's been on.

Is this a good move for the 76ers? Can Iverson show us something different than he's showed in Denver and Memphis? Is this the sad end to a great career for possibly the best little big man in the game?

Iverson Waived

The Allen Iverson saga in Memphis has finished. The Grizzlies and Iverson have mutually decided to put him on waivers. AI should clear waivers in the next few days and will probably become a free agent. I had hoped that this wouldn't be the end of AI, but based on the trade that went down today with the only possible team that would want AI, the Charlotte Bobcats, I don't see a team ready to sign him since he wants to be a starter. If there was ever a time for Doc Rivers to try and talk to AI, now is the time.

Is this the end for AI? We knew it wouldn't last long in Memphis.

The Rhetorical Question

Is Allen Iverson a team player? Who would have thought that AI's 2000-2001 season would have been the pinnacle of his career? Yes, Iverson has to be one of the best under 6 foot players to ever play the game. He is pound for pound one of the toughest players to play the game, and he will go down in history as one of the best scorers in the game. The question becomes, is Iverson a team player?

Let's get this on the table quickly, I am an Iverson apologist. Loved him at Georgetown, loved him when he crossed up MJ (watch the video), loved him when he carried that Sixers team to the NBA Finals against Shaq and Kobe, but now that great career seems to be ending in Memphis of all places.

We all know that the epitome of a team was that Larry Brown coached Sixers team. That was the first time that a team had been built around Iverson that would highlight his abilities and provided that team with a chance to win every night. Think about it, who was on that team? Theo Ratliff until he got hurt and then the Sixers were able to get Dikembe Mutumbo. The rest of the team: George Lynch, Aaron McKie, Tyrone Hill, Eric Snow, Jumaine Jones, Kevin Ollie, and Todd MacCullough.

Since then, Iverson has been traded to Denver, Detroit, and finally signed by the Grizzlies (the only team to offer him a deal) this year. There have been knocks on AI about him holding the ball too much, gambling on defense, and just not willing to put in the time to practice.

Now we get to 2009 and we see Iverson not accepting a role coming off the bench. That 2000-2001 season is a distant memory and with the additional 8 years on AI's body, shouldn't he, for the team, come off the bench to help the team? Iverson has been quoted as saying he doesn't feel like he's a bench player, that he's a starter. At some point in our careers we have to know that we aren't the the player that we used to be, or the best player on the court, even MJ realized that.

Just a note to AI. We still love the AI from years ago, but you are in the waning years of your career. Come off the bench for the Grizzlies and you can get your 20+ points a night. But please don't be a distraction and cause yourself an early retirement. I think you still got game, you think you still got game. Prove it to us. Answer the question that many people already have of you, you know, the rhetorical one.

Can Iverson make it in Memphis? Have we seen the last of AI in the NBA? When do you know it's time to hang it all up? Can he be a team player?

Catching Up

The day job has me working my arse off, so I haven't been able to get many posts in the last few days and I have to get my NFL stuff done soon since we have a Thursday night game. So here's to catching up.

Loaded!!!!

That's what the Tarheels are this year. They played Kentucky without Marcus Ginyard and Tyler Hansbrough and still won convincingly. The regulars, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, Deon Thompson, Danny Green, did enough damage. The only bad side of this game was the Tarheels losing Tyler Zeller for the year due to a wrist injury from a foul on a dunk. The ACC is not going to enjoy the Tarheels this year as I see them marching through the league and possibly all the way to a National Title. They will lose at least one to my Dukies though. Mark my words.

NBA Rookie of the Year

My guy NYSTOM did his rankings, but now that I think about it, he left one important player off that list, Greg Oden. Officially he is a rookie this year because he didn't play at all last year. He is showing that he can finish around the rim and play some defense. If he can hold off on getting injured for the rest of the season, he may upend Derrick Rose for that ROY title.

Not Written Yet

Eventhough my guy Vince has already written AI's epitaph as a self centered, ball hogging player only out to get his, maybe we should hold off a little. The little guy has lead his new team, the Pistons, to wins over the juggernaut Lakers and the streaking Cavs. It seems that Joe Dumars made the right decision, if if the sample is small.

Let Me Go!!

Edgerrin James requested his release and the Cardinals declined. Tim Hightower has stolen all of Edge's shine and maybe his spot on the roster for next year. I don't see the Cardinals letting Edge go for nothing during the season when there are so many teams that need a running back.

I'm Back

Two words originally spoken (well written/faxed) by Michael Jordan that caused fear in many NBA circles are now being said by Adam 'Don't Call Me Pacman' Jones. The NFL has reinstated the enigmatic corner to the Cowboys. Could the stars be aligning in Dallas to give the Cowboys a chance to fulfill Jerry Jones' playoff guarantee. I just wonder how much it cost him.

Detroit's Answer

Well, Joe Dumars promises a shakeup and he has done that. Only a few games into the 2008-2009 NBA Season, the Pistons have made a blockbuster. The Pistons have traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and little used Cheikh Samb to Denver for Allen Iverson. This trade raises a lot of eyebrows. Let's weigh out the good and bad for each team.


Pistons

Good: They get a bonafide scorer, albeit on his last legs. They have a better team around Iverson than Iverson had when he took the Sixers all the way to the Finals under Larry Brown. The Pistons get this jump started early enough in the year that by the end of the year this team should mesh together and be pretty formidable in the East. With a defense behind him, AI may creep up that leader board in steals. AI is always a draw and he will be loved by the fans of Detroit as he was by the Philly fans. Maybe just maybe Dumars is positioning himself to bring in LeBron in a few years. AI's contract is $22M and it comes off the books at the end of the year.

Bad: They get a bonafide scorer, albeit on his last legs. AI has already come into this season a little banged up, but he is playing well so far. AI has never enjoyed playing team defense and may hurt the Pistons from that standpoint. How is he going to mesh with Rasheed, Tayshaun, and Rip? AI is a volume shooter/scorer, so how does this play with the team concept that the Pistons have built over the years.


Nuggets

Good: Finally the Nuggets have a true point guard that can get Melo the ball when and where he needs it. Someone who won't be concentrating on getting 'theirs'. This true point guard will also allow the Nuggets bigs to finally show what they can do without having to depend on getting their points from the scraps that AI, Melo, JR Smith, and Kleiza were throwing up. The Nuggets also get someone who can do more than spell defense. Maybe Billups' calming play and leadership can turn this team around. The best part is the Nuggets have someone who can get someone else a shot or make a clutch shot in a big game.

Bad: The Nuggets get another personality to go along with the several that they have. McDyess will add to the already deep lineup of bigs, but will he show up (he only wants to play for a Championship and we know the Nuggets don't qualify)?

Conclusion:

This is a calculated move by both teams. The Nuggets , in my opinion, have scorers and need a good point guard to get them the ball. They also get an extra big with Antonio McDyess (and Cheikh Samb). Detroit, well Dumars, gets to say that he did what he said he would do with the shakeup and he gets to clear some salary cap space if/when they let AI walk. The winner in this deal would have to be the Nuggets, but not by a large amount. We'll see how this works.

Who got the better deal, the Nuggets or the Pistons? Are you happy that AI is out of Denver?

NBA Round Up 9-25-08

Golden State Warriors - Well, I've commented on this a few times, here and here, but the information is finally coming out. Monta Ellis was riding a moped when he hurt his ankle. It was at a low speed according to sources. Thank God!!!! At least he wasn't hang gliding or learning how to ride a motorcycle in a parking lot. But, all in all, he'll probably get fined an inordinate amount of money by the team for not coming clean the first time, but that's why you sign big contracts. Monta, get well soon.

Denver Nuggets - The writing is on the wall and AI can read. During an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, AI acknowledged that he too could be on his way out of Denver. Because AI has an expiring contract and the fact that the Nuggets gave, um I mean traded, Marcus Camby away for a bag of chips, there's nothing left in Denver. The team they have now can't win the West, or even make the top 8. This will be interesting because I think AI has about $20M on his deal left, so, that's a lot of contracts to put together to make this happen. A blast from the past: Mateen Cleaves is going to be signed by the Nuggets because of the injury to Chucky Atkins. I didn't even think Cleaves was still playing basketball.

Charlotte Bobcats - Have signed Carl Landry, of the Houston Rockets, to an offer sheet. The Rockets are right at the luxury tax threshold and they may choose not to match the offer. Either way, Landry's knee is healthy and he is ready to bang for one of these teams.

Miami Heat - Michael Beasley has gotten rid of his agent, but he also got a shoe deal with Adidas. With that new deal in place, Beasley is ready to start training camp with the Heat and get ready for the season.

New Orleans Hornets - The big toe that kept Tyson Chandler out as an alternate for the US Olympic Basketball team has not quite finished healing. Chandler is still having problems with his big toe and he hopes to be ready for the season. The Hornets may find it wise to scale back some of his training camp participation since he's a very important cog in the Hornets winning.

New Jersey Nets - This is the gig I want. I want to retire (without filing the paperwork to officially do it), be a part of a trade and make $5M for just sitting at home, and then have the opportunity to make more money. Keith Van Horn's deal is something that can be moved by the NJN to help them acquire an actual player. Maurice Ager may also be bought out so that the Nets can get a 3rd string point guard.

Oklahoma City Thunder - With a lot of new pieces and a lot to figure out head coach PJ Carlesimo will watch how many minutes he gives his young superstar, Kevin Durant, during the preseason or will he. PJ is looking at a lot of different rotations and feels that Durant will need to play with lots of different players to see what works best for the Thunder. PJ will try and keep him from the big minutes during preseason. Earl Watson's fractured thumb has healed and he should be 100% ready to go for training camp and the preseason. On a different note, Robert Swift is hurt again. He broke a bone in his hand and will be limited in training camp.

New York Knicks - Well maybe the buyout stories are true, just not about Stephon Marbury. It seems as though Isiah's investment in Jerome James is up for discussion. James has 2 years and a little more than $12M on his contract and the Knicks are interested in buying both James and Malik Rose (1 year $7.6M left) out. So maybe Stephon, who reportedly is under 200lbs and in the best shape of his career, will stay with the Knicks. I won't try and make the Knicks fans excited, but if Steph truly is in the best shape of his career and motivated (by all that is going on, and his legacy is on the line), he may actually play well this year in D'Antoni's system. We'll see.

Los Angeles Lakers - Luke Walton still hasn't been cleared to do any running and won't participate when training camp starts next week. The Lakers will have to monitor this situation for a while. They have a lot of small forwards on the team, but they are got rid of Ira Newble who can contribute.

Orlando Magic - Hedo Turkoglu has said that he will opt out of his deal at the end of the year to make some more money. He wants to stay in Orlando, but he wants to get paid. I'm not mad at you Hedo.