Half the man he used to be

by Joseph Birmingham

Monday February 22, 2010 

Well, recently The Answer was quoted as saying that his Sixers still held a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

I have been trying to reserve judgement on everything about the Iverson trade this year, but Allen, as we all know, makes it hard to ignore him.  I do have to note that he has been far less of a disruptive force since his return, and until his recent comment about the team’s performance, he seemed to be focusing on keeping his mouth shut and just playing basketball.

But really, after some thought, I have to make an observation here.  The simple truth of the matter is, were Iverson the player he was in the late 90’s through 2006 with this team, they MIGHT have had a chance at going to the playoffs this year.  They would not have gotten very far had they made it, but at least they could have suited up.

Allen’s style of play really doesn’t work with this team.  Allen’s style of play has rarely worked with any team.  Allen is a force unto himself, and earlier in his career he was quite amazing to watch, but was always best when the coaching staff just let him run wild and dominate the game.

But now, Iverson is simply NOT The Answer.

Right now the Sixers are on a one way track to Nowheresville USA.  And by not making a significant trade last week, they have compounded their futility.  Hey, at least they are not the Nets !!

Iquodala has had a decent, workman like year.   Dalembert is good in center.   Brand is a disappointment.  Thaddeus Young shows promise, but he is young yet.  Same can be said for Lou Williams.  But the saddest thing is all five of the above mentioned players are better than the current Iverson.

When he re-signed for a nominal salary that should have told people what he had to offer.  We knew it would not be leadership, as he was never a leader.  And now he is barely a player.

Look at the numbers, they don’t lie. 

This year in 25 games he is averaging: 31.9 minutes per game, 13.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and .72 steals.

That goes against his previous 13 seasons of:  41.4 minutes, 27.0 points,  3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals.

Dont get me wrong, I am not an Iverson hater.  Far from it.  I respect the little guy.  At his small size, being a four time scoring champion, 11 time All Star and 2 time MVP shows he once was as good as just about anyone.  Even today he ranks 6th all time in points scored per game.  But as the above comparison shows, all those figures are from a time which has passed him by.  And it really might be time for him to hang it up for good, and remember how good he was his first time around with the team, instead of predicting a playoff spot in 2010 when the Sixers are 21-34 which is patently ridiculous.

Allen Iverson is not the first player to go from nearly unstoppable to barely average in the twilight of his career, yet continue to play as if trying to hold on to those glory days.  Nor is he the best.  (See MJ’s Wizard stats at nearly ten points below his career average with the Bulls !)  But for some reason, from the time he signed as a brash, young, hardly tattooed, cornrowed, air apparant to the greatest that ever played, I always envisioned a more fitting end to his career.   

I will continue to remember Iverson as that guy who would throw up 40 shots a game, and take over the game, simply because he believed he was going to score, no matter what the odds, and he frequently did.   

 As a post script, I would like to add that I DOUBLY respect him for taking time off right now to be with his family and his ailing daughter.  I wish him and his family all my blessings and will keep his 4 year old daughter, Messiah, foremost in my thoughts.   This action does NOT diminish him as a player or leader for this struggling team, rather it magnifies his presence as a MAN and shows us all how unimportant the game is compared to the life we must lead outside of it.

Thank you AI for years of exciting plays and memories I will cherish always, even after you retire !

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