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Say it isn’t so Sixers
Can you feel the state of depression in the air today? People just don’t seem to be themselves at all. Despair and disbelief has set in.
Last night the unthinkable — unimaginable — took place. The Sixers, yes the Sixers ,the biggest sports draw in town, were eliminated from the playoffs.
How could this happen to a team with such great leadership as Eddie Jordan and Ed Stefanski?
How could it happen with the best power forward in the League?
How could this happen to a franchise who’s fans flocked to the arena, selling it out night after night?
In case you haven’t caught on yet, sarcasm is the theme here.
The Sixers were in fact eliminated from playoff contention in last night’s 109-93 loss to the Orlando Magic. For those counting, this elimination comes with 11 games left in the season.
Eleven games — in the Eastern Conference. No one expected the Sixers to chase a title this year, but the teams play has been a joke. Heck, a .500 record and a cup of coffee will get you a No. 7 seed in the East. Even the struggling Pacers and Knicks are still mathematically alive, and the Knicks have done everything they could to shred talent and dollars from their roster to clear way for the big free-agent 2010 class. The Sixers kept their talent, kept paying their bills and kept losing.
Currently the team has lost 13-of-15 games and isn’t even showing a fighting spirit.
I don’t envy the team’s public relations staff this offseason. Trying to convince anyone to buy a ticket or get excited for next year will be an impossible sell.
The Sixers have quit on city, team
It is pretty much a forgone conclusion that Eddie Jordan will not be welcomed back next season as the coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hopefully, half the roster is shown the door with him.
The Sixers do not have the least talent in the NBA. Their roster includes a former All-star at power forward (Elton Brand); a talented, if overpaid guard (Andre Iguodala); a $12 million center (Samuel Dalembert); a young guard scoring 14.9 PPG (Lou Williams); and a young forward with big upside (Thaddeus Young).
Yet they play like the Washington Generals.
The Sixers aren’t just losing, they are failing to show up. In nine of the most recent 10 losses the team has suffered, the Sixers have been defeated by double digits.
Some of these losses can be explained. Losing by double figures to the Lakers, Magic, Hawks, Suns and Celtics can at least be partially accepted for a team that was not expected to be a contender when the season started.
However, big losses to the Heat, Bulls, Raptors, Pacers and most recently the Bobcats can not. There simply is no excuse for the team’s lack of competitive spirit.
It’s not like tanking the season will do the Sixers any good, as the Nets (seven wins) and Timberwolves (14 wins) already have the top two in the lottery locked up. Being the third-worst team in the NBA won’t give the Sixers enough ping pong balls to really make a difference from being the sixth worst team.
It is clear that this team doesn’t care. They have a bunch of veteran players who got fat contracts for mediocre production. They do have some promising youth in Young and Jrue Holiday, but they have not been around long enough to make their opinions heard in the locker room.
The Sixers have no identity and that’s a problem that must be fixed soon. Does anyone know the plan for this team? I certainly haven’t heard one.
This city is not going to tolerate quitters. This year’s group of Sixers fits under that billing. The attendance has reflected that
It’s time to blow the whole thing up, from GM Ed Stefanski, to Jordan, to a large bulk of the roster. This team is going nowhere. It’s time the front office and roster does.
Iverson will not return to Sixers
The second marriage between Allen Iverson and the Sixers is over. My guess is that Iverson’s career is as well.
Siting personal reasons, Iverson will not be returning to the team.
The following is an excerpt from Associated Press writer Dan Gelston:
The Philadelphia 76ers have said goodbye to A.I.
Allen Iverson’s second stint with the team he once led to the NBA finals ended Tuesday when the Sixers announced he would not return for the rest of the season.
Iverson has mostly been absent from the team for a month, returning to Atlanta to be with his family as they deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.
Iverson, who returned as a free-agent to the 76ers in December, has not played since Feb. 20.
“After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply,” team president Ed Stefanski said. “It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life.”
The second marriage between Allen Iverson and the Sixers is over. My guess is that Iverson’s career is as well.
Siting personal reasons, Iverson will not be returning to the team.
While Iverspn’s second stint with the Sixers was virtually meaningless, his prior impact still makes him one of the greatest athletes to come through Philadelphia.
We wish him and his family the best in the future.
Half the man he used to be
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 !
Allen Iverson thinks Sixers can make playoffs
Allen Iverson came out after practice yesterday and said he thinks the team can still make a run at the playoffs.
In defense of Iverson, what else was he suppossed to say? He couldn’t just come out and say ‘we stink, seasons over, I think I will go retire again.
Philly.com quoted Iverson as saying: “Obviously, you’re playing for your pride and you should just want to win. We don’t feel like it’s out of reach.”
Because of the ineptitude Eastern Conference teams not named, Cleveland, Orlando, Boston or Atlanta, the Sixers are technically in the race, 6 ½ games behind Charlotte for the No. 8 seed.
But no one is fooling themselves. This team is going no where fasr.
But don’t take my word for it; ask an expert.
Jim Mora, what do you think about the playoffs?
Sixers trade nothing for nothing
Sixers fans had hoped that the NBA’s trading deadline would be a time to celebrate a change in personnel for the team.
Personnel did change.
But the team still stinks.
Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert remain as the team did nothing to shake up an overpaid and underachieving squad. They did move a few bench players.
The following is an ESPN.com report.
“The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a trade that will send Jodie Meeks and Francisco Elson to the Philadelphia 76ers for Primoz Brezec, Royal Ivey and a second-round draft pick, two league sources told ESPN.com NBA Insider Chad Ford.”
Meeks and Elson combine for just over 5 points per game.
Way to shake things up Ed!
All eyes on Andre Iguodala as trade deadline nears
With the NBA’s trade deadline approaching on Thursday, the Sixers’ Andre Iguodala will soon find out if he will be getting a new home.
Right now, it doesn’t look like it.
Iguodala – as well as Samuel Dalembert – has been a hot name in trade rumors over the last month, but with 24 hours left to make a deal nothing seems on the horizon.
One of the most popular rumors that was in circulation was Iguodala and Dalembert going to Houston in a deal that would bring Tracy MaGrady to Philadelphia. That deal will not be happening as Houston has announced that it plans to deal MaGrady today to either the Knicks or Bulls.
Another bit of speculation had the Cavs interested in landing the Sixers’ swing guard, but that too looks like a long shot at best. The Cavs top target is Amare Stoudemire, which would get LeBron James one of the top big men in the game. If that falls through, it is being reported that Cleveland is looking at a deal with Golden State, which would involve Corey Maggette. The team has also talked to the Wizzards about the availability of Antawn Jamison.
That doesn’t leave a whole lot of options left for Iguodala. One possibility that remains is Boston, who is looking to get younger and more athletic. The Celtics have been looking to trade Ray Allen and his contract is close enough to Iguodola’s that the teams could make a trade work without too many other pieces.
In all likelihood though, Iguodala will remain a Sixer. Ed Stefanski has come out publicly and said that that the team has no plans of trading Iguodala and that they do not want to make a salary-shredding move. He also said the team had no interest in signing Allen Iverson – a couple of days before it did.
A lot can change in 24 hours.
For the Sixers’ sake, lets hope it does.
Writer thinks Sixers should go “Black Sox”
One of the worst moments in the history of professional sports took place in 1919 when eight members of the Chicago White Sox decided to tank the World to collect a gambling bet and stick it to then-owner Charles Comisey.
Everything about it was dirty: From firs baseman Arnold Gandil getting the wheels turning by convincing gambling figures that a series could be fixed, to the seven teammates who joined him in handing the title to the Reds.
Just thinking about it makes me sick.
This brings us to today’s column in the Inquire by Stephen A. Smith.
Smith is brash, loud and often annoying, but he does know the NBA and the Sxiers in particular. Whether you love or hate his style it is hard not to appreciate his knowledge.
On Monday, however, he slipped into lunacy.
With the Sixers playing their best basketball of the season and on a four-game winning streak, Smith suggested that the team should stop trying to win games and tank the season. While many fans feel that the Sixers would do more harm than good by winnings some games down the stretch and fighting for a bottom playoff spot, few have gone as far as Smith, who wrote:
“What matters most now is where the Sixers go from here. Knowing Stefanski, he’ll swear they’re about making “basketball decisions,” not financial ones. Well, here’s one:
Tank the season. Stop wasting folks’ time trying to win what amounts to meaningless games.
The Sixers need to emulate San Antonio (Tim Duncan), Cleveland (LeBron James), Miami (Dwyane Wade), Toronto (Chris Bosh) – teams that once did everything they could to position themselves for a top draft pick just to get their hands on a franchise-caliber player.”
Even if the Sixers were to “tank the season” as Smith puts it, what would that guarantee them? The NBA lottery a weighted system that gives the worst teams the best chance of landing the No. 1 pick. With four wins, the Nets are virtually a lock to have the most ping pong balls in the wheel.
Even they are guaranteed nothing.
The Sixers need to shake things up and that may mean getting rid of players such as Andre Iguodola and Samuel Dalembert. Any moves the Sixers make could bring back talent or picks that could help the team down the line. There could even be some addition by subtracting after the Feb. 18 trade deadline.
These are things that Sixers fans to cling to for hope.
Tanking the season is not.
Sixers put it all together … at least for one night
Andre Iguodala looked like a player worthy of his max contract.
Thaddeus Young looked like an emerging, young forward who could provide all the intangibles.
Willie Green looked capable of being an NBA player.
When it all came together it gave the Sixers just enough to defeat the Chicago Bulls, 106, 103 in overtime.
I’m not sure what should be the bigger news: The fact that the Sixers finally played as they are capable of, or that on a night when so may things went right they still needed overtime at home to beat the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference?
The optimists can cling to Brand’s 26-point performance and Iguodala’s 25 point, eight rebound, 8 assist effort as a reason to keep this team together past the trading deadline. There is talent on the team and when it all comes together victories can be achieved. As bad as the Sixers have been (16-30), Wednesday’s win brought them to within 6 ½ games of the No. 8 seed in the East. A minor winning streak and the team could make the final months of the season almost watchable.
Yes the bottom of the East is that bad.
The rest of us can do nothing more than scratch our heads. How can Brand be so good one night and so mediocre the next? How come Iguodala doesn’t bring the full package every night? What could this team accomplish if it had a coach that that found a lineup and stuck with it.
It’s no secret that the Sixers have more questions than answers. That could change – at least a little – in two weeks when the NBA’s trade deadline passes. The front office has to do something to try to give this team an identity. Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert have value, but their contracts make them hard to deal (though performances like Iguodala’s on Wednesday help). If the Sixers can find a trade partner willing to take on either contract they should jump on it. This would help speed up the inevitable rebuilding process.
At the very least, it will be interesting to see what this team does over the next two weeks.
And that’s the first time that could be said about the Sixers in a long time.
Athlete of the Decade #3 Allen Iverson
For many Philadelphia fans Allen Iverson is Sixers basketball. When Iverson left, the Sixers left with him. And in a way that is true because when Iverson was traded to Denver Nuggets during the 2006-07 season any chance of the Sixers being relevant in the city or the NBA also left.
Then after a sudden twist – or stop in Memphis – ”The Answer” was back in Philadelphia and all was right in the NBA-world again.
Love him or hate him, Allen Iverson – who is our No. 3 Philly Athlete of the Decade – will always be remembered as a Sixer. From his rookie year, to the crossover he put on Michael Jordan, to putting the team on his back and leading them to the 2001 NBA finals, Iverson has provided more highlights than any fan could ask for. Here are a few of the accomplishments:
* Iverson has averaged over 30 points in a season five times this decade, four with the Sixers.
* While Iverson takes a lot of heat for throwing up every shot he gets his hands on, he has also been a good facilitator. Following the 2001 season, Iverson has averaged over 5.0 assists every season. His highest output came in 04-05 when he recorded 7.8 dimes a game.
* Three times this decade Iverson has won a scoring title, the only player in the NBA that can make that claim.
* Representing the Sixers as an All-star, Iverson was the game’s MVP twice this decade.
* Sixers fans can thank Matt Geiger for keeping the Superstar in town for so long
For anyone who is confused by the Geiger reference, let me explain: Prior to the start of the 2000-01 season the Sixers were looking to shop Iverson, who was in the process of creating his first rap CD, which included controversial lyrics. It was also thought at the time that he and Larry Brown could not co-exist.
In what was a multi-layered trade, the Sixers would have shipped away Iverson and Geiger and brought in Eddie Jones, Glen Rice, and Jerome Williams. The trade fel apart in the last minute, though as Geiger would not forfeit a trade kicker in his contract that was worth $5 million.
It was after that offseason that the old school school coach (Brown) and the new-school, hip-hop guard put their differences aside and formed a bond that remains strong today.
It is unknown if this will be Iverson’s final year in the NBA. If it is, it is fitting that he is back home, even if it may not make sense from an organizational standpoint.
Allen Iverson was and is the Sixers.
Oh, and we didn’t forget about the 2003-04 season which brought ou the infamous “practice” press conference. No iverson tribute will ever be complete without this gem:
Sixers win 2nd of the week, without The Answer
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics by a point tonight, 98-97 in a game played without newly acquired Allen Iverson. Elton Brand had a strong game off the bench, scoring 23 points on 7-12 shooting; Iguodala, Speights and Green all scored in double figures as well.
Such is the NBA, where a 7-19 team that just broke a 12 game losing streak, playing without it’s newly acquired catalyst can defeat a 20-5 team riding an 11 game winning streak at home.
I believe this victory reveals the flaw in resigning Iverson to play with this team, when they so obviously perform better overall as a unit without him. I love Allen, don’t get me wrong, but this current 76er’s team is vastly different from the one he was drafted onto in the 90’s and his playing style simply doesn’t fit in with the program.
Iverson has hardly been setting the basketball world on fire since his return to the east, playing in 5 games, averaging 34 minutes and scoring 15.6 points per game on 41% shooting. More importantly, he has only dished out 21 assists and had 4 steals in his return, evidence that The Answer has lost a step, and is really not at home playing in an environment where his job is not to take the ball to the hoop every time he touches it.
Bottom line, 41% shooting just does not cut it in the NBA, and while his short return to the team has not been long enough to provide a true analysis, it is fitting that the team responded to the coach resting him after having his left knee drained twice this week in an effort to relieve arthritis with their first win over a winning team.
It also probably was significant that the Celtics played a large part of the game without Rasheed Wallace, who was perfectly healthy for the game, but who drew two technicals and then had a minor meltdown, having to be restrained by assistant coach Tom Thibadeau before before being ejected from the game. This was Wallace’s 30th career early exit, the most for any player since 1992, and the two technicals give him 10 for the season, with 16 resulting in an automatic suspension.
That series of events may have marked a turning point for the Sixers, although they continued to trail until later in the game when they cut it to a one point game with 8:27 to play.
Bottom line, the Sixers WEREN”T terrible, for the second time in a week. That is more than could have been said of them any time previously this season, so we will take that as an improvement, but I still see the 30 win plateau as a stretch for the current roster of players that in my opinion are grossly overpaid and underproductive. The Answer, doesnt answer any of the current problems except to briefly put a couple more butts in the seats. Now that the buzz from Iverson’s signing has worn off, that doesnt seem to be happening either.
Still no answer for Sixers
It is so obvious it is not working out in Philadelphia. The 76ers are in total disarray. The record stands at 5-17 after 11 straight losses and it is doubtful the team can recover from their worst losing streak since November 2006 when they lost 12 in a row. For those of you with short term memory loss, that losing streak occurred during the Iverson debacle of 2006 when Allen refused to come back in the fourth quarter to help the team and the Sixers ultimately traded him to Denver on December 20th 11 days after he demanded to be traded.
It is fitting that “The Answer” returns as the Sixers, arguably one of the three worst teams in the league are mired in thier worst losing streak since his last home appearance in this city. In his second appearance back, Allen actually looked worse than he did in the first game, this time scoring 11 points, but doing it on 3-10 shooting with 3 assists and 2 steals in 33 minutes of action.
So far this year Iverson is 0-5 when starting and no longer appears to be the game changer he was his first ten years with the team. It is sad to watch him strive to accomplish what used to be second nature when he is so obviously outclassed by the new breed of player that has entered the league over the past decade. Jordan playing for the Wizards looked more capable of scoring than does this Iverson, who seems small, slow, and in danger of serious injury as he throws himself up against average players with less than average results.
If I were an opposing coach, I would not even cover Allen, who has a career of sub .500 shooting even when he was on top of his game. I would focus on the other four starters and basically let Iverson do whatever he wanted to do on the court, and still feel confidant that my team would prevail, basically playing a 4-5 and somehow gaining the man advantage.
The momentary spike the team saw in attendance with Iverson return is also gone, with attendance droppng back to only slightly higher levels than they were reaching prior to bringing the washed up has been back to the team. This entire team is overpaid, and under talented. The best thing management could do would be to clear the roster and start over. Sign some average college players, or walkons, and take your lumps and wait to improve. There is no reason why this team should be spending 60 million dollars when it is all but assured they will lose 60 games this year with their current roster.
It kills me to see Iverson reduced to this parody of his former self, and I really wish he had stuck to his guns and remained retired. There are occasionally players who are capable of returning to the NBA and playing at a level that does not embarass them but I would rather see Sir Charles on the court at this point then “the answer”, who is looking more and more like a question mark.
I pick the Sixers to finish dead last, Iverson or no Iverson and that is saying a lot in view of the New Jersey team currently 2-20 in the Eastern Atlantic, but where the Nets have a chance at improvement, it will all be downhill for the 76ers from here. The schedule is not being kind to Philadelphia, either, with their next shot at a victory coming on the 19th against the Clippers, and frankly, don’t expect a win there either, as the Clippers are improving nearly as fast as the Sixers are declining.
All I can say is thank God for the Eagles over the winter, and come on Phillies next spring. At least these two teams give us something to cheer for even if they dont win championships.
Iverson’s return to Denver unlike Vick’s triumph in Atlanta
Vick returned to Atlanta with the Eagles and helped secure a 34-7 victory, contributing 2 scores, one passing and one rushing to the cause. Tonight it was Iverson returning to Philadelphia, the team that originally drafted him, and trying to beat the Nuggets, the team he was traded to in 2006 after falling out of favor with the 76ers. Careerwise, Iverson was “The Answer” in Philadelphia during his 10+ seasons with the team, holding the team’s top spots for average points per game scored, ranking second in overall scoring and steals, and 3rd all time in assists.
This is not a team that has not had it’s share of superstar contributors over the years, with the likes of Chamberlain, Irving and Barkley leading the team prior to Iverson ever shooting the ball in the NBA. Allen led the team to the 2001 NBA finals but failed to bring the championship home to a city who for years was starved for success on a national level. Last year the Phillies finally broke “the curse” and offered fans of this generation the chance to celebrate a national championship for a major sports franchise.
“Wilt the Stilt” and “The Dr” both brought championships to Philadelphia, then “Sir Charles” led the team to several finals but never won After Barkley the team hit the dark ages from 1991-1996 where they were just awful. The one bright spot was their getting the top pick in the lottery and picking “The Answer”. Iverson too took the team to the finals in his fifth season but failed to get the championship which I believe was a large part of why he eventually left in disgrace. This is a team that, at this point has not won a championship since 1983, and currently looks to be one of the five teams in the league LEAST likely to contend for a title with their current ensemble.
All that being said, the fact that Allen holds the spots he does in the 76ers record books against other players of the caliber mentioned above shows simply how good a player overall he is. The 192 games he has played in some other team’s uniform in no way compare to his tenure here, when he averaged better than 30 points a game for 5 full seasons and 28.5 points throughout his Sixers career. Even after his last few lackluster years, Iverson still ranks 3rd all time in points scored per game played, behind only Micheal Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Iverson is also 13th on the all time steals list.
The problem is, Iverson is a pure scorer. He can dish out assists at times, but not consistently, and he can rebound very well for his small size, but simply put, he is not a good fit to the current 76ers team. And the team has way too much invested in Brand and Dalembert to put a lot of time to an aging superstar who’s claim to fame is his ability to ignore the offensive scheme and relentless aim for the basket, possession after possession, sometimes shooting as many as 30 balls a game, even when his timing is off.
Early on tonight, the Sixers had a 4-8 point lead and Iverson played a fair amount of time, with minimal contribution. The more he pressed as the game wore on, the more the Sixers fell off their game and by the second half, the lead they had enjoyed became a deficit. Granted, the Sixers rode a 9 game losing streak into the second Iverson debut appearance, but one has to feel the signing was more to do about selling tickets than winning basketball games.
It certainly appears Iverson will not be “The Answer” to this team’s problems, made more obvious by the Phillies repeat appearance in the World Series, the Eagles near perennial contention in the NFC East and the Flyers prospects of finally winning another Stanley Cup. The Eagles have the longest current championship drought, but the Sixers have the least chance of bringing a championship to the city right now compared to the other major sports franchises in town.
The Sixers ended up losing by ten to run their losing streak to ten games, and Iverson finished with the following line. 4-11 3-4 5 6 1 11. That’s right, under 40 percent shooting, 5 assists, 1 steal, 11 points, in 38 minutes, an average night for a decidedly under average team.
All eyes on A.I. tonight
Step one of welcoming Allen Iverson back to the Sixers has already been a success as the team has its first sellout of the season for Iverson’s return tonight against the Denver Nuggets. A few more sellouts will follow, for a team that is second-to-last in NBA attendance.
As for step two? Well that won’t be determined for quite some time.
The Sixers brought back the two time NBA MVP last week in a move designed to drawl attention to the team and to help improve its on-the-court performance.
Since Iverson was acquired, the attention part has taken care of itself as sports talk radio has been filled with discussion about what fans think of the move and how it will impact the future of the team.
Likewise, more eyes will be glued to the television screen tonight then at any point this season to see just how big the ovation will be for A.I. when he is introduced.
Then fans will get to see the basketball part of it. There is little question that Iverson still has what it takes to score in the NBA. A past scoring champion, Iverson still has the ability to fill up the nets. The real question is how he will fit into an offensive system that runs the Princeton offense, and whether he will become more of a facilitator in his return.
My guess is that Iverson comes out tonight looking to show that he is a changed man. Whether or not that lasts more than a couple of games, we will find out.
Final line: 21 points, six assists, two steals in a Sixers’ loss.
What’s your prediction?
Iverson back with Sixers, but will he practice?
The smell is undeniable. Nothing lingers in the air quite the same as the smell of desperation.
The Sixers are ready to party like its 1999 or 2001 or something like that.
As expected Allen Iverson has agreed to come out of his “retirement” to join a Sixers team that is a horrible fit for him. The Sixers are clearly making the move to sell tickets, because on the surface it makes no sense. Here are a few reasons why:
1: Eddie Jordan has installed the Princeton offense in Philadelphia. The only offense Iverson runs is the “I” offense – as in I dribble, dribble some more and I shoot. Does anyone really see Iverson cutting and setting picks? Didn’t think so.
2: Iverson has lost a step. He may still be able to average 20 points for the Sixers, but no longer has that explosion to drop 40 on an opponent, something that made him an exciting ticket. I don’t think you will be seeing Iverson fool Lebron with a crossover anytime soon.
3: Youth will be put on the shelf. The days of Thaddeus Young and Jru Holiday getting a lot of shots are officially over. There are only so many shots to go around and with Iverson on the court, these guys drop further on the shot chart.
4: What happens when Lou Williams returns? Williams was starting to show promises prior to his jaw injury, giving the team 17.4 ppg. Are we expected to believe that once Williams returns, Iverson will be OK with coming off the bench? Now that’s a funny one. Iverson will stay on the court and Williams will keep the pine warm, losing a chance at developing for the sake of Ed Stefanski selling a couple of tickets.
At the end of the day, Iverson should help the team win a few more games and put a few more people in the seats – though not nearly as many as the Sixers think. However, if this move fizzles, we may be seeing the end of Stefanski’s short tenure with the team. When you put your only eggs in the baskets of the not-who-they-once-were duo of Elton Brand and Allen Iverson, you are putting your career in jeopardy.
The Sixers were bad before Iverson and will continue to be bad with him. On a scale of 1-10, all they did today was push their entertainment value from a one to a two. WooHoo!
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