A.I. returned to action this past weekend after missing 16 games with a back injury, and coach Michael Curry has used him sparingly off the bench in the last three games.
Iverson complained about his minutes on Tuesday after playing 18 against Cleveland. He admitted that he does not like the new role after playing 17 in a 111-98 loss to the Nets on Wednesday.
I’m in a position now that I’ve never been in my whole life. It’s harder than I thought it would be. With the back injury, I have to sit out at the start, then go in, then sit again. It’s tough to really get going. I take my hat off to the guys who can come off the bench and be effective. It’s tough for me. I’m struggling with it. I’d rather retire before I do this again. I can’t be effective playing this way. I’m not used to it. It’s tough for me both mentally and physically. If I’m able to go out there, I should be able to get it done and I can’t right now. It’s my fault. I have to be able to overcome the adversity and do what I have to do. I just have to find a way to get it done. Not being 100 percent makes it harder and you can see that I’m not 100 percent.
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Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson was fined $25,000 by the league on Tuesday for making inappropriate comments toward a fan in a win at Charlotte.
Iverson made some obscene comments to a fan with 6.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter during the Pistons’ 90-86 victory over the Bobcats on Saturday. It is still unclear as to what AI really did say.
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Rajon Rondo had 18 points and eight assists, outplaying Allen Iverson and the Pistons and leading the Boston Celtics to a 98-80 victory over Detroit on Thursday night.
Iverson had 16 points and four assists for Detroit, which fell to 4-3 since he was acquired from Denver for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess. Those two helped the Pistons reach the conference finals, where they lost to Boston in six games as the Celtics went on to win their 17th NBA title.
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The Pistons have reached an agreement with the Denver Nuggets to acquire guard Allen Iverson in exchange for Detroit mainstays Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess. Young center Cheikh Samb, selected by the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pistons with the 51st overall pick in the 2006 draft, will also be going to Denver in the deal.
Joe Dumars who was reeling after yet another early postseason exit last year promised an off season shake up and he sure delivered. Not so sure it was a positive shake up though. Sending away arguably your best player and floor general in Chauncey Billups for a washed up and aging Allen Iverson. Not to mention one of your grittiest big men in the deal. Detroit who was picked to be another top contender in the East might have just fallen off of their high horse with this moronic move by their GM. Hey it helps the Sixers, I’ll take it.
Denver now looks to have a much better shot in the West adding perennial All-Star Chauncey Billups as a true point guard, something Denver has lacked in recent years. McDyess also gives Kenyon Martin some help in front court.
Tonight, yyyyyour Philadelphia 76ers take on the Hawks in Atlanta, and with a victory tonight the 76ers will clinch a playoff berth.
With the Sixers magic number at 1 over both the Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets, a win tonight and the Sixers are in for the first time since 2005, quicker then any of us imaged post-Iverson.
It won’t be easy as the Sixers are on the road against one of the hottest teams in the NBA, a Hawks team that has won 9 out of their last 11 and are in a battle for the 8 seed in the East, also with Indiana and New Jersey. The man the Sixers will need to look to keep in check tonight is ‘The Game’ look-a-like, Hawk forward Josh Smith, who has been averaging 20 points, 6 boards, 6 assists, and 6 blocks a game during that stretch.
If the Sixers do fall short tonight, they can still clinch today with a loss by BOTH the Pacers, in Milwaukee and the Nets, in Detroit. If the Sixers come up short tonight and either the Nets or Pacers win, the Sixers next opportunity to clinch will come tomorrow night, this time at the Wachovia Center against the same aforementioned Hawks.
Iverson came back last night. A 15-month wait definitely added to the anticipation, and I would say it lived up to every expectation. I love how the national issue, on PTI, Sports Center, and if I could stand watching Around the Horn, I’m sure stat boy brought it up.
How would the fans react?
This had to be one of the dumbest, media drawn-up questions ever. There was no doubt in my or any Philly fan’s mind that the man would get a standing O. A better question is;
Would the crowd get so emotional, that they all leave the arena to gain composure, then when that didn’t work, would they all go to Billy King’s house and poop on his lawn?
I wonder what Skip Bayless would have prognosticated.
I’m pressed to remember any athlete’s return to his old team being so emotional. Thank God the announcer began introducing the rest of the Nuggets because A.I. was about to lose it, and frankly, so was I.
I was proud of the crowd for mustering up a powerful booing for the Nuggets after such an ovation. When A.I. started blowing kisses, I was okay, when he pounded his chest, I was okay, but when he pulled out the old Hulk Hogan ear to the crowd… I had to think happy thoughts. The Hogan ear was his go to move whenever he realized how sick the show he was putting on was.
What a great game too. That was the most intensity I’ve seen in a Sixers game since Iverson left. Not only does A.I. make everyone on his team better, he makes everyone on his old team better. No basketball player in the league relates to his fans like Iverson. That’s something 100 years from now, the numbers won’t show, and only the lucky fans that got to see him play will understand.
Iverson understands. He understands exactly what happened in Philly, and he even takes responsibility for it. “I had a big hand in me getting traded,” Iverson said. “I always wanted to finish my career here in Philadelphia. The opportunity was there for me to do it. In a lot of ways, I made sure that didn’t happen.”
I wish Larry Brown came into the press conference at this point and pulled a Robin Williams/Good Will Hunting on him.
“Hey Allen, you see this shit, all this. It’s Not your fault.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’s Not your fault.”
“I know.”
“No, no you don’t. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault”
“Don’t fuck with me Larry!”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Don’t fuck with me Larry! Don’t fuck with me, not you!”
Then they just hug and cry.
Okay, maybe I wish I had done that and not Larry.
Anyone that doesn’t recognize how incredible an athlete, how rare it is for an athlete to have the understanding Iverson has about the way he’s perceived and the maturity to handle it the way he does, is well, I’ll just say it… a racist. And probably a Nazi.
I think that’s accurate. Anyone who doesn’t love and appreciate someone like Iverson is very clearly, a Nazi.
On a side note. The Sixers look promising, very athletic, very young, and seemingly no attitude problems. If they can land a veteran 3 point shooter, they might actually contend for the east on a yearly basis. I wouldn’t put it past them to make waves in the playoffs this year, which is a huge surprise.
Iverson is the greatest Philadelphia sports Icon of the last 20 years… hands down. Eskin can eat a dick up til he hiccups.
You knew it when you saw number two. June 6, 2001 Staples Center, the city of stars Los Angeles, California. Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The raucous STAPLES Center crowd began chanting “SWEEP, SWEEP,” even before Game 1 began, and the Lakers looked the part by scoring 16 straight points early on jumping out to an 18-5 lead. However, clearly relishing his first appearance in the NBA Finals, Iverson was incredible for the first 2 1/2 quarters, scoring 38 points as the 76ers took a 73-58 lead.
Then the Lakers inserted rarely-used Tyronn Lue who was a surprise player on the Laker playoff roster. Lue even imitated Iverson in practice for a week leading up to Game 1 in order for LA to practice defending the Answer. Guarded by the speedy Lue most of the rest of the way, Iverson scored only three points until his flurry in overtime. Iverson broke free and hit a pull up transition 3 pointer and then with 48.2 seconds remaining, a highlight for NBA Finals history was made.
Starring Lue down baseline in front of a standing Lakers bench Iverson broke down Lue off the dribble, pulled back, hit a 20 footer, and EMBARASSINGLY walked right over top a fallen Lue. A moment that no Philadelphia sports fan will ever forget. The bucket sealed a thrilling Game 1 overtime victory over the previously un-beatable LA Lakers. The most unforgettable moment from the unforgettable 2001 Finals season.
The number 1 moment in Allen Iverson’s Philadelphia 76ers career…..
Our number 2 moment in the Answer’s top 10 moments in a 76er uniform comes once again from the memorable 2000-2001 season’s run to the NBA Finals. Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi’s, series tied 2-2. In the pre-game ceremony Allen Iverson was given his Most Valuable Player award for his 42 minutes a night (league leader), 31.1 points per game (league leader), 2.5 steals per game (league leader), and 4.6 assists per game season, while leading the 76ers to the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
After accepting the MVP trophy, the Answer delivered on cue. The NBA’s Most Valuable Player scored 52 points, including 29 in the first half, and poured in eight 3-pointers, a team playoff-record. The 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 121-88 to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Answer was the second player to score 50 or more points twice in a series; Michael Jordan is the only other player to do so, against Cleveland in 1988.
The number 2 moment, Allen Iverson, the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player.
February 12, 2005, it was the Answer’s day. Allen Iverson dropped his career high 60 points against the Orlando Magic. It was in the middle of the Sixers last season going to the playoffs under Iverson, and the Sixers won 112-99 behind Iverson’s 60 points on 17-36 shooting and 24-27 from the free throw line. The win brought the Sixers record to a mere 24-25 on the season.
The number 3 moment in our top 10 moments of Allen Iverson’s in a Sixer uniform, scoring a career high 60 points.
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