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posted By Air Run NY, 5 November 2009 9:19:31 AM
Like 2Pac, it’s Iverson against the world. The bottom line is AI can still play this game at a very high level, but he needs to start and get his minutes to get in the flow of the game. The Grizzlies should have never signed AI if they had no intentions of giving him major minutes. Letting AI raise his stock before the trade deadline is the smart thing to do for that floundering franchise in Memphis. And...Lionel Eugene Hollins is starting to look like Michael Curry II…Since getting traded away from Denver Allen Iverson has been cursed by playing for mediocre clueless coaches. He must long for the days he was in Denver playing for George Karl.
posted By Steve Kyler, 5 November 2009 9:34:49 AM
There is part of me that says how would the world react if Kobe Bryant said these exact words... or LeBron... Carmelo... Tim Duncan... would we view those comments with such distain?... I am not sure we would... why exactly does AI have to put his career in the drawer because he had an ending contract? The more I chew on this the more I like Iverson has a valid point... just handled poorly.
posted By @Air Run NY, 5 November 2009 9:47:01 AM
Its funny because George Karl and Larry Brown both gushed about A.I., yet neither franchise would spend the bag of peanuts it would take to get him. Kind of tells you something. Don't kid yourself either, Brown especially has a lot of power when it comes to attaining and getting rid of players. I agree though hes not quite the monster hes become by everyone. However, he seems to enforce his noteriety every chance he gets.
posted By Toolatecrew, 5 November 2009 9:50:39 AM
Cripes. Iverson was out for a month with an injury. He missed basically all of his chances to gel with his new team. He played 18 minutes his first game back. He played 28 MPG his second game back. People are complaining about Hollins not giving him minutes? Like no coach has ever brought a guy back from injury or integrated one with a new team slowly? Does Iverson even know the plays yet? If he EARNS his way into the starting lineup that's great. WHat kind of coach yanks their starters who earned that spot last year and in training camp from the lineup to put in a guy who's never shown anything with THIS team and was hurt?
Iverson needs to decide which it is. You either care about winning above all else or you don't. He cared about $ more than winning becuase he did not accept a Vets minimum offer from a contender. Its fact. He says he's not a 6th man.I thought it was about winning? His whole philosophy seems to be SEE told you so you don't start me and we lose. Well go a ahead and start him and when they end up going 2 and 8 over 10 games then he can sit down and STFU becuase he's starting and they aren't winning.
Putting him on this team was a HUGE mistake. Not becuase he can't play but becuase they are not a contender and he's not going to make them better in the future. All he does is take minutes, shots from young developing guys like Conoley and poison the chemistry.
posted By Toolatecrew, 5 November 2009 9:54:33 AM
@Steve
Is Iverson Kobe or Lebron at this stage though? He didn't lead his team to a championship last year. His team sucked. He wasn't MVP last year. If Kobe said the same thing of course people would support him. He'd be right. Its not reomtley the same thing.
The only person who is putting Iverson's career in a drawer is Iverson. He chose to go to Memphis.
posted By tell da truth, 5 November 2009 9:56:40 AM
ai just needs to play... the coach has already made it clear that nothing has been set in stone so if he plays well he'll EARN a bigger role.btw iverson should really consider not giving interviews cause all it does is blow up in his face.he seem to be more diplomatic this time by just saying that it's a young team with a lot of talent and that he feels he can help more... I see no problem with that statementbut when you start throwing your career stats around it sounds very selfish.
hollins is in a different type of situation cause he's never coach a player like iverson who gets so much attention good and bad.the media is going to want to talk about iverson cause he gives them stuff to talk about.my grandfather told me that "people would never know how stupid you are if you didn't open your mouth"!to iverson's credit though,he say's the same things as other payers but because of who he is it gets blown out of proportion.iverson and his friends saved 2 girls who's car had flipped on the highway and it got hardly no coverage but he say's he thinks that he should start and it's on every media outlet.note to iverson...don't feed the animals! shut your mouth.
posted By tell da truth, 5 November 2009 10:14:15 AM
@steve...he hit the nail right on the head.iverson handled the situation poorly and spoke out of emotion.everyone knows that ai is one of the most emotional players in the league and in fact one of the most honest ones so he's going to tell you what's on his mind right or wrong good or bad.
@tool...I agree and disagree with your statement.I disagree with the notion that he's going to take away from conley's development.he is in his 3rd or 4th yr and he hasn't really established himself as the guy people want him to be.this team went out on a leap of faith to get zac and iverson to try an win now.they may have been on the verge of losing a team in memphis if they continued to try and developed guys who may or may not have it.
posted By Toolatecrew, 5 November 2009 10:20:56 AM
If you think Iverson playing 35 MPG plus and taking 15-18 shots isn't going to effect Conely and Mayo's development you are crazy. Conoley had no confidence early. Last year they givae him the starting PG job and flurished. Now he's going back to a bench role? Mayo was developing into the GO To guy wofr the team on offense and end of games. Now he's going to stand and watch while Iverson becomes that guy? Or worse sit on the nech and watch?
Win now? WIn WHAT? They aren't going to win a championship, a conference or even a division? How can you "win now" when you have no chance of winning anything?
posted By No Blood No Foul, 5 November 2009 10:29:58 AM
I have great respect for Allen Iverson's game, and I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt as a person. However, one simple fact sums up his career: Iverson has never accepted a situation where he's not heavily personally involved. That goes for his role off the bench in Memphis and Detroit, that goes for his tendency to wander on defense, that goes for his need to pound the ball on offense, his disdain for practice, etc. I love the guy as a player - who couldn't love a 5'10" monster getting hammered every game for 40+ minutes and still putting up great performances - but I think it's fair to say he's never completely bought into the team concept. The sad thing is (at least to me) Iverson could have a ring or two if he could have figured this out 10 years ago. Looks like he never will. He's still one of my favorites, but I'm officially disappointed in him.
posted By Mike K, 5 November 2009 10:35:08 AM
Conley sucks. Just watch him - he's small, can't drive, doesn't do much. The NBA and the world for that matter is loaded with basketball players, and he's not going to amount to much in this league.
____________________________
Iverson is 10 times better than Conley and should be starting. It takes 10 seconds of watching the two of them on the court to figure out the talent discrepancy. The Grizz shouldn't have used Iverson to sell tickets if that's what they were going to do.
posted By @tool ate crew, 5 November 2009 10:40:25 AM
You are probably the most negative person on this site. If you're not bashing a player, you are bashing a writer. Maybe you should go to Dr. Heath for some psychological help. Maybe you could find healthier ways of working out your issues than ranting on HW.
posted By Rick in Seattle, 5 November 2009 11:07:20 AM
Steve, so where does that leave things with Amare and Phoenix? Is Phoenix interested in offering Amare an extension? I didnt hear much about that in your discussion, or are they waiting to see how Amare's health is? Unless they are resigned to losing Amare, they should be making some attempt to keep him. But right now there seems to be nothing going on, and that seems strange IF Phoenix really feels that Amare is a cornerstone player that they want to keep.
posted By tell da truth, 5 November 2009 11:53:00 AM
@tool...this is where you are mistaken.winning and avg of 23 games a yr is not going to make anyone on this team better.how long is it going to take conley to developed?2 more yrs of mid 20 win seasons?i for one am not saying iverson should or has to be the focal point of the offense...zac and marc should have more of the offense ran threw them just going off of what i've seen so far.mayo would benefit more with iverson being that he'll have the ball more and he'll get open looks.the defense plays off of conley and he won't attack to make them pay for it.last night the warriors kept sagging off of him to double zac and marc.he has to be more aggressive and when he does that he plays well.
posted By Steve Kyler, 5 November 2009 11:55:34 AM
Where do things stand?... I think Phoenix hangs on to Amar'e all year... I think in July he's opting out... if Phoenix won;t give him MAX money or damn close to it, he's going shopping... if Miami or another team ponies up big dollars I think he's leaving and I think the Suns are fine with that scenario --- I got a real sense of we're gonna ride this thing out and see where we land - I got that from both sides of this... I think if someone offers Kerr something foolish for Amar'e they;d consider it, but they are not actively shopping him or planning to move him.
posted By kelleysthrngrl, 5 November 2009 11:55:39 AM
First of all Memphis fans do not care who is on the roster. If you are not winning, they will not attend. Kobe could be on the roster to sell tickets if he is losing they won't go! Plain and simple. If they spend their money they want to see winning results. So they couldn't use him to sell tickets-wrong crowd for that joke. Second, Conley is overrated. He should've played college a little longer but he is here and is improving. The team as a unit is not winning games because of DEFENSE, TURNOVERS and FREE THROWS! Now if AI can tell me his remedy for that we can talk! Is he the answer? Not so sure. He should be concerned about the number of minutes he is out there and how much he defends the ball as opposed to starting. Heck I can start! That doesn't mean I'm the leading player because of it. You have starters who can score all day and all night but the key is to stop the other team from scoring so much on you. This trading basket ish is for the birds. That is what he should be discussing with the media. Does this guy have a publicist???
posted By Toolatecrew, 5 November 2009 1:01:49 PM
@ Tell da truth
So how many games will Memphis win if you play Iverson 35 MPG as a starter and sit Conoley? They won 24 games last year. Is Iverson worth 10 wins? Really doubt it but let's say he is. What does that do for the TEAM. That doesn't even SNIFF the playoffs. I'll ask again what are they winning? So they win 34 games. Is Iverson their PG/SG for the next 5 years? NOPE Geting him was stupid becuase it doesn't acomplish any MEANINGFUL goals. IF your goal is to win 35 games you have probalems setting goals.
posted By Ryan, 5 November 2009 1:56:34 PM
Do I really have to be the first one to say this. Are you smoking crack??? How can you say that the magic are significantly better offensively then the celtics. This is a team bringing wallace off the bench. Then you added that we'll see on defense. You might have put down the haterade that you were drinking from the magic, but it looks like you picked up the haterade flavors on the rest of the league. Take some advice and be a journalist and don't exaggerate or take sides.
posted By tell da truth, 5 November 2009 2:10:20 PM
@tool... what it does do is start to get some kind of winning mentality.your absolutely right that winning 10 more game ain't ish to the everyday fans or the good team but for a young team like the gizz it could mean a world of difference.improvement from last YR...they can't keep doing the same things and expect different results. they have yet to win more than 24 games in 3 yrs,which shows me tat there hasn't been much improving going on around there.
i've stated once already that i'm not saying just give ai the ball and let him do his thing cause I personal don't think he has that in him anymore...not for a whole season at least.what i'm saying is that at crunch time ai mayo gay zac and marc should be on the floor.conley is going to get his mins and it may serve him better to not have so much on him cause so far he hasn't shown to be able to handle that yet.what we do know it that iverson lives for that type of pressure and can handle it.during the 2 games ai has been back he has played pretty well considering he hasn't really played much ball in some time.granted some of the things he is doing is not really in the flow of the game but that will come in time.I absolutely agree with hollins that ai needs to work his way into the starting role. soon enough whether you agree with it or not iverson is going to take conley's job.just being real iverson is clearly the better player of the 2 plain and simple.
posted By Good Teammate Award, 5 November 2009 2:25:51 PM
Dear Mr. Iverson,
Congratulations for making it almost two games before seeking to destroy your team's chemistry. However, we regret to inform you that your consideration for our award has been denied.
Sincerely Yours,
GTA Board of Directors
posted By Toolatecrew, 5 November 2009 2:29:31 PM
Lost of people said Iverson is clearly better than Blillups. look how that turned out. Being more talented doesn't mean anything. If it did answer me this? Iverson is clearly better than Derek Fisher. Why isn't he starting for the World Champion Lakers this year? Manu Ginobli is CLEARLY better than Bruce Bowen or Finley. Why did he come off the bench for the Spurs when they won the championship.
The idea that bringing in an aged star to help the team win a few more games helps young players "learn to win" is BS. They tried it with Jordan. All it does is kill the confidence of young players becuase they are effectivley told we won't give you the chance to succeed or fail in imprtant situations. How are Conely or Mayo ever going to grow into pressure situations if you put the ball in Iverson's handds and their butt on the bench. Players don't learn by watching.
Allen Iverson can do many good things. But no one considerers him a model for young guards and how to play the game.
posted By tell da truth, 5 November 2009 4:05:02 PM
hate to break up your party but conley is no billiups. if he even showed signs of being that type of player you would get no arguments from me.it's funny that you bring up a vet laced team like the spurs who has oe of the best coaches in the league.manu doesn't start but he plays starter mins and when the game is close guess who's in the game?so what are they learning that they couldn'tt of already winning 24 game... how to except losing?you win 10 more games and you build from that,you keep winning 24 games and you get content with that. they brought zac and allen in cause they said that they wanted to win more games.you act as if I said conley should be at the end of the bench.conley will get his time no matter what to grow as a player...he'll just have less pressure on himself and play more freely.as i've said before he has had 3 yrs to grow and what has that gotten him other than a lot of criticism.you keep bring up mayo but he was the main guy in the media talking about how he wants iverson on that team.it's no secret of what kind of player iverson is(balls to the wall 100mph)!
ok tool your the coachhow would you use this roster? what mins do you give to who?how long will the city of memphis have to wait for conley to live up to that #4status?hell tool they tried to trade the guy for much of last yr...how much part of the future is he let alone iverson.trust me dog I hear what your saying and i'm not in full disagreement with you cause I see the logic of building a young team and allowing the guys to go threw their growing pains but my question is for how long?has it hit you that conley may be a career backup.I know iverson isn't the answer for this team going forward but for this yr and going by what the coach has said he wants this team to play iverson is the answer.if not then why does hollins keep saying that the door is open.iverson just needs to shut up and take it.
posted By Chris, 5 November 2009 5:07:18 PM
i Agree with steve.... iverson has a valid point but just handled it poorly
posted By Detroit Pistons fan, 5 November 2009 5:28:52 PM
Dear Memphis Grizzlies fan, I am sorry to pass our burden onto you. I hope you make it through this season with less bitterness in your hearts than us. Can't say we didn't tell you so. (Also you want an example of a great player who is fine coming off the bench and doesn't whine like a little girl about it look at our recently acquired Ben Gordon)
posted By dear detroit fan, 5 November 2009 5:50:17 PM
you sir are in no better position than you were last yr!what's your point?
posted By kombayn, 5 November 2009 8:29:37 PM
Allen Iverson should be the starting PG for the Grizzlies. He had 18 points and 7 assists last night. Mike Conley should come off the bench to guide the young bench through struggles on offense. A.I. works a lot better creating mismatches all around for the opposing starting 5. START A.I.!!! A.I. > Mike Conley, Jr.
posted By Say What, 5 November 2009 8:53:42 PM
@ Toolatecrew....
The kind of coach that would yank an average player as soon as an All Star Player returns is. A guy like Stan Van Gundy who started Nelson after he missed two months of basketball, or a Coach like Mike brown who starts West his first game back in a similar situation last year during the playoffs. Lets try George Karl AI was named the started his first day he arrived in Denver he barely had his bags unpacked and he was starting and playig 30 minutes because he is a star **** the plays, Stars make plays.
Lets try a coach like Phil Jackson who started Bynum his first game back in the playoffs after he had missed 40 games and the team was winning without him.
Great coaches all understand the principle that you do not over coach you just manage your players and put them the best situation.
The players play the game and there is no substitution for TALENT. You can not coach talent it is just god given. Paul Silas did not want to start LBJ his first year. Mid season they canned his ass and we all were witness to King James. FYI Silas has nt worked since....
It is also not fair to put Conley in the same situation that the pistons put Stuckey in. If he does not earn that spot and they just give it to him it will damage his career. For him to play in front of a Star he may get the misconception that he has arrived. When he is far from even beeing a proven starter in the NBA. Not only should AI start over him. There are 30 other guards that will take his lunch on any given day....
posted By mr.pnutt, 5 November 2009 10:15:34 PM
I've always liked AI but he shouldn't stated anything about starting/his playing time; as much competion he has faced he should know if u are the better player than u will get the mins on the court & that's the bottom line.
posted By Toolatecrew, 6 November 2009 6:38:46 AM
@saywhat
Way to ignore the fact that Iverson was injured and missed most of not all the time when new players learn their teamates and plays etc. Its not repmtley the same as a player who has gone through a complete training camp with his team and wasn't injured.
posted By Isabela, 6 November 2009 7:28:20 AM
What is our goal in every BA basketball game?, the answer is always to win. The team should not signed A.I. when they had told that he's not coming off the bench. It's totally destructive not only to one's player career, but also destroying a man. A.I. is honest, that is why he is heavily affected. Not to mention that he's god given talent. If Lebron and Kobe would suffer the same thing, they will feel the same because they knew their games. It's not that we judged how poorly or good ball he played the last games or last first quarter of the game. We should be an mvp type player before commenting to much to a player on how he played basket. I hope you understand rhythm, as Jordan said during bull's days that i'm in rhythm, even Kobe had said this 'in rhythm'. How can you boost an extra ordinary player if he's in and out, in and out..., and lack of minutes,also no rhythm!. You can do the sixth man(off the bench) to a center player who always dunk and shoot near the rim. But to a talented, hhhm. Just handle A.I. and team inside the court and just trust, he has great passing skills also, like this: the power of talents penetrating inside but pass, points!.
Let's wake up all!!!
Shooter is seasonal, when shooter is heavily guarded, shooter find difficulty. Special talents are just numbers!.
In here, we had basketball experience we played 5 on 5 whole court, our team is 25 to 39 range, the other team is 21 and below, they are everyday on the court playing basket and has skills also. The scores: Our team 21 their team 13, next game: our team 21 their team 17.
1 point per shoot, no 2 points nor three point shot. Same average height level!.Not age. Talents and physically fit.
posted By To Dear Detroit Fan, 6 November 2009 7:44:18 AM
That AI doesn't understand how to play the game with grace or anything resembling team spirit. That BG who is currently tied at 10th in scoring with Lebron James does. They are both prolific scorers. One of them is embracing his new team and a 6th man role with maturity, the other is a jackass that poisons the team environment around him. It was simply an example of how AI COULD be handling himself, but he's a selfish selfabsorbed dude. Why on Earth did EVERY other team pass on him? With HIS abundant ammount of talent even at this age? This is why. That was my point. He is talented as hell. He's also a selfish jackass. imo of course.
posted By Isabela, 6 November 2009 7:56:20 AM
A.I. has great number of fans all over the world including innocent on playing basket. We make them very disappointed and saddened.
I am a fan of every good basketball player.not just to one!. no favoritism!. Should not signed, because A.I. had told us very early no to sixth man.
posted By Isabela, 6 November 2009 8:02:47 AM
If A.I. is that, he had not carried sixers in 2001 finals game 1 win.
The bottom line!!!: management on handling A.I. and the team inside the court.That's that.
posted By eolufemi, 6 November 2009 2:10:07 PM
AI allowed himself to be thrown under the bus in Detroit by keeping quiet. Clearly, he's learned that he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. I like this AI more than the AI in Detroit. In Detroit I felt sorry for him. In Memphis I feel like he's got his confidence back and is willing to take on the world again. That's why his fans love him. Because he's got grit and a never say die attitude even when the deck is stacked against him. I got league pass just to watch this guy. So far so good. AIs been looking good and its obvious the team is much better when he's on the floor. Whether he starts or not is irrelevant. What's important is that the guy is on the floor with the ball in his hand as much as possible. His offense is defense. He can get hot perimeter players in foul trouble and he wears his defenders out with his own game, which reduces the productivity of opposing players. Trust AI and enjoy being relevant this season whether they make the playoffs or not. Conley is not the future. Memphis will have to go after a premier vet guard regardless because Conley just doesn't have it in him. In the mean time enjoy what AI brings to the table.
posted By ., 12 November 2009 7:59:48 AM
The coach who should be the one giving trust and motivation to a player is not happening but criticizing instead. That is why the player is not playing very well or not playing at his best. Giving just a 1 year contract to a player is not appropriate to both team and player(pressure, no trust, no good relationship,ego, etc..).It's like a comparison of playing basket in a town for 1 month vacation( I don't know the players or team i am playing!), as compared to playing basket with friends in my hometown.
The player should find a Home!
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