ALLEN IVERSON's Answer

Say it ain't so Bubba Chuck!

Okay so the news is that AI is calling it quits. Because he insists he is a starter in this league. This has always been a part of Iverson's problem. He knows more than everyone else.

On one hand it made a skinny undersized heart of a lion boy into an NBA scoring man. But he also has lived a fantasy also. As much as he butted heads with Larry Brown, he owes Coach his career. It was the team that Brown built that made Iverson flourish.

Yes we look at those teams and say "but he had to take all those shots". Yes, but we forget that Brown would get rid of anyone who would threaten or challenge Iverson for shots. Exhibit A? Jerry Stackhouse.

Yes Stackhouse came before Iverson. The 2 of them could not play together because they both wanted to hurl shots like a drunk at a bar. "Give me another, bartender!" Neither could play point guard either because that required passing the ball to someone else.

Brown felt Iverson was a better offensive threat so off went Stackhouse. Brown shipped out Stack and Eric Montross for Aaron McKie and Theo Ratliff.  McKie and Ratliff were both defensive players. McKie could score a little but he was not a ball hog or a whiner if he didn't get the ball.

Then came Larry Hughes who was going to be made into a point guard. Didn't work. Brown tried bringing in Tony Kukoc to help Iverson with scoring and he couldn't get Iverson to share either.

Brown basically put Iverson on the floor with a defensive minded team and let him take a zillion shots. He could score. But 1 man can't do it all. Even Michael Jordan proved that. As a result the  76ers had a run with Iverson scoring and the others feeding him the ball and playing defense.

The worst thing that happened to Iverson is the media calling him one of the best ballers ever. That is simply stupid and not true. He is one of the better scorers to ever play the game yes. And he is one of the warriors of the game. But he was and is a defensive liability. Yes he had his steals but that does not negate the bad defense.  Other then Tyrone Lou, who could not and cannot back Iverson down?

I loved AI and still do but I am not delusional like many were and are. He is a scorer. He is not a shooter, a passer, a defender, or a great team mate on the floor. He does not help his team mates on the floor with their job. He may be fun to hang around with at a club. In fact he probably would buy you a drink but don't expect him to pass you the ball or make a pick to spring you. He would rather take on 3 defenders than pass it to an open man on the wing.

So here we are. His liability is even more pronounced and he thinks he should start. And there are probably times when he a team may start him. But the fact is he can give you some points and he should let a team that might want that decide when and where he will give them those points.

At 34 yrs old, why should he care if he plays 20 minutes off the bench if it for a contender? Now I will add, if I was signed by the Grizzlies or some other  crap team I would insist on starting also. I mean if you want to develop the kids don't sign an Iverson. I thought the Knicks were smart to back out of a deal. What good is it to win 3 more games if your going to only win 29?

Now if the Magic, Cav's, Lakers, Spurs or Celtics come a callin'? He needs to suck it up and try for the ring.