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Questions concerning "The Answer"
Thursday, December 14, 2006
By Tovash Hatcher
The 2006 NBA season is in full swing and we've already seen some brow-raising events. How many of you knew that the Philadelphia 76ers and Allen Iverson would be parting ways? What team in their right mind would get rid of their franchise player? It actually went the other way however. Iverson went up the front office of the Sixers and told the ownership that he demands to be traded. Seeing Iverson in another uniform other than the Sixers, well, the clock is ticking.
Ten years of service, multiple scoring titles, 28 points per game, an NBA Finals appearance, 1 MVP title, and a partridge in a pear tree describes one Allen Iverson. Let me ask this question first, would you love to have Iverson join your favorite team? Allen Iverson is a gritty tough player who puts his body on the line for the love of the game. He has a passion for putting the ball in the hoop. He also has a passion for winning. So why doesn't Iverson have a team to play for? It's been 1 whole week and the guy is at home waiting for someone to pick him up. The Sixers have ended their relationship with Iverson after he demanded a trade just seven short days ago. Iverson has been out of work for a week but there is no temp service or unemployment line for him to jump into. Iverson is due to make $39 million dollars for the next two seasons so not many teams would like to make that financial move. It is a bit risky to pay any one over the age of 30 who is injury prone, but people we are talking about a Hall of Fame lock here. Iverson is at least worth the risk of acquiring. Remember this, Iverson has no championship under his belt and is starving to take a stroll down championship lane.
Many people close their eyes and imagine number 3 in a uniform of their favorite team but who are the real players in the A.I. sweepstakes?
-The Los Angeles Clippers are in a good position to take Iverson but with a nucleus of young players, does Mr. Sterling want to add Iverson to that group? Iverson, Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston are a way to get a team deep into the playoffs. Last season the Clips were just one win away from the Western Conference Finals.
-The Minnesota Timberwolves have Kevin Garnett. Here is a simple formula that the T-Wolves need to do: See KG. See KG not win. See KG remain a loyal player to the T-Wolves franchise. See KG demand to win or else. See the T-Wolves spend money to get Iverson. And see a happy and rejuvenated KG play championship ball with Iverson on the team. Minnesota can use a guy like Iverson because that provides scoring from another source other than Garnett. Teams allow Garnett to get his points but they shut down the rest of the team. Minnesota almost desperately needs someone like an Iverson on their team because it would take a ton of pressure away from Garnett who pretty much leads his team in every category except popcorn sales.
- Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets have been rumored to have interest in Iverson as well, but you have to ask yourself can Melo and "The Answer" co-exist. Anthony and Iverson are 1 & 2 in scoring in the league and I don't think that Denver would need another scorer. I still believe that the Nuggets will need to find a big man that can score in the paint before they load up in the guard category.
-Or what about the LA Lakers? Phil Jackson told us not to count out the Lakers in this whole thing. Two words Phil: Kobe Bryant. There wouldn't be enough basketballs to go around in LA. But it sure would make for good TV huh? If Kobe was successful enough to run Shaq out of Lala-land, what do you think he'd do to the little guy? Bryant has made it very clear that he wants to be the man in Los Angeles so even though Jackson may say not to count them out, Bryant will tell you otherwise.
In the midst of this Iverson love fest, do not forget this rose also comes with a few thorns. Everyone remembers the tirade that he went on in front of the media when he talked about how he feels about practicing. If I can recall I think he said the word "practice" 27 1/2 times. If you have the official count please email me at tovash10@yahoo.com. But if you're a coach on a team that just signed him, does that affect the way you run your team? A lot of teams still keep that in mind when they make their evaluations. Mark Cuban told Dan Patrick that the Mavericks have no interest in Iverson because of team chemistry. Iverson and his wife Tawanna have made the news more than once as well. Domestic violence is nothing new in this country, but when an athlete is accused, everyone knows about it. Allen and Tawanna have been in more fights than Ali-Frazier and quite frankly, that weighs heavily on teams' decisions as well. Anytime a player's wife's first name is known in public that would be a bad thing. If you think I'm lying do your research. Take Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Doug Christie for example. Michael and Kobe were guilty of cheating on their wives Juanita and Vanessa, Magic brought Cookie to the public when he announced his disease, and Doug Christie and Jackie are the biggest joke of a couple outside of Lucy and Ricky who actually got paid to be funny. Iverson is a big risk to any team in the NBA. But what he contributes on the floor is nothing less than exceptional.
If your team decides to make a move on Iverson, would that end being a good move or a disastrous one?
I'm Tovash Hatcher
4:32 PM
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