"We DO/DON'T Want Allen Iverson" Thread (merged)

[moiso]

I think Iverson is got a lot of undeserved bashing over the past few seasons.

But, I do not want to see him come to Boston. Not with the roster we currently have. There is no need for him. We need a C and a SF. That is it. Unless we trade a current backcourt player for one of those positions, there is no reason to add another undersized, one-dimensional guard.

I really don't believe he would be a bad locker room guy at this point in his career. I hope he gets a shot somewhere, just not here.

Undeserved bashing?  He literally quit two teams recently.  Who does that?  Pretty much nobody, so I would say he is as big of a locker room problem as you can find.
And I agree that he is no longer a useful player and he would be very redundant when paired with the similar and far more talented(at this time) Nate Robinson. 

I've been against signing AI for years, and with each year that goes by I become more and more against it.  For a few years he has been getting older and slower, and being a locker room problem.  Last year, to top it off, he could't even stay healthy.  No way.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd love AI here in Green, too - but the way our roster is filling out, we need a Big more than anything else.

[35Lewis]

Iverson hasn't done anything in the last two seasons to warrant a spot on this roster.  Denver became instantly better without him and Detroit becam instantly worse.  He quit and wouldn't accept a role off the bench and then was given a gift of a contract by Wallace and still couldn't accept that fact that he shouldn't start.  In Philly they put the ball in his court to return and go out gracefully by playing within the team but he still wanted to be old AI and not role AI.  He left when he realized he wasn't getting it done and now he thinks he has game left.

Iverson's attitude and mentality is what made him great because he was never a great shooter just a great scorer.  That same mentality and attitude is what will keep him from accepting his declining skillset.

[GreenFaith1819]

Does anyone have a specific link or links to quotes or news articles over the last few years about AI not wanting to come off the bench? I've never met the man, but I'd find it hard to believe that he is that selfish to not want to play a specific role for a contender.

I know that there was speculation over the last few years about situations he was dealing with, but from his mental side or desire to win can anyone question that?

I just find it hard to believe some of the things I've read about him over the last several months.

Just wondering.

After "The Decision", I trust ESPN reporting a little less nowadays.

[wdleehi]

He is no longer a good player, just a guy that will shoot alot and quit on his team if they do not start him.

[moiso]

Does anyone have a specific link or links to quotes or news articles over the last few years about AI not wanting to come off the bench? I've never met the man, but I'd find it hard to believe that he is that selfish to not want to play a specific role for a contender.

I know that there was speculation over the last few years about situations he was dealing with, but from his mental side or desire to win can anyone question that?

I just find it hard to believe some of the things I've read about him over the last several months.

Just wondering.

After "The Decision", I trust ESPN reporting a little less nowadays.

I nominate you for "most optomistic man in the world."  From Rasheed to AI to other jerks, you think they are all great guys.

[Celtics4ever]

He doesn't have it anymore.  Game relied on speed and he has lost a step.  Get real.  Former allstars on the decline is not going to win crap.

[Bahku]

Does anyone have a specific link or links to quotes or news articles over the last few years about AI not wanting to come off the bench? I've never met the man, but I'd find it hard to believe that he is that selfish to not want to play a specific role for a contender.

I know that there was speculation over the last few years about situations he was dealing with, but from his mental side or desire to win can anyone question that?

I just find it hard to believe some of the things I've read about him over the last several months.

Just wondering.

After "The Decision", I trust ESPN reporting a little less nowadays.

I nominate you for "most optomistic man in the world."  From Rasheed to AI to other jerks, you think they are all great guys.

I like the optimism, myself ... and whether we need AI or not, I think GreenFaith is just implying that AI has a larger target on his back than he deserves, and I agree.

The guy has made many bad moves, and is certainly not at the level he once was, but he's far from a total wash, and is incredibly gifted when it comes to basketball, by anyone's standards.

The majority of our team isn't in the shape it once was, either, and Iverson has received enough bashing to last anyone a lifetime or two ... some deserved, maybe, but not needed, and completely pointless.

He's become the NBA's poster boy for "Kick Him When He's Down", and I'm a bit tired of it. (TP, GF).

[lovely_20]

Over the hill ball dominating attitude problem with eroded skills.  I will take a massive pass.

Knowing Iverson from his Georgetown days, I absolutely do not want to see him in Green. Not only is his game not what it once was, but who here thinks that his head will totally be in the game?  He missed most of the latter part of last season due to his daughter's illness.  Granted, Ray Allen also has a sick child, but I think he has the ability to put that in the back of his mind when he is on the court.

I have to agree with those who said no.

[celticsclay]

I think Iverson is got a lot of undeserved bashing over the past few seasons.

But, I do not want to see him come to Boston. Not with the roster we currently have. There is no need for him. We need a C and a SF. That is it. Unless we trade a current backcourt player for one of those positions, there is no reason to add another undersized, one-dimensional guard.

I really don't believe he would be a bad locker room guy at this point in his career. I hope he gets a shot somewhere, just not here.

Undeserved bashing?  He literally quit two teams recently.  Who does that?  Pretty much nobody, so I would say he is as big of a locker room problem as you can find.
And I agree that he is no longer a useful player and he would be very redundant when paired with the similar and far more talented(at this time) Nate Robinson. 

I've been against signing AI for years, and with each year that goes by I become more and more against it.  For a few years he has been getting older and slower, and being a locker room problem.  Last year, to top it off, he could't even stay healthy.  No way.

In answer to your question of "who does that" we could have to turn a blind eye to one of our own celtics. The pistons team from two years ago completely quit on their coach by all accounts including rasheed wallace. In fact when the team was at the apex of their quitting, getting blown out in the playoffs and showing zero fight despite a talented roster that included wallace, hamilton and price, iverson was not even on the active roster.

[celticsclay]

I think Iverson is got a lot of undeserved bashing over the past few seasons.

But, I do not want to see him come to Boston. Not with the roster we currently have. There is no need for him. We need a C and a SF. That is it. Unless we trade a current backcourt player for one of those positions, there is no reason to add another undersized, one-dimensional guard.

I really don't believe he would be a bad locker room guy at this point in his career. I hope he gets a shot somewhere, just not here.

Undeserved bashing?  He literally quit two teams recently.  Who does that?  Pretty much nobody, so I would say he is as big of a locker room problem as you can find.
And I agree that he is no longer a useful player and he would be very redundant when paired with the similar and far more talented(at this time) Nate Robinson. 

I've been against signing AI for years, and with each year that goes by I become more and more against it.  For a few years he has been getting older and slower, and being a locker room problem.  Last year, to top it off, he could't even stay healthy.  No way.

In answer to your question of "who does that" we could have to turn a blind eye to one of our own celtics. The pistons team from two years ago completely quit on their coach by all accounts including rasheed wallace. In fact when the team was at the apex of their quitting, getting blown out in the playoffs and showing zero fight despite a talented roster that included wallace, hamilton and price, iverson was not even on the active roster.

In case you want a refresher of this, take a look at this box score http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290426008 .  Notice the only guys on the pistons that seem to have still been trying were mcdyess and bynum. Plus, taking a look at the cavaliers roster there is no way that series should have been a blowout sweep.

[nickagneta]

Oi vay!!!!

Another AI to the C's thread? I thought these would have died after last year.

I guess I underestimated the tenacity of those kids who wore his black Sixers jersey with the backwards black ChiSox or Raiders hat of the late 90's and early 00's still looking at this guy as some sort of great basketball player and wanting to see him play for the Celtics.

[moiso]

Does anyone have a specific link or links to quotes or news articles over the last few years about AI not wanting to come off the bench? I've never met the man, but I'd find it hard to believe that he is that selfish to not want to play a specific role for a contender.

I know that there was speculation over the last few years about situations he was dealing with, but from his mental side or desire to win can anyone question that?

I just find it hard to believe some of the things I've read about him over the last several months.

Just wondering.

After "The Decision", I trust ESPN reporting a little less nowadays.

I nominate you for "most optomistic man in the world."  From Rasheed to AI to other jerks, you think they are all great guys.

I like the optimism, myself ... and whether we need AI or not, I think GreenFaith is just implying that AI has a larger target on his back than he deserves, and I agree.

The guy has made many bad moves, and is certainly not at the level he once was, but he's far from a total wash, and is incredibly gifted when it comes to basketball, by anyone's standards.

The majority of our team isn't in the shape it once was, either, and Iverson has received enough bashing to last anyone a lifetime or two ... some deserved, maybe, but not needed, and completely pointless.

He's become the NBA's poster boy for "Kick Him When He's Down", and I'm a bit tired of it. (TP, GF).

Well half of the people probably consider it kicking him when he's down.  The others see half of the people giving too much credit to a player who is no longer useful.

[Jon]

We already have enough combo guards.  What we need is a backup small forward who is more reliable than Daniels, and another big man. 

And that's exactly it. If the draft and free agency had gone differently and we have another big and already had a small forward (but no Nate and Avery), I could see possibly rolling the dice on AI. 

However, we've got bigger concerns right now. 

[Celtics4ever]

I feel bad for him having a sick child.  But a professional should be professional and like Ray Allen still perform under the stipulations of his contract.

I think physically he is in decline.  I don't think he can beat defenders with his dribble like he used to do so.   That is why I don't want him.   I think this has been the case for the past two seasons.   Once a speed player loses that speed, they are not the same player.