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

[sk7326]

he did not clear the deadline ...

he would also have been a terrific pickup for them in the offseason if his head was up for being a 6th man sort ... but it wasn't ... sadly his brain never really got good with that ... so it had to end ignominiously.

[Onslaught]

If Boston had put Sheed and AI on the team then I'd have to walk away from the Celtics until that was over with.

[Finkelskyhook]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuTLe8K5vyOwQltWAJQQdLA5nYcB?slug=aw-iversonrelease030210&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Do we need an "Answer" in Boston to all our issues now? 

I know we are loaded with undersized guards but in the 25 games he played for Philly he has shown the ability to score and blow by much younger guards. Clearly, he still has alot left in the tank. Thoughts?

Putting Iverson on the roster would be our greatest hope to get to the lottery this season.  He may have a lot left in the tank...But the tank for every team he plays for goes empty as soon as he steps on the court.

[WeMadeIt17]

Sad.. Hopefully his daughter gets better soon. I hope he just retires..

[JSD]

Wow, I came off as insensitive...

I didn't realize his daughter was having health issues, I too hope her status improves.

[Who]

That is too bad. Iverson was an excellent addition for the Sixers. Unfortunately, they never got off the ground due to injuries/absences + poor coaching from Eddie Jordan.

[sk7326]

If Boston had put Sheed and AI on the team then I'd have to walk away from the Celtics until that was over with.

Iverson never mailed in seasons like Sheed has - effort and passion have never a problem, though pride and hubris (the best reasons to not pick him up) are.  His stop in Detroit was at least as much the fault of Detroit as it was him.  If he could have re-invented himself as a role player (quite the rich history of that in Boston), there has never been a tougher fiercer dude in the Association.  But that is all moot now.   

[pearljammer10]

Its too bad his personal issues are taking him out of the game like this. Parting ways from two teams during the same season? Wow. Hopefully his daughter is able to get over whatever she is going through. I know AI is a knucklehead...But he is greatly missed in the NBA, hes one of the top 50 players of all time in my opinion.

Here's to good health AI.

[Andy Jick]

I think this has a lot to do with Jrue Holiday as well...  He is developing quite well, so it's probably not just about Iverson, but about moving forward.  I don't see anything malicious in this parting, so I'm led to believe that Philly is making a wise decision about the future direction of their team.

[Onslaught]

If Boston had put Sheed and AI on the team then I'd have to walk away from the Celtics until that was over with.

Iverson never mailed in seasons like Sheed has - effort and passion have never a problem, though pride and hubris (the best reasons to not pick him up) are.  His stop in Detroit was at least as much the fault of Detroit as it was him.  If he could have re-invented himself as a role player (quite the rich history of that in Boston), there has never been a tougher fiercer dude in the Association.  But that is all moot now.   

He's a loser. Oh, he had talent. But he had no idea how to lead a team. And let's not even start on the practice stuff. Could you see Bird or Jordan doing that? He didn't know what it took to be a team player. I'd have no use for him.

[Rondo_is_better]

I think this has a lot to do with Jrue Holiday as well...  He is developing quite well, so it's probably not just about Iverson, but about moving forward.  I don't see anything malicious in this parting, so I'm led to believe that Philly is making a wise decision about the future direction of their team.

I don't think Philly got rid of him for Jrue Holiday. And I don't think AI saw Jrue Holiday getting better and said, "wow, I better move over". I think only way that Jrue Holiday plays into this is in the sense that it is fortunate for Philly that he's developing. Isn't possible the 76ers had at least PRIMARLY compassionate motives in letting AI go?

[sk7326]

If Boston had put Sheed and AI on the team then I'd have to walk away from the Celtics until that was over with.

Iverson never mailed in seasons like Sheed has - effort and passion have never a problem, though pride and hubris (the best reasons to not pick him up) are.  His stop in Detroit was at least as much the fault of Detroit as it was him.  If he could have re-invented himself as a role player (quite the rich history of that in Boston), there has never been a tougher fiercer dude in the Association.  But that is all moot now.   

He's a loser. Oh, he had talent. But he had no idea how to lead a team. And let's not even start on the practice stuff. Could you see Bird or Jordan doing that? He didn't know what it took to be a team player. I'd have no use for him.

well yeah in 2001 he was terrible ... and since those were 65 win teams in Philadelphia he was holding back ... and since he did not take a hellacious pounding every night ... his flaws are known, but he was also the only reason his teams were competitive, let alone anything resembling good.  Since guys with alleged loser reputations have never flourished on the Celtics in their history though ...

[Onslaught]

If Boston had put Sheed and AI on the team then I'd have to walk away from the Celtics until that was over with.

Iverson never mailed in seasons like Sheed has - effort and passion have never a problem, though pride and hubris (the best reasons to not pick him up) are.  His stop in Detroit was at least as much the fault of Detroit as it was him.  If he could have re-invented himself as a role player (quite the rich history of that in Boston), there has never been a tougher fiercer dude in the Association.  But that is all moot now.   

He's a loser. Oh, he had talent. But he had no idea how to lead a team. And let's not even start on the practice stuff. Could you see Bird or Jordan doing that? He didn't know what it took to be a team player. I'd have no use for him.

well yeah in 2001 he was terrible ... and since those were 65 win teams in Philadelphia he was holding back ... and since he did not take a hellacious pounding every night ... his flaws are known, but he was also the only reason his teams were competitive, let alone anything resembling good.  Since guys with alleged loser reputations have never flourished on the Celtics in their history though ...

He never had the work ethic to be a champion. I can't think of anyone who ever won anything on the Celtics who had a work ethic as poor as his.

This is the one thing I don't really like about sports. As long as the guy can score then everything else is ok. Beat your wife Jason Kidd? That's ok as long as you get those assists. Possibly rape a woman Kobe? No big deal because you sure play like MJ. Act like a gang punk and make problems with every team you've been on AI? That's ok with all the Sports Center highlight stuff you pull every night.

[sk7326]

If Boston had put Sheed and AI on the team then I'd have to walk away from the Celtics until that was over with.

Iverson never mailed in seasons like Sheed has - effort and passion have never a problem, though pride and hubris (the best reasons to not pick him up) are.  His stop in Detroit was at least as much the fault of Detroit as it was him.  If he could have re-invented himself as a role player (quite the rich history of that in Boston), there has never been a tougher fiercer dude in the Association.  But that is all moot now.   

He's a loser. Oh, he had talent. But he had no idea how to lead a team. And let's not even start on the practice stuff. Could you see Bird or Jordan doing that? He didn't know what it took to be a team player. I'd have no use for him.

well yeah in 2001 he was terrible ... and since those were 65 win teams in Philadelphia he was holding back ... and since he did not take a hellacious pounding every night ... his flaws are known, but he was also the only reason his teams were competitive, let alone anything resembling good.  Since guys with alleged loser reputations have never flourished on the Celtics in their history though ...

He never had the work ethic to be a champion. I can't think of anyone who ever won anything on the Celtics who had a work ethic as poor as his.

This is the one thing I don't really like about sports. As long as the guy can score then everything else is ok. Beat your wife Jason Kidd? That's ok as long as you get those assists. Possibly rape a woman Kobe? No big deal because you sure play like MJ. Act like a gang punk and make problems with every team you've been on AI? That's ok with all the Sports Center highlight stuff you pull every night.

What did he do in Philadelphia?  Complained about practice and argued with a coach who blatantly quit on at least four different NBA teams.  Equating that to actual crimes is a bit hyperbolic.  Really his reputation is no worse than Dennis Johnson or Nate Archibald pre-Celtics.

[Andy Jick]

I think this has a lot to do with Jrue Holiday as well...  He is developing quite well, so it's probably not just about Iverson, but about moving forward.  I don't see anything malicious in this parting, so I'm led to believe that Philly is making a wise decision about the future direction of their team.

I don't think Philly got rid of him for Jrue Holiday. And I don't think AI saw Jrue Holiday getting better and said, "wow, I better move over". I think only way that Jrue Holiday plays into this is in the sense that it is fortunate for Philly that he's developing. Isn't possible the 76ers had at least PRIMARLY compassionate motives in letting AI go?

2 things in response:

1) this was just a theory i had, but has no confirmation.

2) i never said that AI felt this...but rather that the sixers realized they had a gem in Jrue Holiday (whom i believe has a solid future in the NBA) and felt it was okay to let AI go.  obviously the sixers have a great deal of emotional attachment to Iverson, and rightfully so.  but this is also a business, and the sixers will always do what's in their best interests.  Holiday's development could have POSSIBLY made this decision a tad easier (something you can't deny).