Poll: Is IT better than Iverson

[wdleehi]

No, he isn't. Iverson was a heck of a defender, and he carried his team to the Finals with one of the least impressive supporting casts in history.

To my eyes he was the worst defender I've ever seen, other than steals.  He wouldn't even try to get around a pick, he'd just stop and give up.  Or run into the pick and flop to the floor so he wouldn't have to keep playing defense.  Not sure if they have defensive metrics for that era but to my eyes he was pathetic.

His team defense was bad.   I remember all the talk in Philly at the time.


AI played the passing lane looking for steals.   Sometime he got them, but most time he just got out of position forcing the rest of the team to scramble and cover for him.

[mmmmm]

Can IT play on the hand-check era?

This was the first thing that came to mind for me.

Also, it made me think of a reverse question.  If Smart could hand-check other guards all the time would he be a better defender than guys like Jordan, DJ?

The reverse question I thought of is:  Would Iverson's defense looked as good if HE played with no-hand-checking?

We are playing in an era when even 'elite' defensive guards like Smart and Bradley can't really stop elite perimeter scorers.  They only slow them down.   Attacking guards like Lowry, DeRozan and, yes, Thomas score at great volume and efficiency against the best perimeter guards and only get checked if the defense has elite paint defenders.

If Iverson played in this era, I suspect he would score far more efficiently (assuming he also made more use of the 3PT shot) than he did in the 90s ... but he also might look less impressive on defense.

[PhoSita]

Is he "better"?  I don't know.

Who would I rather have leading my team?  IT, no question.

[KG Living Legend]

Is he "better"?  I don't know.

Who would I rather have leading my team?  IT, no question.

 Exactly Pho. He's better. TP.

[KG Living Legend]

No, he isn't. Iverson was a heck of a defender, and he carried his team to the Finals with one of the least impressive supporting casts in history.

To my eyes he was the worst defender I've ever seen, other than steals.  He wouldn't even try to get around a pick, he'd just stop and give up.  Or run into the pick and flop to the floor so he wouldn't have to keep playing defense.  Not sure if they have defensive metrics for that era but to my eyes he was pathetic.

His team defense was bad.   I remember all the talk in Philly at the time.


AI played the passing lane looking for steals.   Sometime he got them, but most time he just got out of position forcing the rest of the team to scramble and cover for him.

 And that's a Tp as well. I couldn't believe all the talk here like Iverson was a great defender.

 No he wasn't. He gambled for steals. He won some he lost more, and cost him team big-time when he missed.