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Me, Myself and Iverson By Christopher Sells
11.3.2009 - Updated on 11.3.2009
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It’s probably too early to declare Allen Iverson’s time in Memphis as a failure, but it looks like things might be headed in that direction.
Is that too strong a statement to make after a player’s first game with a team? In most cases it would be, but Iverson came into this season with baggage. After the whole fiasco in Detroit where he refused to come off of the bench, teams were reluctant to sign him in the offseason. The teams that did show interest made it clear that he would not be a starter. The Grizzlies were one of those teams. Iverson had reportedly agreed to this before signing his contract, but that was then. This is now:
"I am not a reserve basketball player. I’ve never been a reserve all my life and I’m not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... The subject never came up in my career until everything happened in Detroit last year. No one talked about me being a sub or anything like that until last year. In all of the other years of my career it never came up. I’ve been a starter on All-Star teams, Olympic teams and NBA Finals teams."
So why did you agree to play for a team that wanted you to be what you aren’t, AI? The answer to that question is that no team wanted him as a starter. We all thought that he had gotten past the state of mind that led him to declare that he’d rather retire than come off the bench, but it appears that we were deceived. Iverson still wants to start and felt the need to let the assembled media know.
His argument that he has always been a starter only holds so much weight. All-Star game starting positions are given by fan voting, which means it’s a popularity contest and not necessarily a declaration of superior talent. He was the centerpiece of an NBA Finals team (he was also the league MVP that year) but that was nearly a decade ago. He was a starter on an Olympic team that performed so poorly that the USA Basketball committee decided to revamp the entire process so that it would never happen again.
Iverson has to face facts: He’s not a youngster anymore. That blinding quickness has slowed some. He isn’t going to survive driving into the lane and taking hits when he gets to the rim. He’s not the best player on the team and coaches aren’t going to tailor their game plans to suit his style of play. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told us so last night:
"He hasn’t even been with the team until just a couple of days ago. He’s going to come off the bench. He hasn’t played all preseason, hasn’t played the three regular-season games [leading up to this one]. He only practiced three days in training camp before he got hurt so there’s no way I would trot him out there in a starting role."
That reasoning makes complete sense and Iverson should understand that. What Hollins didn’t say— and what Iverson will not take so well— is that the team’s starting shooting guard, OJ Mayo, is a better player than Iverson right now. Mayo put up 40 over the weekend and has averages of 22.3, 5.3 and 3.5. And at 6’4", Mayo isn’t an instant mismatch on defense.
In a perfect world, AI would embrace this bench role as an opportunity to show that the game hasn’t passed him by. He could be the first guy off the bench and provide a scoring spark for the team. He could start handling the ball a bit more so that teams weren’t tempted to attack the six-foot guard playing the 2. He could be the steadying veteran presence in a locker room with an average age of 25. He could set himself up to play with a winner instead of the cellar-dwelling Grizzlies, where he’ll have no chance at the Playoffs. Instead, he’s showing us all that he’s not as concerned about the team as he is about himself. He’s showing us all the behavior that led him to be branded "Me, Myself and Iverson" many years ago.
"Yeah I’ll be disappointed [if I’m a sub this season]. I’m not a reserve basketball player. I’ve never been a reserve all my life and I’m not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, No, I’m not a bench player. I’m not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you that I’m not a sixth man."
That same resume will show that you’re not a team player and that you’re unable to adjust to different situations. And after this season, that resume will likely read, "Former NBA Player." It might be too early to make such a declaration. But it looks like things are headed in that direction.
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Posted by
carlos
on 11.6.2009 | To Hastings........I understand what you are saying about Mayo. But this team can compete now , they brought A.I in to compete as they say not to be in rebuilding mode. And I really dont think at this point Mayo is better than Iverson at all. But my point is the offense can run through Iverson, he has been very unselfish in his limited time on the court , evident by his 7 assist last game . Conley should asee about 15 minutes a game. . | Posted by
rodom
on 11.5.2009 | Growing old is inevitable. Growing up is optional...Grow up AI..you were and still my fav. player. but your attitude is standing in your way. . | Posted by
Munya
on 11.5.2009 | I must admit, to the day I die I will always have Iverson as my favourite player of all time. This article hurts to read especially as an Iverson fan but it is the absolute harsh truth. Each player that has ever been an all star has had their time of era where they were the top dawgs of the league. Iverson has had his but I would expect from him especially after begging for a team to take him that he would at least embrace the sixth man role. Being a sixth man does not mean you are permantly done with your career, he could still come of the bench average 20+ points, 5+ assits and at least a steal a game, that can still get you to the all star game. I won’t ever argue about A.I’s heart for the game because his resume’ does speak for itself, however, if Allen wants to win a championship as he has been preaching for years, this attitude will not even get him to the playoffs. Well as I said Iverson will always be my favourite basketball player no matter what but it hurts to see him act like this. If he continues to be this way then I hate to say but, ’Hang the sneakers up’ . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | carter averaged 28 minutes a game. officially the majority. sounds like he was the point most of the game. why is it so hard for people to admit that iverson isn’t best utilized at point guard, then or now? . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | will the real snika please stand up . | Posted by
Snika
on 11.4.2009 | I’m Snika now bitchez...so you can gtfo outta here fool . | Posted by
hastings
on 11.4.2009 | To CARLOS... do you think that Mayo, Gay, and Randolph get better shots and develop better with AI or Conley? I can understand your argument about Iverson, and I agree that he shouldn’t have to come off the bench. No other ex-MVP is coming off the bench... but he signed with a team that has a bigger, stronger, younger version of himself in Mayo. Mayo is the future of this organization... not Iverson, so why stunt his growth? . | Posted by
CARLOS
on 11.4.2009 | Anthony Carter may have started . But who played the majority of minutes at point. Iverson . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | anthony carter started 67 games that year that everyone is talking about iverson averaging 27 and 7. why do people get upset when you say anything resembling negative comments about iverson? or kobe? or lebron? what, people think their favorite stars are perfect? . | Posted by
Snika
on 11.4.2009 | stop imitating me . | Posted by
CARLOS
on 11.4.2009 | In response to this comment "two years ago? why didn’t he do it between then and now? and by the way, while he was putting up those numbers for the nuggets at the two, the team was atrocious defensively. he leaves and the nuggs become one of the best defensive teams. he gets to detroit and their defense suffers. hello?! ". He didnt do it last year because they had a coach who was cluesless. Look no further than RIP Hamiltons remarks backing up A.I’s stories. And second the Denver Nuggets were minus Dontay Jones and Nene for just about the whole time verson was there people forget that. They only won 5 more games last year with a complete lineup that they didnt have when Iverson was there. And as far as him not playing point he played it in Denver and avg 27 and over 7 assist. He can facilitate , way better than Conley. . | Posted by
hastings
on 11.4.2009 | Take this into consideration: this isn’t a who is better fight between Conley and Iverson. No one argues that Conley is better. BUT, Conley is a better facilitator, and for a team with 3 guys that need the ball quite a bit, that might be a better fit. The problem with the situation is that Iverson doesn’t accept any role, except STAR OF TEAM. This team can make the playoffs if Mayo, Iverson, and Randolph all become unselfish, team-oriented players. Yea, playoffs! One last point, Memphis brought in Iverson to sell tickets, so they need to play him more minutes to get their point across. He won’t be a liability if he is in the game. Mayo or Iverson need to be in at all times, and sometimes together... so Mayo for 32-34 minutes and Iverson 26-30. . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | The imitation Snika thing needs to stop.. . | Posted by
Snika
on 11.4.2009 | the grizzlies management sucks so hard. signing iverson proves this once again. although further prove wasnt really necessary after giving away gasol and drafting thabust. but now they got an old locker room cancer with an extremly bad attitude who is a walking missmatch an defense and ballhog on offense with a bad shot selection. well done. . | Posted by
Snika
on 11.3.2009 | HAHAHAHAH everyone here hates y\this arrticlke. But at least someone responded, right hater? . | Posted by
on 11.3.2009 | two years ago? why didn’t he do it between then and now? and by the way, while he was putting up those numbers for the nuggets at the two, the team was atrocious defensively. he leaves and the nuggs become one of the best defensive teams. he gets to detroit and their defense suffers. hello?! . | Posted by
on 11.3.2009 | Conley is the backup. Iverson should start.He is still a superstar. Just last year he easily put up 20-25 pts per game. 2007-08DEN8241:47 8.719.045.8 1.23.434.6 7.99.780.9 0.62.43.0 7.23.02.00.21.326.4. These are his avgs on the nuggets, two years ago before the trade to Detroit. One word: stellar. . | Posted by
Steve
on 11.3.2009 | Carlos,Way off the mark. Iverson is on a new team after no-one wanted him because of his attitude. He isn’t a better player than Mayo now, he once was but isn’t anymore. Conley is a better PG than Iverson (its all about position - not ability). If A.I. ran the point their offense will struggle and everyone would stand around watching him bring the ball down and jack up shots. I like Iversons play. But where are is his veteran smarts. The guy is coming off an injury and should acclimatise to the team by coming off the bench and earning the right to be a starter. Past means nothing, if Kareem came out of retirement now, would you start him? Also, Nash and Billups aren’t disruptive, they lead their teams and respect their coaches, Iverson whinges to media after 1 game, are you kidding, is a good player to watch offensively, but I would hate to ever have to coach him. . | Posted by
dj
on 11.3.2009 | Man this dude who wrote this article is an iverson hater, hoped on the harterade bandwagon lol, iverson still has game still can put up points and is a team player, when kobe and lebron or melo or anybody else take 30 shots and score 24 point yall aint talkin but when iverson takes 11 shots yall ready to drink sim moe haterade lol, look iverson needs to start point blank period . | Posted by
Hans Goodman
on 11.3.2009 | iverson’s stats lie. maybe more than anyone i can think of off hand. 26 points don’t mean much if you need 27 shots to get them, and stat lines don’t show how badly you got torched on defense. but the worst thing about him is that he doesn’t understand that he’s not the player he used to be. . |
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