OT: SI article on Iverson...

[sully00]

I would say to CWebb that AI needed a big man who would rebound and play defense, instead he got Webber and Dalembert.

The funny thing about this thread is that if Ainge had his way it would have been Pierce/AI/Big Al we would be fawing over. And everyone hating on him right now would be talking about how he is misunderstood.

Somehow I think Allen Iverson's HOF career kind proves the point he isn't a loser, certainly not perfect but also one of the singular great forces in the game and a totally unique player, as well as one of the toughest SOB's ever. If you can't respect AI the player than that is your problem.

[humblebum]

Well Iverson always had the talent but he still doesn't understand how to be a true winner in the game of basketball. He's fun to watch individually but guys who dribble the ball around for 15-20 seconds of the shotclock while everyone else on the team watches them are not going to be able to achieve the ultimate goal of winning a championship.

Personally, I think that Iverson, and the aggressive marketing of his style of play, have contributed greatly to the decline of fundamental basketball across the U.S. Instead of having a generation of young players learning the fundamentals, like players in Europe, we had players trying to emulate Iverson's pound the air out of the ball style of play.

I'm not a fan of his game whatsoever.

[PPAW4Life]

Please tell me what this definition of "true winner" is.

I really love these labels. "True Winner".

As opposed to "False Winner" which is what exactly? "True loser"?

I think KG embodies everything a player should be on the basketball court. His emotion, his intensity, his dedication to detail, but he could never get out of the 1st round by himself. Was he a "true loser" back then?

Pound for pound Allen Iverson is one of the most dangerous players in the game. And I don't believe Iverson ever dribbles for 20 seconds while his teammates watch. He might get the pass from his teammates while the shot clock is winding down and dribble for a bit and then put up a shot, but that's just the way the offense is run with AI, for most of his career.

For most of AI's career, he hasn't been paired with guys that can create their own shot, only AI could create.

Personally, I want the ball in Iverson's hands all the time.

It's kinda like the problem we have with the Celtics. Do we want the ball in Rondo's hands or Pierce's hands?

Who has the best chance to create a good offensive set, Rondo or Pierce?

On most of Iverson's teams, Iverson was the answer to having a legit offensive set. He never had a great big low post presence, or a great PG.

For most of his career, Iverson has had to do it all alone.