Maybe AI will come off the bench?

[Hemingway]

Just opinion:


With the offseason dragging on and AI still homeless, maybe he will accept a role off the bench for a top team. There have already been a million threads that came to the consensus that he would "retire before he came off the bench" so lets not get into that. My question is if he was willing to take a bench role where woul be the best place for him and how big an impact could he have?

For us he could be very useful. Imagine playing him 20-30 minutes a night while the starters get rest. He could be a first option and probably not kill our leads.

AI
House
Danials
Baby
Sheed

that is probably a good enough second unit to at the very least hold a lead against anyones second unit.

[Celtics_85]

Why don't you just ask Sheed if he wants to play another season with AI. There is a reason he was a team killer in Detroit, and not just because he didn't want to come off the bench. He'll get his 20 shots weather it is as a starter or coming off the bench.

[Zin5]

If he were willing to come off the bench he'd be a perfect fit for what we need. Daniels can facilitate off the bench, House could still spot up, and AI would give us a dynamic offensive threat off the bench. It'll never happen, but if it did and he was content with it, I'd guarantee we'd steamroll to the championship. Any team would love to have AI off the bench though, his skills are perfectly suited for it now, so if he was willing to, I'm sure some other team that had a chance to win and a little more money and minutes could give it to him.

[Hemingway]

I didn't include it in my OP but AI could tip the balance of power if he went to us, LA, Orl or CLE

[lojowo]

I didn't include it in my OP but AI could tip the balance of power if he went to us, LA, Orl or CLE

True, but I think negatively. Any team that gets him hurts there team balance. He'd be a hail mary for one of these teams if one of thier top 3 scorers goes down for the year, but thats it.

Iverson MVP ( undeserved IMO ) year, he had a team full of players willing to play defense, rebound and set picks for AI to do his thing.

I dont see any team in the NBA currently constructed to do the same thing for AI and I doubt AI is capable of performing the same way at his advanced age.

Ai is a stat sheet filler, not a winner.

[Scalamental]

I didn't include it in my OP but AI could tip the balance of power if he went to us, LA, Orl or CLE

True, but I think negatively. Any team that gets him hurts there team balance. He'd be a hail mary for one of these teams if one of thier top 3 scorers goes down for the year, but thats it.

Iverson MVP ( undeserved IMO ) year, he had a team full of players willing to play defense, rebound and set picks for AI to do his thing.

I dont see any team in the NBA currently constructed to do the same thing for AI and I doubt AI is capable of performing the same way at his advanced age.

Ai is a stat sheet filler, not a winner.

That said, if L.A. got A.I. i'd be just a little worried. The chances are good that a team with him and Artest would flip the ship, but Phil Jackson -the Zen Master- might catch wind in the right way (nautical allegories were never my strong suit).

I actually started envisioning Iverson as a Tiny Archibald type player for the c's, even though I've been strongly against the notion of him joining the team. But If you were going to have a second unit of stiffs, aka sheed roaming on top of the post, baby on the bottom, house and daniels at the three spots, you've got the kind of obstacle course that Iverson loves, dragging defenders in and out of solid picks that can stick a shot if open.

That said... I don't like having the starting 5 and then the iverson show, makes the team less interchangeable in my eyes. In danny we trust, that's all i know.

[return2glory]

Ai refused to play off the bench in Detroit. He walked off the team and didn't play in the playoffs because of this. His injury was B.S. Why would you want a player like that on this team. Besides there aren't many minutes available in the backcourt with Rondo, Ray, House and Daniels.

[Cyclical]

We don't need an over the hill volume shooter. We need a team player - a cog in the wheel. Someone who fits in the team concept. He doesn't need to be great at anything but just know his job to a tee. The Detroit experiment should have taught everyone a thing or two if the post Larry Brown Sixers saga and the Olympics saga hasn't already. AI is NOT that guy. He will not be here next year.

[Jammer]

Although last year I "believed" that Iverson's injury was fictitious, or exaggerated,
to prevent him from coming off the bench in Detroit, I would love him on the Active Roster.

Unfortunately, A. I. would never take a place in the rotation behind Eddie House.
Last year, Doc gave Steph the backup Point Guard minutes, and
Eddie House the backup shooting guard minutes, and cut Tony Allen from the rotation.

This year, with Daniels getting all of the backup SF minutes and a good amount of the
backup SG minutes, House won't see as much time at SG. Eddie will probably be paired with
Daniels in the backcourt, a lot, but Daniels will still get the backup SF minutes.

So, A. I. would never take the role that Doc would want to give him unless A. I.
waited past training camp and came onboard later in the season, when he might be willing
to be a rotation player.

Last year, Iverson probably thought that becoming a bench player would devalue his
contract negotiations, but everyone can already see he's no longer the player that he was.

I can't see Iverson in Miami with Riley's intense practices. And Riley would fine Iverson for missing
or arriving late to practices. So, despite reporters saying Iverson is heading to South Beach,
the intense schedule and requirements that Pat Riley places on his players makes me suspect
that Iverson may have other plans.

Personally I think the best situation for Iverson, at this point in his career,
would be to come off the bench in Boston, Lakers or Orlando. But that's just me.

[JHTruth]

If Iverson were to actually sign here, I'd be OK with it because I know by that point, he would have been completely informed of his role and his salary and he the big 3, Doc. Danny, and ownership would all be on board along with some other key vets. There would be significant due diligence before such a move. But I just can't see AI being interested in that..

[ryaningf]

Unfortunately, A. I. would never take a place in the rotation behind Eddie House.
Last year, Doc gave Steph the backup Point Guard minutes, and
Eddie House the backup shooting guard minutes, and cut Tony Allen from the rotation.

Well, I think it's safe to assume that if Iverson came to Boston, House would need to be moved, since Iverson is the superior player at the backup 1 and 2 and we'd need to find minutes for Iverson to keep him happy. TA could easily fill in the remaining backup minutes at the 1/2 that don't go to Iverson, if necessary.

I can foresee a chain events where Iverson gets the LLE and House is traded for a signed-and-traded Daniels.

We have a pretty solid top 9 right now--and if we're going to improve upon that, I think it makes sense to assume that it'll be a scenario where one of the top 9 is replaced by someone better, not a scenario where someone better is added to the top 9.

[Roscoe Sheed]

AI is not needed on the Celtics. House serves more of a purpose as he can actually shoot and does not hog the ball. Marbury would be a better fit than AI as Marbury is a true PG

[sully00]

When think of AI and I think of guys at the end of the careers, I think Iverson should just retire. He doesn't need the money and it isn't even there to be earned what is going to keep playing for? He doesn't seem simply motivated to win a championship he just doesn't seem to want to or know how to give it up.

Anyway I saw Iverson in a reduced role in DET and I don't think it is something that will work. AI should just go home stay in shape and if and when a contender loses a star in the back court maybe you give it a run. I don't need to see him become some shadow of himself in a reduced role or by just fighting father time in a losing situation.

I thought CHA and Larry Brown was the perfect scenario but it has not seemed to play out.

[lojowo]

I dont see any team in the NBA currently constructed to do the same thing for AI and I doubt AI is capable of performing the same way at his advanced age.

On second thought, there could be 1 team. AI would look good in Houston as a stop gap until McGrady and Yao come back.

Battier, Ariza, Scola, etc kind of have the same great defense, iffy offense games that the 76ers had when they went to the finals.

AI is the not same player now as then, but he could help Houston score enough until Yao and McGrady get back.

[chas0x01]

It seems having a talent like AI would be a good thing, but I'd take House's high percentage shooting over AI's volume scoring, I think. House, Daniels, Baby, and Sheed is a lot of scoring off the bench.

[MVP16]

AI is not needed on the Celtics. House serves more of a purpose as he can actually shoot and does not hog the ball. Marbury would be a better fit than AI as Marbury is a true PG

Yep. Iverson looks much better on paper because he is a much better player then House. But in terms on fitting into our team and what each player can do given their respective roles, House is probably the better fit. He doesn't need to dribble the ball to be effective. House is a great catch and shoot player and that's what we need with Rondo/Pierce/Allen/KG handling the ball the majority of the time.

Iverson isn't nearly as good as House when it comes to being a spot up shooter. And he wouldn't get the touches to utilize his skills in terms of being able to create a shot for himself. Iverson would be better in terms of if one of our key players gets injured, then he can fill in and get the touches of Allen/Rondo/Pierce and be effective scoring the ball. But if everyone is healthy, House is better at the required role then AI.

Iverson is not a role-player - neither mentally nor how he plays the game. Having the said, I would be psyched if we got Iverson for the minimum. That's a great talent to get for the price and maybe it somehow works out.

[JSABleedsGreen]

Is it wrong to think that I would prefer Artest 10 times over Iverson? Putting talent aside because both are talented and very smart basketball players. As crazy as Artest is, I feel that Iverson is just a cancer to any team he's on. Talent wise AI is nasty, always has been but he's such a ball hog. He's only good when the ball is in his hands all time. If AI were more like RIP or Ray he'd be a better asset. IMO opinion AI is not a PG, not eevn close, he's definitely a shoot first guard (true definition of a SG). The only problem is that AI is not a spot up shooter like Ray or RIP, and that is his biggest flaw. He needs to be in motion to be effective.

Getting back to the comparison between AI and Artest. Now i'm not taking what they bring talent wise because they play different positions. I'm talking chemistry and attitude. Artest although crazy can be controlled by other players, star players. The same way Rodman was controlled by Jordan. AI cannot be controlled. His ego is way too big to be controlled. He thinks he's an elite player, he's not. He was a very good player but now he's just a good player. He thinks that offense should run through him when he would be better off running with the offense instead of trying to control it. Artest can play within an offense because he realizes that although he's very good, he's not elite. If you can make a player understand that although he's very good or elite, that if he can put his ego aside and work with others then excellence can be achieved. Ray and Pierce did that. Both knew they were great players but both knew the importance of working together. Artest has now done this........him and Kobe and the rest of Lakers will be an extremely great team this year.

I can't wait for another Celtics/Lakers finals.

[s1ickd]

AI can still put up 25 a game in 35 minutes of play. His percentages aren't even below average for a 2 gaurd like some people make them out to be.

Between Rondo and Ray, there are 32 minutes a game available behind them (assuming each play 32). I honestly think this could work. When Pierce hits the bench, we don't really have anyone that can create off the dribble (Rondo is a horribly inconsistent scorer).

Problem is, there is a likely Daniels signing immenent, which would severely cut down those minutes at the 2 gaurd spot. Even if Daniels only played backup to Pierce, House would see about 2 minutes a game. I suppose I could trade that for AI's production off the bench.

Imagine if KG and Ray sit down, and you have Sheed and AI sub in for them. That's demoralizing for an opposing bench.

Only issue is the moey. I don't think AI deserves less than 7-8 mil a year and the Celts can't afford that... thus making this whole thing a pipe dream.

[Dave_From_NB]

I'm still not sure whether AI would prefer to score 20 points and lose, or score 10 points and win. Based on the fact that all the teams he's been rumoured to be going to are ones where he can score 20 points in a losing cause, I actually think his preference is the first one.

Celtics have built a team the last couple years based on players who look at the scoreboard, not the stat sheet. We often see RA, PP, KG on the sidelines of a blowout, they're having a great time, nobody is worried that they scored 8 points and didn't get their minutes, because all that matters to them is the win. AI is like the anti-Celtic, there has been no indication in the past that winning is more important to him than starting or scoring, I hope he doesn't come here no matter how cheap the cost.

[sully00]

I have never understood those that question AI's intentions or heart that is just people who are plain hating or just don't know the dudes game. He has been on a team under .500 3 times in the last 9 seasons and missed the playoffs twice. AI is not a player who doesn't care about winning or the selfish player people make him out to be the fact is that to utilize his skills best he needs to have the ball in his hands and be the primary offensive option, no different than Kobe or Dwayne Wade. Iverson is a great offensive player the issue is on the defensive end. At his size he has to defend the point and if he is burning the effort he does on the offensive end he can't give the same effort defensively so teams go at him. So then you try moving him off the ball and he is too undersized to defend a lot of SG's.

AI is a unique player, the greatest little man to ever play, but he is not a real flexible or versatile player that you can fit in with different line ups you need to build a line up around him to maximize his game.