Its so easy to use Iverson as a scapegoat for the pistons this year because he was their biggest move. But what about Michael Curry, who is way in over his head. Teyshaun Prince, who proved to everyone that he will only be an above average role player. Or Sheed, who looked like he had a heart transplant this year. Or Stuckey, who obviously wasn't ready to be the pg of a contending team. I would venture to say that the only bright spots on the team were Will Bynum, Afflalo, Maxiel, and maybe Rip. And no AI and Melo was not a failure. They were together for one season won 50 games, and played a great Spurs team in the first round both years. And if i recall the Nuggets actually played well in those series. As for the sixers, Miller was just a really perfect fit, and made them better than Iverson could have. It allowed all the young guys to develop and bring their games to new levels. Iverson hasn't been the epitome of a team player, but hes been the most exciting player i can remember watching and will always be my favorite to watch and appreciate what he can do with the size he was given. Everyone who wants to root for Kobe and the Lakers or Lebron with the cavs or whatever can go ahead and do that, but just remember, if Iverson was 6'6 or 6'9 260lbs, what would we be saying then?
The only difference I see is Michael Curry. Even then, Flip isn't a HOF coach either. AI basically gave up on the team because he couldn't start. That shows whiny prima-donna to me. With Billups, the Pistons would've ended up with a much better record because he actually makes his teammates better. Maybe a reason why Sheed stopped trying so hard is because he realized the team wasn't going anywhere since they traded for AI, and he decided to tank. Reports have even surfaced that he asked for a buyout. Knowing Sheed's history, he is certainly the type of guy to slack off if things aren't going right. And Prince proved to everyone he is just an above average role player? Really? He seemed to play pretty well with Chauncey. Seems like when AI came, his ego destroyed the team. He doesn't make teammates better, is a chucker and volume shooter, which was why he won all those scoring titles. For a player who says all the right things "I want to win a championship, I'll do anything to win a championship, I'll run through a brick wall to win a championship." He certainly doesn't act that way at all. In other words, "I want to win a championship, but only if I have things done my way." They played okay the first year. The second year, they won 50 games or so, big whup. They were exposed in the playoffs when it counted. Still doesn't take away from the fact that AI-Melo was just an average playoff team, first round exist. AI-Billups is 2nd seed in the west, on their way to the WCF. No way do the Nuggets have as much success this year if they hadn't trade Iverson. Miller is a really perfect fit? How so? He's just an average point guard. Iverson, apparently is a superstar. You don't see a team do a complete 180 like the Sixers did if they replace a superstar with an average, or above average PG. It allowed all the young guys to develop and bring their games to new levels? Really? So you admit that AI is a ballhog and is detrimental to player development because he wants everything done his way, and that he isn't a true team player. Who cares? AI isn't 6'6 or 6'9 260 lbs. What if Shaq was 6'6 260 lbs? He would turn from the MDP to office worker.
You should shy away from any posts regarding Iverson, no one on this forum takes you seriously on this subject because it's so blatantly obvious that your blinded by the fact that he's your favorite player. Allen Iverson sucks. Point blank, he is a team cancer and will NEVER win a ring unless he comes off the bench for a contender.
Why is it wrong that I argue for my favorite player? I don't give a shit if you or anyone else doesn't take me seriously, I don't know you and I don't care to know you, thats why they have websites like this. If me posting about Allen Iverson, or anyone else for that matter makes you so upset that you need to write about it, then maybe you should move out of your moms basement, cancel your E-Harmony account, and get a life ***.
Its not wrong. Your arguments are just terrible and prove you to be a biased fanboy who would defend Iverson under any circumstances. Iverson's not a winner. He never will be. End of story.
Its not like im just pulling shit out of my ass. I mean, no doubt im an Iverson fan, and I'm proud of it, but I make arguments with valid points, based off of my own point of view. The pistons would have sucked this year, AI or Billups. Maybe they had a better shot with Chauncey, but it still wouldn't be enough. The Nuggets played well with Iverson in a loaded western conference, winning 50 games (and no one says anything about Camby not playing there anymore). Not what I would call a failure. In Philly, Iverson was a ball dominating SG on a team full of young promising SG's. They traded for a passing, smart, PG and they improved. Iggy became an all-star caliber player, Louis Williams became a great sixth man along with Willie Green, and Thadeus Young. I'm not saying anything like "AI is the best player ever" or "Iverson is still in his prime and he can lead any team to the finals again", or "its not AI's fault it didn't work out". Iverson should be ashamed about this whole year. He was selfish, and screwed up, like some people do, especially in the NBA. I just think its gay how people can just judge a person from hear say, true or not, and then hate on a person who points that out. If you think EVERYTHING bad that has happened around Allen Iverson's basketball career is solely because of Allen Iverson, then my friends you are just as biased as I am. IMO he's still a great scorer, and has years left in him to win something. AI has always been my favorite and it disappoints me when he acts like a little kid, but i'll take the good with the bad because i know how good the good can be. No player to this day makes me say "WOW" like when AI makes a great play. So stupid. Sheed has been on a steady decline for the past 2 or 3 years. I would say he barely has even played in the paint since Big Ben left.
With Chauncey they would've been able to compete. Without Chauncey and with AI, they are horrible. Partly because AI doesn't fit (he doesn't fit anywhere), and because AI is a whiny little bitch. Denver sure as hell didn't hesitate to trade away AI for Chauncey, I wonder why? Now the Nuggets VP has been named Executive of the Year because the trade turned around the entire franchise. 50 games means nothing if you don't get anywhere. They took the Spurs to 6 games, and then got swept by the Lakers the following season. Trade AI for Billups, all of a sudden they are the 2nd best team in the west. With AI, they would've been one and done, just like the two seasons before. AI = superstar Andre Miller = average/above average PG Doesn't matter. The turnaround from the AI and Miller deal was absurd. You don't go from Greg Oden sweepstakes to fighting for a playoff birth overnight. This just shows that AI is overrated. More excuses. Iggy is playing SF now with the Sixers. Thaddeus Young wasn't even on the team. Willie Green sucks, and Louis Williams didn't emerge until the season after the AI trade. A lot of people screw up. But when you always go to the media and say crap like "I will do anything to win a championship, I am all heart, I am all about winning, I'll run through a brick wall." And then piss your way out of town just because you lost your starting job is hypocritical. Nobody said everything is his fault, but he certainly plays a huge role. AI's a great scorer, if you give him 30 shots a game, he'll score you some points, while shooting 41% from the field and dominating the ball all game long. His "decline" certainly wasn't a problem with Chauncey on the team. Sometimes you have to stop pointing fingers and start taking responsibility. Prince certainly played a lot better with Chauncey, as did Rip and the rest of guys. And even with Sheed's decline, and no Big Ben, Detroit was still able to compete and be competitive in last year's playoffs. This year? 4 game sweep.
Answer, you have the most blatant and pathetic homerism of any person I've seen in a long time. It's seriously bad dude. The Pistons would have, at the very least, been a ECF contending team. You don't go from winning what, 59 games last year and take 20 steps back in one fail swoop if you keep a core together. The only way that happens is if every single player on that team all the sudden becomes a billion times worse. OR, in this case, you trade your best player for a gigantic cancer that's never been a winner and is nothing but a chemistry killer. The Pistons chose to the do the latter. Instead of keeping a successful core together that was going to win 55 games again this year, they took a gamble and lost big time. You can say it wasn't AI all you want, but what evidence do you have going for you? The Nuggets are out of the 1st round for the first time in a long time and they did it without AI. The 76ers have been in the playoffs the last few years and are doing it without AI. And the Pistson, they went from winning 50+ games and being in the ECF for 7 straight years to having a 39-43 record and getting SWEPT in the first round. And consequently, the only difference between last year when they won 59 games and this year winning 39 is Iverson (well, and Curry...but it's really not his fault AI was a selfish bitch). That's it. And you're going to sit here and say Iverson isn't a cancer and wasn't the downfall of the Pistons? He's been the downfall of every team he's been on. Every. Single. Team. There's a reason why every team gets better when he leaves, and it's because he is and always will be a selfish, me-first, cancer of a player. Plain and simple.
