Now everyone is gettign excited about AI in the West, but I have come up with a few stats that might not look so good.AI has played 5 games against the West this year. And has averaged 25.4 ppg 6.8 apg and 2.4 spg - which looks good right? But look at that compared with his season averages 31.2 7.3 and 2.7 all down by a fair bit. Also his FG % is down significantly too! In the WEST 33% over-all 41%, again down big time.Now this could be put down to the travel involved but when you look at the teams he played in those 5 games I think that is negated! MIN LAC PHX SEA DEN now the Clips and Wolves might play OK D the other three dont really. So his scoring average and % has had every chance to be good against the West too but its not there. Is it that the Level in the East has allowed him to play so well? Would he be slightly less in the West, well we'll find out soon but it certainly is something to ponder!!
My take: F*ck those numbers. Allen Iverson is Allen Iverson, and I don't care what coast he is on, he's going to dominate. It also helps that the other guys around him are Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Marcus Camby... as opposed to Andre Iguodala, Chris Webber, and Kyle Korver.You want some stats to look up about Iverson vs. the west coast? Look up his numbers from the 2001 NBA Finals vs. Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 20 2006, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You want some stats to look up about Iverson vs. the west coast? Look up his numbers from the 2001 NBA Finals vs. Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers.</div>That would hardly make sense now would it? that was 5 years ago!Hey dont hate on me dude, was just something to think about. I hope he tears it up!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clangus @ Dec 20 2006, 01:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That would hardly make sense now would it? that was 5 years ago!Hey dont hate on me dude, was just something to think about. I hope he tears it up!</div>Sure, it was 5 years ago, but it's not like he has really regressed, has he? I think not. And I wasn't "hating on you," I just hate when people say "in the last 3 games against so and so, Player A and Player B have only shot 35% from the feild, and...." blah blah blah. Stats are so overrated, but I don't care what his numbers look like in 5 games this year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 19 2006, 10:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Sure, it was 5 years ago, but it's not like he has really regressed, has he? I think not. And I wasn't "hating on you," I just hate when people say "in the last 3 games against so and so, Player A and Player B have only shot 35% from the feild, and...." blah blah blah. Stats are so overrated, but I don't care what his numbers look like in 5 games this year.</div>I think he's regressed a bit since then. Remember, this is AI we're talking about. With the pounding he takes night in and night out 5 years is like 10 years. Can you see Iverson taking mediocre team to the Finals now? I mean, the 76er team he had last year wasn't all that much worse than what he was working with in 2001, a team he carried to the NBA finals, and they didn't even make the playoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clangus @ Dec 19 2006, 11:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Now this could be put down to the travel involved but when you look at the teams he played in those 5 games I think that is negated! MIN LAC PHX SEA DEN now the Clips and Wolves might play OK D the other three dont really. So his scoring average and % has had every chance to be good against the West too but its not there. Is it that the Level in the East has allowed him to play so well? Would he be slightly less in the West, well we'll find out soon but it certainly is something to ponder!!</div>Don't sleep on the Suns when it comes to AI. For whatever reason he struggles when he plays them and seems to have nightmares when playing in Phoenix. :happy0144:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lakaboy42 @ Dec 20 2006, 02:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think he's regressed a bit since then. Remember, this is AI we're talking about. With the pounding he takes night in and night out 5 years is like 10 years. Can you see Iverson taking mediocre team to the Finals now? I mean, the 76er team he had last year wasn't all that much worse than what he was working with in 2001, a team he carried to the NBA finals, and they didn't even make the playoffs.</div>Actually Iverson's team from last year was much worse than Iverson's team from 2001. The team he was on in 2001, he shouldered most of the scoring load, but that was a good team. Last years team was much worse defensively, as they gave up 101.3 points per game. That is compared to the 90.4 points per game that that the team gave up in 2001. They was a better rebounding team, a better defensive team, and had players that was more willing to do the dirty work for Allen Iverson, and let him do most of the offense.
I dont see Iverson scoring 30+ ppg against the west or in the west...The WEST teams have better defence than the EAST teams (sorry EAST coast fans) + He will play with star players in DENVER who would love to score and raise their statsI just dont see Iverson who he was 5 or 4 years ago :yes1:
???Iverson is still in the prime of his career I dont know what all of you are thinking. He's playing at as high of a level as he ever has and will continue to do so for atleast 3-4 more years. I dont think his game has fallen off at all, in fact I think he has improved. His ability to distribute is becoming more apparent because he has a great feel for the game and knows what to do and when to do it. He's gonna light it up no matter where he plays. He's the 6th or 7th best player in the NBA right now. An elite player and one of the greatest of all time will not just drop off because he switches conferences.
I don't see how those numbers mean a damn thing. Allen Iverson scored 30ppg when the east was good...he can score 30 on anyone.
Carmelo and Iverson will get eachother open looks and more wide open driving lanes, so his percentage should go up. iverson no longer has to be the main scorer so he doesn't have to create every single shot he takes like he had to in philly
I agree with everybody in saying that those numbers mean nothing. If you want to talk about numbers, let's talk about this... since the NBA and ABA merged, Allen Iverson has the third highest points per game average of any player in the city of Denver (only T-Mac, who has played six games in Denver in his career, and George Gervin have a higher average... barely).Honestly, this trade will work wonders for Iverson, in my opinion. It may get off to a rocky start because of all the adjustments with the new teammates, then with 'Melo coming back, etc., but once they get it clicking he will show the world that he is as good a playmaker and passer as there is in this league. This is just going to add a depth to his legacy that he couldn't add in Philadelphia because he never had the teammates to basically go out and do it.He could easily lead the league in scoring and assists in Denver if he wanted to, but he knows it's Carmelo's team and he will take a back seat to 'Melo when he returns.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RiseofdRaptors @ Dec 20 2006, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I dont see Iverson scoring 30+ ppg against the west or in the west...The WEST teams have better defence than the EAST teams (sorry EAST coast fans) + He will play with star players in DENVER who would love to score and raise their statsI just dont see Iverson who he was 5 or 4 years ago :yes1:</div>- I don't expect him to score 30 a night in Denver either, nor does anyone else. He has Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith with him for christ's sake lol. Of course he's not going to score 30 a night. But who cares, anyway?- Overall, Western Conference teams defense is NOT much better than the East. There are a couple, sure, but let's face the facts: overall defense in the league today is NOTHING compared to what it was in the 80's and 90's.- Sure, Iverson may not win MVP, but it's not like he has lost a step. It's not like he still can't put up 30 a night. It's not like he still doesn't take an ass-whipping every night, yet still get up, run hard, and stay strong. It's not like he still doesn't have heart anymore. Etc., I could go on and on. The fact of the matter is, every single year.... EVERY year... people say AI is going to start to decline. It has yet to happen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Dec 20 2006, 12:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I agree with everybody in saying that those numbers mean nothing. If you want to talk about numbers, let's talk about this... since the NBA and ABA merged, Allen Iverson has the third highest points per game average of any player in the city of Denver (only T-Mac, who has played six games in Denver in his career, and George Gervin have a higher average... barely).Honestly, this trade will work wonders for Iverson, in my opinion. It may get off to a rocky start because of all the adjustments with the new teammates, then with 'Melo coming back, etc., but once they get it clicking he will show the world that he is as good a playmaker and passer as there is in this league. This is just going to add a depth to his legacy that he couldn't add in Philadelphia because he never had the teammates to basically go out and do it.He could easily lead the league in scoring and assists in Denver if he wanted to, but he knows it's Carmelo's team and he will take a back seat to 'Melo when he returns.</div>Well said, and I agree 100%. Those numbers mean absolutely nothing. Nobody can stop Allen Iverson. I definitely agree that being in Denver will be great for him. He finally gets to play with a good supporting cast (and another superstar). I honestly think that this probably makes Denver a legit contender. Teams have trouble stopping even one of Melo or AI, or J.R. at times. Now, they are all on the same team... that's a complete nightmare for opposing coaches and players. Not to mention Marcus Camby (IMO, the 2nd best center in the Western Conference) to go along with some excellent role players (Eddie Najera, Reggie Evans, Earl Boykins - soon to be traded, Nene, and a good young defender in Diawara). This deal brings a lot of great things for Denver in the near future. I'm extremely excited.And people are making AI out to be a cancer than comes in and automatically will say "this is my team." That's not the case at all. He is a winner, and he has more heart than anybody I have ever seen step on the court (honestly). If winning means scoring 20 points instead of 31, AI WILL do that. No doubt about it. He's going to make adjustments and he is going to be great for that team.
