<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">In the recent Dime Magazine (OJ Mayo cover), Larry Hughes regrets leaving the 76ers. "As much as I hate to say it, asking for a trade out of Philly my second year was a mistake." I don't think you can single out Iverson for players leaving and then putting up better numbers. </div> How cool would it be to see him back in Philly (He said that he's gonna test the market but he's also happy in Washington) I doubt he's gonna sign for MLE but I hope BK tries
^ It's not a doubt with him signing for MLE, their's a 0% chance of it happening. You can't get Bobby Simmons for MLE, so anyone looking to get a guy averaging 22-6-5 and leading the league in steals for MLE would be crazy.
...You're typical NY Daily News article. Don't you love it? Well here is my take on this... As soon as I read the portion when the writer said that the source came from Webber's friend, in my eyes this article lost all of its credibility. I find article very difficult to believe. The writer could at least have said his sources came from the AP (associate press) at least to make it just somewhat believable but in the end of the day it doesn?t really matter because this whole story is completely bogus regardless. From the fans booing Webber off the court to new found love for they have for him him during his performance in the Playoffs, again I just find this article very non convincing especially after the way the fans were appreciating this man. Webber is a very sensitive guy and for the fans disliking him to appreciating him is something major and he would not come out of nowhere and just say he wants out. It was no too long ago against the Pistons I noticed how Webber was holding Iverson in the air celebrating and what not and then bumping chests, calling for the fans to stand up and so on. He's got more and more comfortable in the offense and he is starting to gel. Also, since when did you ever hear an NBA player being so conspicuous about another an issue especially to another player and when you add the fact that it?s Iverson (superstar) one guy doesn?t often come about another player like that. In the article it clearly says that ?Webber? said "I can't play with him", the guys in the NBA do not talk like that. They give more of an around the bush approach and say something more to the likes of "The ball needs to move more" or something, he would not be so indirect about not being able to play with Iverson. And if anything, if he were to actually have a problem in Philly it would probably be because of the fact that Jim O'Brien is at the helm. As of now, I don't where his relationship stands with O'Brien but like most of us know at one they were not at the same page. From what I remember he(Webber) said Iverson was not the problem, and it was Iverson in fact who gave him motivation and was the one urging and pushing him to get his swagger back and keep his head up. So all in all, this article is completely bogus and I can almost promise you if this article hits SportsCenter of makes the back page headline of the Philly newspaper expect Webber to come out publicly and shut these rumors down before it gets too out of hand. All of this propaganda just came out of nowhere I don't see any recent events that could have built this up. Lastly, here is a little something that I found... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> PRODUCE THE TAPE: Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News has released a story that is so unethical in the way it is written it should never have made the press. Lawrence in his typical manner runs a speculative story from an unnamed friend of Chris Webbers? in which he quotes Webber directly regarding Allen Iverson, but Mitch never spoke with Webber. Lawrence writes - "I can't play with him," Webber told one old friend. "He dribbles too much." he told his pal: "I'd take a pay cut to get out of there.". The issue here is Lawrence knowing wrote this story as if Webber made the statements to him, yet Webber did not make the statements, let alone make the statements to Lawrence. Its one thing to not name your source, and simply phrase it as a source said ? but what Mitch has done is made it easy for people to believe Chris Webber made the statements which he clearly did not. Apparently Mitch Lawrence went to the same school of ethics as Jeff Van Gundy.</div> <div align="center">Link</div> Now you would say, why believe him but not the Daily News article? Well reason being is that this article brings a valid and in a rare case an actual TRUE point as in this writer has a past of doing such things.
Time will tell on this saga. When you really think about it, this trade was a mistake because the Kings were looking at the name and not the game. Hearing an upper-tier player is available makes any team think "Hey, _ _ is available and he's got game", but you have to see how this player will coincide with the team you have now. The decision to be made before a trade like this is "whose team do you want it to be?". If it's A.I.'s team, then you gotta get him help in what he does best. They got to the Finals because they had role-players who didn't mind being just that. Someone they should have gotten is a decent rebounder-defender. If they could have gotten someone like a Rodman or KG, they would have a better chance at being an Eastern power. If they could get an "Inside - Out" game going, they'd have a chance. I think Jeff Van Gundy would have done a good job with the team.
We all could use a KG on our team. I'm not a big fan of Kevin O'Brien, but he did get Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker to play well together. Both of those two players dominate the ball. I think a summer of practicing together and familiarizing with each other's games is all A.I. and C-Webb need to be a nice 1-2 punch. Both players want to win at this point in their careers, and I think A.I. will adapt his game a little more to accomadate Webber's. Kevin O'Brian and C-Webb just need to convince Iverson the game will be easier for him when the ball is moved around more on offense. In return for compromising on offense, Webber needs to commit more effor on defense and crash the boards harder. I think Philly could run back door cuts all game long for Iverson and just have Webber feed him passes from the elbows.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not a big fan of Kevin O'Brien, but he did get Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker to play well together. Both of those two players dominate the ball. I think a summer of practicing together and familiarizing with each other's games is all A.I. and C-Webb need to be a nice 1-2 punch. Both players want to win at this point in their careers, and I think A.I. will adapt his game a little more to accomadate Webber's. Kevin O'Brian and C-Webb just need to convince Iverson the game will be easier for him when the ball is moved around more on offense. In return for compromising on offense, Webber needs to commit more effor on defense and crash the boards harder. I think Philly could run back door cuts all game long for Iverson and just have Webber feed him passes from the elbows.</div> Exactly, that's basically all there is to it. That's exactly what I've been saying to those whom questioned this trade. A nice long training camp and a full preseason should do the trick. Btw, it's Jim O'Brien not Kevin shape. Btw, whats your thoughts about that article, do you really think it's convincing or true for that matter?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly, that's basically all there is to it. That's exactly what I've been saying to those whom questioned this trade. A nice long training camp and a full preseason should do the trick. Btw, it's Jim O'Brien not Kevin shape. Btw, whats your thoughts about that article, do you really think it's convincing or true for that matter?</div> I always call him Kevin for some reason, who is Kevin O'Brien anyways? I responded in Post 20 about my thoughts on the article.
Webber is pretty much done...he has no right saying who he wishes to play with at this point of his career...he needs to shut his mouth, rehab properly and get in shape and come back and help the Sixers next season...
Webber Responds To Report May 16, 2005 2:55 pm US/Eastern PHILADELPHIA (AP) Chris Webber on Monday denied a published report that he was unhappy playing for the Philadelphia 76ers and could not get along with Allen Iverson. source:http://kyw.com/Local%20News/local_story_136155735.html ny media is bs.
I am more inclined to believe that he DID say he has a problem than he didn't. What would you expect him to say in this predicament, "Yeah I said it. What about it?!?"? Coming from where he came from and what he is used to, I can say that I would believe he may have said that with a friend or two at his leisure.
<div align="center"> <font face="Arial Black"><font size="5">Webber: "I look forward to playing with Iverson"</font></font></div> <div align="center"></div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Webber apparently wants out of Philadelphia, reportedly because he can't get along with Iverson. Webber on Monday denied the report, which ran in the New York Daily News over the weekend. "It's a lie," Webber said in a statement released by the team. "There's no way it is true. I have no issue with Allen Iverson and I look forward to next season and building a championship team."</div> <div align="center">Source</div> Ends speculation.
Sac was a perfect team for chris. He got the ball at the start of the play and could set someone up for do something with it. Now its AI with the ball. he doesnt like being second! What really needs to be done is Chris needs to be in a team such as New York. Theyll take anyone down theyre!
Philly will not win any championships with AI in the line up. He is a great player, however, he is not a good fit in philly. If philly were to traDE AI they could get some good talent in return that would help them out a great deal more then AI would.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NSavic:</div><div class="quote_post">Philly will not win any championships with AI in the line up. He is a great player, however, he is not a good fit in philly. If philly were to traDE AI they could get some good talent in return that would help them out a great deal more then AI would.</div> How is he not a good fit in Philadelphia? He has been their franchise player for a long time, and thats for a reason. If anything the players around him aren't a good fit in Philly, and even that is not true.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post">How is he not a good fit in Philadelphia? He has been their franchise player for a long time, and thats for a reason. If anything the players around him aren't a good fit in Philly, and even that is not true.</div> yes he has been their main player for years, and have then won with him yet? No. They cant find players that fit in with him, it would b much easier to trade him and get players that are easier to play with. It's no secret that he holds onto the ball longer then he should, and he doesnt get all of his teammates involved- that might be becuas ethye are not good enough, hoiwever he still shoudl oinvolve them. I forget who said this (its was either skinner of thomas after joining the kings) "the knigs have a different playign style, i am not use to it, where i came from it's just one guy running around and dribbling " I'll find the exact quote later.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">yes he has been their main player for years, and have then won with him yet? No. They cant find players that fit in with him, it would b much easier to trade him and get players that are easier to play with. It's no secret that he holds onto the ball longer then he should, and he doesnt get all of his teammates involved- that might be becuas ethye are not good enough, hoiwever he still shoudl oinvolve them.</div> The 76ers haven't won, but keep in mind AI did take them to the Fnials which means they are capable of winning. Larry Brown surrounded AI with a bunch of role players, and in the end that worked very well. If they would have had a reliable second option that year, then they could have won the NBA Finals in my opinion. Your probably saying they still haven't won, but thats because the 76ers don't have those same type of players as they had in the Finals run. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I forget who said this (its was either skinner of thomas after joining the kings) "the knigs have a different playign style, i am not use to it, where i came from it's just one guy running around and dribbling "</div> Kenny Thomas should be the last player talking he was solid but thats it, he played zero defense with the 76ers and thats probably why they traded him at all. Besides throughout most of his time with the 76ers Eric Snow handled the ball more then AI did, so really thats just a shot at Iverson.
