Reply With Quote
Drama-rama. Good thing I didn't buy the tickets to today's game.
I can't even imagine the Sixers without AI next season, but it's honestly looking like a possibility.
PHILADELPHIA -- Maurice Cheeks had just finished calling Allen Iverson the ultimate gamer, who always played hard and always gave his full effort for his teammates and fans.
That was before the Sixers coach was informed by a reporter about 55 minutes before Tuesday night's tipoff against New Jersey that Philadelphia's franchise player was not yet at the game, and neither was Chris Webber.
So Cheeks left for the locker room, saw for himself the jerseys hanging in the locker, and returned to tell reporters the duo were "not going to play tonight," against New Jersey.
The 76ers will fine Iverson and Webber for not being at the arena 90 minutes before the game against the Nets, and their top-two leading scorers did not show up in the locker room until the game tipped off.
"They should be here, they're not here and it will be addressed," team president Billy King said.
King said he knew at Tuesday morning's shootaround that Iverson and Webber would be given the home regular-season finale off because of injuries. But King did expect the duo to be at the game. Iverson was to miss the game with an ankle injury, and Webber had a sore back.
"I'd like them to be here, yeah," an agitated King said on the court about 45 minutes before tip. "They're not and I'm going to take care of it."
With reporters staked out awaiting the duo's arrival, King walked by the horde minutes before tip and let loose with a profanity-laced rant when pressed again about their absence.
"Our team is not good right now, I know that," King said, his voice rising with every word.
When asked what King should say to the fans who bought tickets thinking they might see Iverson's last game as a Sixer, he walked off.
Iverson is second in the league in scoring (33.0 ppg), and averaging 7.6 assists. Webber's averaging 20.2 points. The Sixers started Willie Green, and Steven Hunter in their place.
The Sixers were eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race on Sunday. They are scheduled to close out the season in Charlotte on Wednesday. Cheeks said the pair might not make the trip.
"If they're not playing tonight, they're probably not playing tomorrow," Cheeks said.
Cheeks never said Iverson or Webber was not going to play for the 20 minutes he talked to reporters before he was told they had not arrived at the Wachovia Center. He looked dejected when he returned and slumped in his seat, looking much like he did 11 days ago when he remained at the postgame press conference podium, ice bottle on his head, with the lights turned out.
When asked if he was disappointed in the duo, Cheeks said, "I'm done man."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...nba&id=2413093
I can't even imagine the Sixers without AI next season, but it's honestly looking like a possibility.
They should've honestly traded him after last season. Things have been moving towards a Iverson-Garnett partnership for years.
Last edited by Darrin; 04-18-2006 at 11:50 PM.
Here in Philly????
Or in Minnisota?
Good question. It's a thought I've had for awhile because they are treated so similarily in the media. I think the NBA would net more money by having them in a larger market, and that means in Philadelphia.Here in Philly????
Or in Minnisota?
I think they might both be moved. But I doubt they'll end up together.
My biggest fear is that KG ends up on a Miami or Cleveland, New Jersey or Washington.
these guys showed no ing class.. this team is in rebuild mode anyways.
The Problem is that is should've started right after Larry Brown left. Brown says the reason he left is because he had bought into the culture that Iverson played by a different set of rules than Samuel Dalembert. When Iverson publicly courted those "different rules," I would've told him to take a flying leap. Not because I hate stars, but because, as Billy King, I'd realize a problem here. I have a lot of veterans with multiple injuries and this raw package of goods of unproven talent that will take years to develop.
I'll take the hit and make it easier on myself by moving his contract so that I can get the highest return possible for Iverson (28-years-old), who straddles these older veterans (31-36-years-old) and these young guys (21 to 25-years-old).
Oh, well hindsight is 20/20. I just expect the GMs of this league to think past this season, and the guys at the bottom of the league are the ones who don't, or the guys who get to the top, and two seasons later they are perennially in the lottery.
I beginning to think 2000-01 was the worst thing that could happen to the Sixers and Iverson. They stopped struggling to figure out what was wrong and by extension, improving their team. They didn't realize they were benefitting from a weak or aging frontcourt of every single Eastern Conference Team.
me, myself and iverson meets you, yourself and webber....
AI and C-Webb ed up last night. Idiots.
They don't even go out to the bench and appreciate their fans, after the they've been through for cheering them on even though they come up short, when they were predicted to make the playoffs easily this season.
Billy King is pissed, and he should be.
I still want AI to be a Sixer though, this team needs him, and people who call him selfish, that's BS.
The only guys that I want on the Sixers for next season from this season are AI, Iguodala, and Dalembert...and maybe Steven Hunter.
But everyone else, re-build this team.
I just feel bad for coach Cheeks....
Allen Iverson gets what he deserves,the bad rap with all tattoos and do rag.He is to the 76ers what TO was to the Eagles,not a good teammate,or a favorite by any coach ever, he might end up on the Knicks with the rest of the score first pass whenever guards.....make the better AI a star and build around him...Andre Iguadola
Iverson and Garnett to the Lakers...David Stern's happy thought.
I'm telling you, I really thought Iverson had matured and grown up. I'm surprised that Webber also followed along. I still think a lot of the blame falls on Mo Cheeks. He's not a very enforceful coach and he doesn't have much in the way of strategizing. He didn't do crap this season trying to define the Sixers. He basically kept the same offense (Ai needing to score 30+ for us to win) we've had for the past 3 years which clearly by the first round exits, have not been working. All those 4th quarter collapeses in the begining of the season, where the Sixers would have a 10-10 point leda going into the 4th, only to lose in the closing minutes....a lot that falls on the coaching.
Billy King sucks, it's time to move on for AI I guess
they both suck and deserve to be fishing right now
Freaking millionares can't show up to the game on time. Pathetic. These two are two of the highest paid in the league and they show disrespect like that? I would trade AI to Atlanta and C-Webb to Charlotte in the off-season as punishment. I know it sounds like a joke, but I would try to rebuild around Andre. I'd trade Iverson and C-Webb for a big and a point guard.
Unless McHale is a complete stupizoid, the Wiz have nobody he wants.
I'd love to see them snooker Minny on a KG for Arenas +Haywood deal.
It's more likely they would build a package around Antawn Jamison.
My only problem with Iverson is his style of play. Andre Iguodala last night had 27 points, and it's not the first time he's put up big numbers. The guy is as talented as advertised, not just a high flier.
Iverson doesn't punish the opposing team for triple-teaming him. Jordan eventually learned to. When Duncan is tripled in the post, what does he do? He passes out to Manu or Tony or (bad memory of the Finals flashback) Bruce Bowen.
Iverson doesn't do that on a consistent basis. When I call him selfish, it's not as a human being. It's all about his game. Just the opinion from one of his critics.
Allen Iverson is 31-years-old. When the word "rebuild" is said, you can pretty much pencil in, on average, 3 years before the team in contending. That means the guy who won't let anyone else be first option besides him because he goes hard every night is going to 34 when the Sixers start winning for real again. In the meantime, he will be draining half of the salary cap of the team, hindering the process even further.
They tried rebuilding around Iverson and it didn't work. If I were a Sixers fan, I'd see the writing on the wall, and want to win more than see him as a Sixer. He'll be like Dominique and the Hawks or Drexler and the Blazers, Jordan and the Bulls or Hakeem and the Rockets -- we will always remember them in those times in those cities. I'm sure Iverson, if he wants to stay in basketball, wouldn't mind returning there after he's retired or sign with them after his contract is up. But right now the best thing he can do for the franchise to allow them to re-build to a contender is to simply leave town.
My pet trade includes him with the LA Clippers, who had serious interest in him in 2000.
Yeah, but I want to get rid of Arenas.
The problem is the Wiz probably want to keep him. Because of his status, you could probably get a lot for him and improve you team tremendously by both addition and subtraction. The guy is like Starbury, good stats, but only out for himself and will never win you anything.
bull . Don't dare compare Arenas with Starbury. Arenas actually was the reason the Wiz reached the 2nd round and the reason they are keeping 5th seed.
I would not do a deal involving him and garnett in a million years. With Garnett, the Wiz would be same or worse than Minesota.
1Parer1, you're right. Mo Cheeks sucks as a coach, he isn't demanding at all.
You have no idea what you're talking about. He is to the Sixers what TO was to the Eagles??? Bull . Everyone loves AI here and I bet they still do after this even though a lot will be pissed because of what happened yesterday.Allen Iverson gets what he deserves,the bad rap with all tattoos and do rag.He is to the 76ers what TO was to the Eagles,not a good teammate,or a favorite by any coach ever, he might end up on the Knicks with the rest of the score first pass whenever guards.....make the better AI a star and build around him...Andre Iguadola
I still want AI on the Sixers, and he averages what? 7 assits??? That's more than TP and he has a far worse team.
Webber is the guy who has to go.
Webber + Korver + Hunter + picks + money + whatever for KG.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
