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Charley Rosen pissing on another parade.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6288942
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 1 hour ago
This is what all the waiting was for?
After Allen Iverson spent the better part of 10 days in limbo, a trade has reportedly been agreed upon in principle. And it really doesn't appear to be worth the wait to which we were all subjected.
With that initial assessment in mind, let's take a closer look at both sides of the less-than-momentous deal between Philadelphia and Denver.
BlogJam...
One day after the Nuggets learned they'd be losing Carmelo Anthony for a while, they've swung a deal to add Allen Iverson. Who got the better end of this deal? Tell us what you think.
Philly got Andre Miller, a terrific point guard who uses power, trickery and deceit more than sheer speed. His defense is less than adequate, but is certainly no worse than Iverson's. Miller is unselfish and has incredible court vision. The bottom line is that he can run a set-up offense with maximum efficiency, thereby getting his teammates totally involved.
The problem is this: Which of the remaining Sixers merit being totally involved in the offense? Broken-down Chris Webber? Andre Iguodala, who has yet to prove he can shoot his way out of a paper bag? Samuel Dalembert, with his cheesy jumpers and jump hooks? Steven Hunter, who's strictly a baseline-and-paint player?
That leaves Kyle Korver, with his catch-and-shoot excellence (and his limitations elsewhere) to try and shake free by running off perpetual screens. But screens set by whom? Webber, who avoids contact like mice avoid snakes? Or the leansome Dalembert, who gets nosebleeds when he's too far away from the hoop? Perhaps Hunter, who's so thin that eyewitnesses can see his heart beating every time he walks past a light?
By default, it seems that Willie Green will become the Sixers' go-to scorer. For sure, Green can drive both ways, always works hard, and can routinely bury face-up jumpers from 17 feet. But, his passing is inadequate, he's prone to turnovers, and his long-range shooting will definitely not frighten anybody except Mo Cheeks.
Still, Green is young, talented and eager, and, under the cir stances, building the offense around him is a risk well worth taking. At least until a bona fide superstar is somehow procured by Billy King.
Even though Joe Smith's game is expiring, he's marginally valuable because so will his contract after this season.
As for receiving two No. 1 draft picks ... except for Greg Oden, legitimate franchise players will be hard to find in the glorified crap-shoot that cons utes the NBA's draft. That's why the Sixers' trio of top-of-the-line selections might have more trade value than anything else.
Overall, the Sixers have made an admirable commitment to rebuild their roster. Now if only they could find some sucker to take Webber.
In the past, George Karl has bragged about his teams' disorganized offenses. After all, if the Nuggets don't really know what they're doing when they have the ball, how can their opponents come up with a defensive game plan? This kind of helter-skelter, every-shooter-for-himself at ude is perfect for a conscienceless machine-gunner like Iverson. And with Carmelo Anthony on the shelf for another 14 games, Iverson just might end up unleashing 30 shots per game.
The Nuggets fans will assuredly be excited and entertained by Iverson's courage, creativity and awesome talents. And Karl can also sit back and enjoy the show.
But there are several caveats involved here. Karl has always had trouble coaching strong-willed players. Think Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, tough-talking guys who came right back at Karl's attempts to threaten or cajole them. In the past, Karl's response has been to kow-tow to these guys, and find other, more passive players to verbally abuse and accuse. And who in the league is as street-tough and ornery as Iverson?
Since Karl learned his Xs and Os at the feet of Dean Smith, practice time is sacrosanct and his players are required to be on time and be ready to work hard. Iverson will certainly toe the line for a while. But how long will it take for A.I. to lapse into his habitual show-up-late-and-lazy at ude? Then what does Karl do?
Okay, if Iverson will be granted a license to shoot while Anthony is in exile, what will happen when 'Melo returns? Will anybody else get to touch the ball?
Sooner or later, his new teammates will react the same way to playing with Iverson as virtually all of his former teammates have — with frustration that will eventually become disgust. And that's exactly why the Nuggets will have difficulty recruiting any free-agent superstars.
Overall, Philadelphia has made a firm commitment to the future, a step that was as necessary as it is worthy. On the other side of the equation, Denver has made an equally firm commitment to the here and now, a step to the edge of an abyss that will create more excitement than success.
The immediate (and short-lived) advantage goes to Denver.
Depending on how King can utilize his new draft picks, the long-range advantage might go to the Sixers. The key word here is "might."
Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 13 books about hoops, the current one being "The pivotal season — How the 1971-72 L.A. Lakers changed the NBA."
Charley Rosen pissing on another parade.
At least he got the rosters right for once. I was expecting him to say that Iverson would have a tough time learning to share the ball with Alex English.
For as rarely as it happens, I agree with Rosen. I think this will be a team that will get a boost out of this but is probably going to self destruct at some point.
Rosen hates everything about the Nuggets. I just ignore everything he says coz he was the one who said "the best Lebron can be is an average NBA player"
Rosen = hater anything non-Phil Jackson
The Nuggets will be better. There shouldn't be any question about that. How much better is the question. True championship contenders? Perhaps. But, they will be better than what they would have been had they not traded for Iverson.
I didn't read the article but I agree it is a failure waiting to happen. Both are selfish players and it is proven by leading the league in field goal attempts. The offense will be stagnant because the other players are going to realize they aren't likely to see the ball. Both are poor on defense as well.
plenty of shots to go around
People just try to make up reasons why nuggets wont kick butt
Nuggets will top the Suns in points scored, but will fail to make the playoffs because they play even LESS defense than the Suns and they will regress into internal bickering by April.
No way do they surpass the Spurs, Mavs, Suns, Jazz, Lakers, Houston, or the Clippers. If they make it into the playoffs, they'll have to beat out Golden State and New Orleans for the last spot, and I actually think even WITH Anthony and AI both of those two teams are better all around teams.
lol saying they play less defence then the suns is stupid..did you not see the nets vs suns game?
Actually they do
The Suns are playing good defense now. Only allowing teams to shoot around 45% which isn't bad at all. Nuggets let teams shoot over 46%. They shouldn't be this poor defensively considering the team they have in terms of rebounding and shot blocking.
We're so screwed. A few more horrible years for the Sixers on the cards.
Please don't tell me Rosen was that thick-skulled and stupid to make a comment like that!Rosen hates everything about the Nuggets. I just ignore everything he says coz he was the one who said "the best Lebron can be is an average NBA player"
Bro, you should be THRILLED!!! The Sixers have three first rounders in what is said to be a deep draft in terms of talent. Also, you guys are one of the heavyweight favorites to win the Greg Oden sweepstakes. Man, to get him, I wouldn't mind the Spurs tanking an entire season even!
The Sixers get Greg Oden, all of Philly should be the happiest sports fans since Cleveland drafted Lebron or San Antonio drafted Duncan.
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