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NBA Beat: Iverson finally pushes 76ers to breaking point
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, December 17, 2006
The Allen Iverson saga dragged on as the Philadelphia 76ers continued to consider offers, making it two weekends of waiting for the league's leading scorer to be traded. But only if you haven't been paying attention.
In reality, the wait has been measured in years. Iverson arrived in the 1996 draft, a point guard of the toughest order, and the organization hasn't been the same since, until he finally asked out and the 76ers agreed they had had enough, too.
If it's any comfort, they were as committed to him as he was to them. The 76ers would have had Iverson shipped to Detroit in 2000 if not for a technicality in the contract of another player. They also were close to a three-team deal with Boston and Utah last summer that would have made AI a Celtic and delivered Carlos Boozer and the No. 7 pick to Philly.
In between, Iverson became an MVP and led the 76ers to the Finals in a hearty showing, encouraging everyone to keep showing patience even as he (surprise) clashed with coach Larry Brown. Then Brown left, speaking of surprises, and nothing changed between the star player and the organization. He even blew off a fan-appreciation night function at the end of 2005-06, and the steam could be seen billowing from the ears of president Billy King from miles away.
Even Iverson thought he was a goner after that one, but back he came.
"I felt that something might happen just because I had my best season statistically and there were still talks," he said. "After I have my best season in 10 years and still people are talking about trading you, you feel like the situation is just never going to be right. It's always going to be something regardless of how well you play. It doesn't have to be anything that has to do with you. If the team's not successful, people feel like the answer is getting rid of me."
Iverson agreed with them this time. They were on the same page, finally.
Knick of time
Eddy Curry wore through coaches, bombed in his hometown and was working his way through surly New York when he suddenly arrived, at last turning into a standout center and a reprieve for beleaguered Isiah Thomas. For now.
With Curry, nothing is certain. The ultimate tease the previous five seasons, he went from being picked fourth overall in 2001 by the hometown Bulls to only once averaging more than 15 points and never topping 6.2 rebounds before being traded to the Knicks in 2005.
When the first-round selection New York sent to the Bulls as part of the deal turned out to be the No. 2 overall choice -- after Curry had averaged 13.6 points and six rebounds -- he became another pair of cement shoes for personnel boss Thomas. But with Thomas as the coach this season, Curry has blossomed. He posted 11 consecutive games with at least 20 points, the team's longest such streak since Patrick Ewing's in 1994, making Thomas seem like a competent executive for a change and making Curry one of the few Knicks not getting booed out of Madison Square Garden.
This being the Knicks, there's also more bad news. The final payment on the trade allows the Bulls to swap picks in the loaded 2007 draft, potentially, if not likely, delivering another lottery pick to Chicago.
King for a day
There was a Bonzi Wells sighting the other night, when Wells played 17 minutes at Golden State, as if he were actually a Houston Rocket or something.
He is, for now. Inactive most of the season while struggling to play his way into shape -- and finding it impossible since coach Jeff Van Gundy would barely acknowledge Wells' existence, let alone play him -- Wells got his chance when Tracy McGrady's back injury forced the Rockets to reconsider the exile.
When Wells practiced Monday, it was his first participation in a full workout with the team in about a month. When he played Tuesday and Thursday, it was his third and fourth appearances of the season.
Golden rule
The Warriors, burned by losing Gilbert Arenas as a free agent in 2003 because of a technicality surrounding second-round picks up for new contracts after their second season, have avoided the problem with Monta Ellis in the summer of '07.
Ellis would be able to parlay his breakout 2005-06 into a major payday, one that Golden State would have been unable to match in the previous circumstances, except that he was signed to a two-year deal with a third year as a team option. The Warriors are protected.
PETA principle
So now animal rights activists are mad at Commissioner David Stern, pointing out that the planned switch back to leather balls on Jan. 1 is bad news for cows. Actually, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is focusing its displeasure on the players who pushed Stern to make the move and offering as a remedy a lifetime of hand cream to anyone willing to give the current composite ball another try.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard-cooper@sacbee.com.
NBA Beat: Iverson finally pushes 76ers to breaking point
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, December 17, 2006
The Allen Iverson saga dragged on as the Philadelphia 76ers continued to consider offers, making it two weekends of waiting for the league's leading scorer to be traded. But only if you haven't been paying attention.
In reality, the wait has been measured in years. Iverson arrived in the 1996 draft, a point guard of the toughest order, and the organization hasn't been the same since, until he finally asked out and the 76ers agreed they had had enough, too.
If it's any comfort, they were as committed to him as he was to them. The 76ers would have had Iverson shipped to Detroit in 2000 if not for a technicality in the contract of another player. They also were close to a three-team deal with Boston and Utah last summer that would have made AI a Celtic and delivered Carlos Boozer and the No. 7 pick to Philly.
In between, Iverson became an MVP and led the 76ers to the Finals in a hearty showing, encouraging everyone to keep showing patience even as he (surprise) clashed with coach Larry Brown. Then Brown left, speaking of surprises, and nothing changed between the star player and the organization. He even blew off a fan-appreciation night function at the end of 2005-06, and the steam could be seen billowing from the ears of president Billy King from miles away.
Even Iverson thought he was a goner after that one, but back he came.
"I felt that something might happen just because I had my best season statistically and there were still talks," he said. "After I have my best season in 10 years and still people are talking about trading you, you feel like the situation is just never going to be right. It's always going to be something regardless of how well you play. It doesn't have to be anything that has to do with you. If the team's not successful, people feel like the answer is getting rid of me."
Iverson agreed with them this time. They were on the same page, finally.
Knick of time
Eddy Curry wore through coaches, bombed in his hometown and was working his way through surly New York when he suddenly arrived, at last turning into a standout center and a reprieve for beleaguered Isiah Thomas. For now.
With Curry, nothing is certain. The ultimate tease the previous five seasons, he went from being picked fourth overall in 2001 by the hometown Bulls to only once averaging more than 15 points and never topping 6.2 rebounds before being traded to the Knicks in 2005.
When the first-round selection New York sent to the Bulls as part of the deal turned out to be the No. 2 overall choice -- after Curry had averaged 13.6 points and six rebounds -- he became another pair of cement shoes for personnel boss Thomas. But with Thomas as the coach this season, Curry has blossomed. He posted 11 consecutive games with at least 20 points, the team's longest such streak since Patrick Ewing's in 1994, making Thomas seem like a competent executive for a change and making Curry one of the few Knicks not getting booed out of Madison Square Garden.
This being the Knicks, there's also more bad news. The final payment on the trade allows the Bulls to swap picks in the loaded 2007 draft, potentially, if not likely, delivering another lottery pick to Chicago.
King for a day
There was a Bonzi Wells sighting the other night, when Wells played 17 minutes at Golden State, as if he were actually a Houston Rocket or something.
He is, for now. Inactive most of the season while struggling to play his way into shape -- and finding it impossible since coach Jeff Van Gundy would barely acknowledge Wells' existence, let alone play him -- Wells got his chance when Tracy McGrady's back injury forced the Rockets to reconsider the exile.
When Wells practiced Monday, it was his first participation in a full workout with the team in about a month. When he played Tuesday and Thursday, it was his third and fourth appearances of the season.
Golden rule
The Warriors, burned by losing Gilbert Arenas as a free agent in 2003 because of a technicality surrounding second-round picks up for new contracts after their second season, have avoided the problem with Monta Ellis in the summer of '07.
Ellis would be able to parlay his breakout 2005-06 into a major payday, one that Golden State would have been unable to match in the previous circumstances, except that he was signed to a two-year deal with a third year as a team option. The Warriors are protected.
PETA principle
So now animal rights activists are mad at Commissioner David Stern, pointing out that the planned switch back to leather balls on Jan. 1 is bad news for cows. Actually, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is focusing its displeasure on the players who pushed Stern to make the move and offering as a remedy a lifetime of hand cream to anyone willing to give the current composite ball another try.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard-cooper@sacbee.com.
