Stephen A. Smith | Big question about Iverson: Can he win title?
By Stephen A. Smith
Inquirer Columnist
Alone, Allen Iverson seems smaller than he is. He is quiet, not fiery. Introspective instead of extroverted. Still aching for affection that comes only periodically. Still longing for a championship that slips further away with each passing season, for that parade on Broad Street in which he will stand before the masses screaming, "I love you," to all of his supporters, while asking his critics, "How ya like me now?"
Iverson was supposed to be beyond that by now, of course. It shouldn't take nine seasons to capture a title, after all. At least not in his mind. But it has been nine long years.
They are years filled with bad press, three scoring titles, a most valuable player award, more bad press, more than a few bad moves by the 76ers organization, and a litany of questions about a man known as "The Answer."
Will Iverson and Chris Webber ever coexist? Are any problems concerning them legitimate, or do they simply revolve around coach Jim O'Brien?
Are the Sixers a gimmick now? Just a bunch of parts surrounding a mercurial star incapable of capturing that one glorious prize, but teasing us into believing it's possible? Will Philadelphia ever win an NBA crown with Iverson as its star? Or even make the playoffs this season?
"Wait and see," Iverson said before the 76ers headed to Los Angeles for tonight's game against the Lakers.
Iverson has scored 30 or more points in six straight games for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
"Critics are just critics," Iverson said. "When you have Michael Jordan saying that, or Magic Johnson and Larry Bird... when you've got guys like Isiah Thomas saying that about me, then it's like... 'That's real serious.' It might be a chance that this might not happen."
Nobody has heard the word never from such notable names when "Iverson" and "championship" are mentioned in the same breath. That's the good news. The bad news is, they never mention him at all.
The Sixers have plunged into mediocrity since the departure of coach Larry Brown two seasons ago. With first-year coach Jim O'Brien, there's been talk of everything from his arrogance to his unwillingness to listen to his players to his not adapting to the skills of the players on his roster.
But even if O'Brien was the problem before, he certainly is not the problem now.
The Sixers are 5-2 over the last seven games and have won four of their last five.
They hold the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race and have elevated their record to .500 (34-34) for the first time since Feb. 14.
Webber has averaged 17.5 points on 47.5 percent shooting in the last seven games (he sat out one). The Sixers have averaged 103 points while holding opponents to 94.1 points on 39.6 percent shooting in that span.
And from everything I'm hearing, O'Brien has made a concerted effort to improve his relationship with practically everyone around him. He's listening more. Smiling more. Not being nearly as aloof or distant, no longer resembling a stranger.
"He's smiling more now than I've seen him smile since he's been here," Iverson said.
Iverson started smiling, too, in recognition of the positive effect a relaxed O'Brien could have on this team.
Then he stopped suddenly, as if he had realized the obvious: One less finger pointing at others usually leaves more fingers pointing in his direction.
Suddenly, it becomes more conspicuous that he's shooting too early and too often. That he's not passing the ball as much as he should. That he's turning the ball over entirely too much because he's trying, unnecessarily, to be all things all too often. And these are the reasons why he won't win with Webber as his teammate and O'Brien as his coach as much as anything else.
"I don't have a choice but to believe," Iverson said, after being asked whether the Sixers can win with Webber and O'Brien. "If we started off next season 0-10, on that 11th game, I'd think we'd win that game and I think we'd win a championship because I don't have any other choice.
"Once my teammates feel that I don't think we have a chance to win it all, that I don't think we have a chance of going to the playoffs, then we don't have a chance."
He would later say that he was dead serious - as if his true feelings were ever in question.
Before exhaling, he shook his head and said: "I'm not young anymore, man! I'm not young!"
Then he walked away.
Removed from the court, away from his self-proclaimed haven, Iverson was left with his own thoughts, pondering the tumultuous road he must travel.
It is an arduous task, destined for him alone.
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