Iverson Says He's A Long-Shot for Season Opener

 

Iverson Says He's A Long-Shot for Season Opener

   

Many NBA fans are anxious to see Allen Iverson to bring his revenge on the Detroit Pistons in the Grizzlies' season opener. Well, it turns out we are going to maybe have to wait on the ten-time All-Star, who may miss the game against Detroit due to his hamstring injury that happened during a scrimmage with Memphis in Birmingham, Alabama. Iverson says there'a strong chance of him missing the season-opener because he thinks he's still fully not healed yet. "They're saying it's a possibility, but it's also a long shot," Iverson told the Associated Press. "You know that's one of the ones I definitely want to play." Of course, after Iverson  announced about a month ago saying playing with Detroit was the worst year of his career. Though Iverson hasn't been doing much lately, he has been participating more in the workouts so far this week. A.I. does say he feels great but he wants to listen to what other people are saying as he never has had this injury in his career. "I guess for one time in my life when it comes to my body, I'll listen to somebody else," Iverson said. "Usually I go off of my instincts. This time, I'll make sure I listen to the professionals." The 34-year-old point guard also feels that his hamstring will pop like it did back in the scrimmage. He said when it popped, it felt tight. "I honestly told my wife that my hamstring has never been this tight before," Iverson said. "I was going through practices and it would never loosen up. ... I was saying that it feels like it would pop any minute. And sure enough, I was driving and I tried to change direction. As soon as I planted down to cut the other way I couldn't hear it, but I could feel it, pop. And I knew something was wrong." Iverson announced that he hasn't learned much of Memphis's plays, the system, and the tendencies of his teammates. After signing a one-year $3.5M contract back in September, he still wants to play in starting lineup with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. "I'm usually getting treatment during practice time and they're out there running plays. But once I get back into practice and just watching the plays for a couple days, I'll pick it up like that," Iverson said. "But as far as styles and everything, I just know how to adjust. "I think my job with this team is making guys better, putting pressure on defenses. Causing a lot of ruckus as far as guys having to pay a lot of attention to me and getting other guys easy looks." This is Iverson's third team in about the last two-three years after playing with the Nuggets and the Pistons. Most of his time has been with the Sixers and the MVP has over 23,000 career points. I really see a great year with Iverson and the Grizzlies. "I feel 100 percent, but they've been telling me with this injury, that's the way it is," Iverson said. "You feel well and then you go out there and try to take it fifth gear and it can tear again. That's my whole dilemma right now, but I feel good."

Former Pistons guard Allen Iverson leaves Grizzlies indefinitely with permission

LOS ANGELES -- Former Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson, who now plays for Memphis, returned to his home in Atlanta after receiving permission to leave the team to attend to personal business.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley gave the four-time NBA scoring leader permission to skip the team's game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers following a 114-98 loss to the Lakers the night before.
According to a team spokesman, Iverson participated in a walk-through at the team's hotel in the morning and then hopped a flight in the afternoon after he and personal manager Gary Moore met with Heisley.

Iverson has played in three games since returning from a hamstring injury, averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 assists and 22.3 minutes. Coach Lionel Hollins spoke to him briefly before he left  but would not elaborate on the conversation.

"It's a personal issue that they asked for permission to go attend to," Hollins said. "It was granted, and it's indefinite. I have no other information."
Iverson played 21 minutes against the Lakers, making 2-of-5 shots and finishing with eight points and three assists. In the postgame dressing room, the 10-time All-Star reiterated his displeasure about coming off the bench for the first time in his 14-year career.

"It's something that I never did in my life, so, obviously, it's a big adjustment," he said. "I'm so tired of discussing that, talking about that, every single day. It's just not something that I want to discuss. That's something you've got to ask the coach. He makes all the decisions around here. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They've been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court."

Iverson also acknowledged he had become a distraction.

"When I hear anything about the Memphis Grizzlies, I don't hear you guys talk about anything other than the situation with me coming off the bench," he said Friday. "I mean, there's got to be something else with this team to talk about besides that. But I guess that sells a lot better than anything else when it comes to this team."

The worst part of his situation, Iverson said, was he and Hollins have not discussed the situation in private.

"That's probably why it's at this point right now," Iverson said. "It's probably going to always be hard for me and him to see eye-to-eye, because we've never even talked to each other. Obviously, that's what you do if you're trying to accomplish the same goal."

When asked before Saturday's game to respond, Hollins bluntly: "If Allen wants to talk to me, my door is open. I talk to him during the game before the game and after the game.

"I understand star power, and that's to be expected. I wouldn't mind even talking about Allen's star power if it was about the game and his performance during the game, versus what Allen has said and what he will or won't do."

The Grizzlies used Marcus Williams as the backup point guard against the Clippers.

"It's the way we'd been going since training camp, until the last three games," Hollins said.

Asked if he had any timetable as to when Iverson might start for the Grizzlies, Hollins said: "I have no comment about that."

Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson mulls retirement and other NBA news

According to a report in The Memphis Commercial Appeal, unhappy Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson is considering retirement. Not good news for a franchise who hoped Iverson's presence would help sell tickets.
And if he doesn't, could Iverson end up with Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks?
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who had a great time in beating the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night, hasn't yet signed a contract extension with the Lakers, according to The Los Angeles Times.
As if this couldn't happen, things are getting uglier in the divorce between Stephen Jackson and the Golden State Warriors.
Maybe former New Orleans Hornets guard Antonio Daniels could end up with the Cleveland Cavaliers anyway, according this item.
Surgery successful for Chicago Bulls and former LSU player Tyrus Thomas.

NBA Insider: Iverson on leave for family issue, not to sulk

NBA Insider: Iverson on leave for family issue, not to sulk

Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is insistent that guard Allen Iverson left the team Saturday to return to his home in Atlanta for personal reasons, not because he's upset about not starting.

"I'm the guy who said he could go. It's a real family issue that I don't think should be reported," Heisley told The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal.

Iverson had eight points and three assists in 21 minutes as a reserve in Friday's loss at the Los Angeles Lakers. He worked out with the team Saturday before leaving.

"It's a personal issue that they asked for permission to go attend to," said coach Lionel Hollins, who met with Iverson and his manager. "It was granted, and it's indefinite."

Iverson, 34, is averaging career lows in scoring (12.3 points) and minutes (22) after three games.

Hill on the glass:Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill, 37, got his fourth double-double of the season Sunday vs. the Washington Wizards; he had five all last season. Hill is averaging 8.7 rebounds a game, his best since 2001-02 with the Orlando Magic.

"He's just done a great job. He plays with such passion. He's such a smart player. He's just a coach's dream," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "Everybody should have the opportunity to coach one guy like him."

Howard returns:Dallas Mavericks swingman Josh Howard played in his first game Saturday since offseason ankle surgery and had 16 points, four rebounds and three steals in the 129-101 victory vs. the Toronto Raptors.

"I have to work through the process of getting back to 100%, which I am not," said Howard, who played with a "small cast" on his left ankle. "But ... I had a good time out there."

Monday eye-opener: How should Iverson be remembered?

Monday eye-opener: How should Iverson be remembered?
Good morning.
What should we make of Allen Iverson leaving the Memphis Grizzlies?

The superstar guard has been disgruntled with his role with the team and wasn't happy last year with his role in Detroit.
However, all reports say that Iverson is leaving the Grizzlies for personal and not playing reasons, and the team owner backs that up.
“I’m not going to get into the personal reason but it has nothing to do with the other stuff,” owner Michael Heisley said. “I’m the guy who said he could go. It’s a real family issue that I don’t think should be reported.”
ESPN's Chad Ford wonders if this is a divorce not a separation and Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal says the superstar is contemplating retirement.
Ever since he was a prep football-basketball phenom in Hampton, Va.,  Iverson has been the go-to guy with every team he has played on.
From Georgetown to the Olympics to the 76ers and on, he has been front and center. That has resulted in him scoring more than 24,000 points in the NBA. (Photo by Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
But the mileage has added up and Iverson has been asked to take a reduced role on the past couple of teams he's played on. That has not been his style and he's let management know that.
ESPN's Bill Simmons, in the recently published The Book of Basketball, rates Iverson the 29th best player of all-time.
He was the 'Answer' so we'll ask the question.
If this is a divorce and not a separation and Iverson's career is over, how should he be remembered by hoop fans?

While we wait for your evaluation slips, here is some good work by some good people that we might have missed while sleeping or checking our BCS math.

Iverson retiring?

 Iverson retiring?





Disgruntled vet Allen Iverson has disappeared from the Memphis Grizzlies' bench, which is likely the for the best for the short term since those younger players don't need to learn how to pout so early in the game.
Iverson has let the team know he wants to be spending more time on the floor during games but there just aren't enough minutes in the game to distribute to the aging Iverson. Now he's left the team but the owner Michael Heisley is saying that the absence has nothing to do with the disagreement and it's a totally separate personal matter, according to ESPN.
"I'm not going to get into the personal reason but it has nothing to do with the other stuff," Heisley said. "I'm the guy who said he could go. It's a real family issue that I don't think should be reported."
Of course that family issue could be the Iversons getting together to talk about Allen's lack of playing time.
It remains to be seen whether Iverson will simply separate from the team personally. The problem for him is that there don't seem to be any teams that will bring him onboard and start him. And obviously that doesn't sit well with him.
So the word on the street now is that Iverson is considering retirement, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Iverson and the Grizzlies should have tried a little honesty

 

Iverson and the Grizzlies should have tried a little honesty

So, Allen Iverson is gone from the Memphis Grizzlies, after just three games in uniform. Officially, he has left the team to deal with a personal matter at his home in Atlanta. While nobody is denying that, Iverson's return date — or just return, period — is in question because of his resentment about his role with the team.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told Yahoo! Sports that he granted Iverson's request to leave the team, declining to delve into specifics. The same report said Iverson might never return because of his lack of communication with coach Lionel Hollins about his reserve role on the team.

It is likely Memphis will try to find a trading partner for Iverson. If they fail, the Grizzlies might waive Iverson, meaning they will have paid him more than US$3-million for about 66 minutes of work.

There is an obvious question here: what exactly did the Grizzlies think was going to happen?

Since his trade from Denver to Detroit last year, Iverson has been clear on his position toward coming off the bench. Namely, he will not do it.

"I'd rather retire before I do this again," Iverson said as his season was wrapping up last year. "I can't be effective playing this way. I'm not used to it."
And those were Iverson's words after being forced to be a reserve for Detroit, a team with a history of winning. If he could not accept coming off the bench for the previously relevant Pistons, there was no way he would do the same for the irrelevant Grizzlies, backing up unproven guard Mike Conley.

This situation could have been avoided with just a little bit of honesty, from both sides. If they only had this conversation:

Iverson  "I will not come off the bench. I hated it last year. Can you guarantee I will start every game I play in?"
Hollins  "No. Can you guarantee that you will not be a distraction if you do come off the bench?"
Iverson  "No."
Hollins  "Perhaps this is a terrible idea."

Instead, both sides are left looking foolish. The Grizzlies, a laughingstock for a while now, needlessly brought a circus to town without getting the only benefit Heisley likely cared about — a bump at the box office. And Iverson has shown that he cannot fit in anywhere at this stage of his career.

The majority of the blame should fall on the Grizzlies. Not only did they risk poisoning their young players for a cash grab that never came, but they were also apparently uncommunicative with Iverson, giving the scenario zero chance to work.

Iverson should look in the mirror, too. Part of the reason he was able to be a superstar in the NBA despite being maybe 6-feet was his defiance, his ample self-confidence. But swagger is a young man's game. Iverson is now 34, and his last two teams have essentially given up on him.

If Iverson really wants to be defiant now, he should learn how to accept a lesser role. At this stage, nobody thinks he can do it. The ultimate shame of Iverson's career would not be a demotion to the bench. It would be his inability adapt to less-than-ideal circumstances, which ultimately is the defining trait of adulthood.