Allen Iverson was recently quoted saying he wants to finish his career in the NBA.
Three Days Grace wants him to know that it's "Never Too Late."
That's the song from the band used on this Iverson reel.
And here is some more Allen Iverson for those who want an extended version.
They're right. It's never too late.
Comment or e-mail: thenbaoutsider@yahoo.com
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Showing posts with label Allen Iverson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allen Iverson. Show all posts
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Next Iverson Moment
It was the end of the 1996-97 season. The Chicago Bulls were on their way to another NBA title, and the Philadelphia 76ers were on their way to another lottery appearance, but something happened along the way which will live forever.
Allen Iverson happened.
Very few players in the NBA ever stood up to Michael Jordan after he won his first title in 1991. Jordan defeated most opponents with a psychological advantage well before the game even started.
It was the most frustrating part about rooting against Michael Jordan, the realization that the league was full of punk-bitch players afraid to challenge Jordan out of a legitimate fear of being publicly embarrassed.
Then along comes this cocky little snot-nosed punk named Allen Iverson, a rookie, six-feet tall and all of 165 pounds "soaking wet," as they say.
A baby by NBA standards (you might have been able to see his pamper through his uniform at the time), in one moment Allen Iverson showed he had more heart and courage and was more of a man than 99.9% of the players in the league at that time.
Philadelphia was playing Chicago in Philadelphia.
Iverson got the ball. Michael Jordan switched out on him. The crowd rose to its feet. And the scene was set.
Allen Iverson vs Michael Jordan, man to man (8:22).
Here is more for those who want to enjoy it in slow motion.
Unlike Byron Scott and many others before him, Allen Iverson didn't punk out when he got his chance to go toe-to-toe with Michael Jordan.
Iverson "gave him a little cross to see would he bite on it," he says.
He then hit Jordan with his patented crossover and splashed cotton in Jordan's eyes from about 17 feet away. It is one of the most classic rookie moments of all time.
No one did this to Michael Jordan.
No one, especially not a player in his first year in the NBA.
But Allen Iverson did it.
He went up against the "greatest player of all time" and didn't back down. Not only that, he succeeded, and in a big way.
It was unheard of at the time.
This year, there is another crop of rookies entering the NBA who will be looking to establish themselves and show signs of their future greatness.
Here are some of their games and matchups from the first month of the season.
JOHN WALL
Wall probably has the easiest time of all rookies to start the season. It was hard to find many good matchups for him, but there are some games to look out for.
Individual Matchups: at Derrick Rose (Nov. 13); at Rajon Rondo (Nov. 17).
Big Games: vs Evan Turner (Nov. 2); vs Evan Turner (Nov. 23); at Miami (Nov. 29).
EVAN TURNER
Evan Turner probably hasn't slept since the schedule came out.
That is because his first game (Oct. 27) is at home against Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Good thing he has Andre Iguodala to help him. Here are some of his other matchups.
Turner and Iguodala: at Paul George and Danny Granger (Oct. 30); vs Paul George and Danny Granger (Nov. 3); at Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (Nov. 26); vs Brandon Roy and Luke Babbitt (Nov. 30).
Big Games: vs Milwaukee (Nov. 19); at Oklahoma City (Nov. 10).
WESLEY JOHNSON
Wesley Johnson and Corey Brewer form one of the youngest and most exciting wing combinations in the NBA.
When Jonny Flynn comes back from injury, look out! Things will be really exciting in Minnesota.
The only question is can they win? Wesley Johnson's key matchups from the first month of the season are small in number but large in impact.
Individual Matchups: at Gerald Wallace (Nov. 15); at Kevin Durant (Nov. 22).
Johnson and Brewer: at LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (Nov. 2); at Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant (Nov. 9); vs Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant (Nov. 19).
GORDON HAYWARD
As John Wall has the easiest, Gordon Hayward has the hardest start to the season.
The league didn't do Hayward any favors with the slate of tough individual matchups they gave him out of the gates. Like Turner starting off against Wade and James, it will only make him stronger.
Individual Matchups: at Carmelo Anthony (Oct. 27); at Kevin Durant (Oct. 31); at LeBron James (Nov. 9); at Gerald Wallace (Nov. 13); vs Kevin Durant (Nov. 15); at Luke Babbitt (Nov. 20); vs Ron Artest (Nov. 26);
PAUL GEORGE
It is always nice to have help, and Paul George has a pretty good running mate in Danny Granger. They could turn out to be the most exciting and entertaining duo north of Miami.
Take a look at some of George's not-previously-listed games during the first month of the season.
Individual Matchups: vs Vince Carter (Nov. 20).
George and Granger: at Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (Nov. 22); at Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest (Nov. 28).
Big Games: vs Milwaukee (Nov. 5).
LUKE BABBITT
Luke Babbitt landed in one of the best situations of all of the rookies. He is surrounded by so many talented teammates that he won't be the focus of another team's defense probably all season.
On top of that, Portland is going to win a lot of games. Plus, he has minutes waiting for him. All he has to do is perform. He'll get a chance to do that in the following games.
Big Games: vs Phoenix (Oct. 26); vs Oklahoma City (Nov. 4); at Lakers (Nov. 7); at Oklahoma City (Nov. 12); vs Denver (Nov. 18); at Boston (Dec. 1), had to slip that one in.
Rookies are my favorite players in every sport. There is just a certain magic to rookies which can't be explained. They are talented, inexperienced, young, fun, energetic, naive, fresh, new, funny and more.
It will be interesting to see whether or not one of the current rookies can establish himself and make his mark in the NBA by putting on a big performance in a big moment, one like Iverson in 1997 or maybe even better.
Tweet
Allen Iverson happened.
Very few players in the NBA ever stood up to Michael Jordan after he won his first title in 1991. Jordan defeated most opponents with a psychological advantage well before the game even started.
It was the most frustrating part about rooting against Michael Jordan, the realization that the league was full of punk-bitch players afraid to challenge Jordan out of a legitimate fear of being publicly embarrassed.
Then along comes this cocky little snot-nosed punk named Allen Iverson, a rookie, six-feet tall and all of 165 pounds "soaking wet," as they say.
A baby by NBA standards (you might have been able to see his pamper through his uniform at the time), in one moment Allen Iverson showed he had more heart and courage and was more of a man than 99.9% of the players in the league at that time.
Philadelphia was playing Chicago in Philadelphia.
Iverson got the ball. Michael Jordan switched out on him. The crowd rose to its feet. And the scene was set.
Allen Iverson vs Michael Jordan, man to man (8:22).
Here is more for those who want to enjoy it in slow motion.
Unlike Byron Scott and many others before him, Allen Iverson didn't punk out when he got his chance to go toe-to-toe with Michael Jordan.
Iverson "gave him a little cross to see would he bite on it," he says.
He then hit Jordan with his patented crossover and splashed cotton in Jordan's eyes from about 17 feet away. It is one of the most classic rookie moments of all time.
No one did this to Michael Jordan.
No one, especially not a player in his first year in the NBA.
But Allen Iverson did it.
He went up against the "greatest player of all time" and didn't back down. Not only that, he succeeded, and in a big way.
It was unheard of at the time.
This year, there is another crop of rookies entering the NBA who will be looking to establish themselves and show signs of their future greatness.
Here are some of their games and matchups from the first month of the season.
JOHN WALL
Wall probably has the easiest time of all rookies to start the season. It was hard to find many good matchups for him, but there are some games to look out for.
Individual Matchups: at Derrick Rose (Nov. 13); at Rajon Rondo (Nov. 17).
Big Games: vs Evan Turner (Nov. 2); vs Evan Turner (Nov. 23); at Miami (Nov. 29).
EVAN TURNER
Evan Turner probably hasn't slept since the schedule came out.
That is because his first game (Oct. 27) is at home against Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Good thing he has Andre Iguodala to help him. Here are some of his other matchups.
Turner and Iguodala: at Paul George and Danny Granger (Oct. 30); vs Paul George and Danny Granger (Nov. 3); at Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (Nov. 26); vs Brandon Roy and Luke Babbitt (Nov. 30).
Big Games: vs Milwaukee (Nov. 19); at Oklahoma City (Nov. 10).
WESLEY JOHNSON
Wesley Johnson and Corey Brewer form one of the youngest and most exciting wing combinations in the NBA.
When Jonny Flynn comes back from injury, look out! Things will be really exciting in Minnesota.
The only question is can they win? Wesley Johnson's key matchups from the first month of the season are small in number but large in impact.
Individual Matchups: at Gerald Wallace (Nov. 15); at Kevin Durant (Nov. 22).
Johnson and Brewer: at LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (Nov. 2); at Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant (Nov. 9); vs Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant (Nov. 19).
GORDON HAYWARD
As John Wall has the easiest, Gordon Hayward has the hardest start to the season.
The league didn't do Hayward any favors with the slate of tough individual matchups they gave him out of the gates. Like Turner starting off against Wade and James, it will only make him stronger.
Individual Matchups: at Carmelo Anthony (Oct. 27); at Kevin Durant (Oct. 31); at LeBron James (Nov. 9); at Gerald Wallace (Nov. 13); vs Kevin Durant (Nov. 15); at Luke Babbitt (Nov. 20); vs Ron Artest (Nov. 26);
PAUL GEORGE
It is always nice to have help, and Paul George has a pretty good running mate in Danny Granger. They could turn out to be the most exciting and entertaining duo north of Miami.
Take a look at some of George's not-previously-listed games during the first month of the season.
Individual Matchups: vs Vince Carter (Nov. 20).
George and Granger: at Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (Nov. 22); at Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest (Nov. 28).
Big Games: vs Milwaukee (Nov. 5).
LUKE BABBITT
Luke Babbitt landed in one of the best situations of all of the rookies. He is surrounded by so many talented teammates that he won't be the focus of another team's defense probably all season.
On top of that, Portland is going to win a lot of games. Plus, he has minutes waiting for him. All he has to do is perform. He'll get a chance to do that in the following games.
Big Games: vs Phoenix (Oct. 26); vs Oklahoma City (Nov. 4); at Lakers (Nov. 7); at Oklahoma City (Nov. 12); vs Denver (Nov. 18); at Boston (Dec. 1), had to slip that one in.
Rookies are my favorite players in every sport. There is just a certain magic to rookies which can't be explained. They are talented, inexperienced, young, fun, energetic, naive, fresh, new, funny and more.
It will be interesting to see whether or not one of the current rookies can establish himself and make his mark in the NBA by putting on a big performance in a big moment, one like Iverson in 1997 or maybe even better.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
Basketball IQ Sneak Preview
There isn't very much news in the NBA these days now that summer league has ended and most of the major free agents have picked their teams.
Tracy McGrady working out for the Chicago Bulls was the most interesting thing which happened this week.
They still are undecided on signing him.
Yawn. While rumors and speculation are great and special entertainment, only things which are concrete--agreements and signings--will be covered here.
So here are some stories being anxiously anticipated, stories which will be covered when something concrete happens, along with other stories which will likely be covered in coming articles.
THE NEXT BIG THREE
This is the biggest story left to be covered. Nothing is more exciting--and frustrating--than waiting to see where Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas will end up.
The Bulls not signing McGrady only means they aren't serious about winning a championship. Their thinking also hints that as an organization they don't have what it takes to win one.
Let's look at how ludicrous their thinking is: They only want McGrady if he is (1) healthy and (2) willing to come of the bench, this according to Marc Stein.
What?! What kind of team would bring a healthy Tracy McGrady off the bench?
A dumb ass team not ready to win a championship, that's what kind.
It was then reported that they wanted to look at other guards like Eddie House before making a final decision on McGrady. Eddie House.
The Bulls aren't ready.
Keep in mind that McGrady is nowhere near the 2-year mark on his microfracture surgery which took place in February 2009. The general rule with major knee surgeries is that the player will be back playing in one year but won't be fully-recovered until two years later.
Having just turned 31, McGrady has plenty of basketball left in him as long as he is patient with his injury and takes care of his body.
It will be believed that Gilbert Arenas is staying with the Washington Wizards when he is on the court with them on opening night.
Other than that, his new team awaits; and maybe Allen Iverson will end up somewhere as well.
THE SUPER FRIENDS
The Miami Heat didn't have enough of a roster to evaluate their chances of winning a championship, and I couldn't care less that LeBron James announced his decision to go to South Beach on national television, so no story was written about Miami's free agency signings of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Now that the rest of their team is rounding into shape, they can be evaluated along with almost everybody else.
OFF-SEASON WINNERS
This will feature teams which have improved themselves with the draft and free agency and other moves made since the end of last season. Surprise teams will be covered as well, my favorite.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will most definitely be covered here, if for no other reason than to tick this guy off.
Most everything the Timberwolves have done this off-season has been terrific, especially getting rid of gluttonous ball-hog Al Jefferson.
In his three years in Minnesota, Al Jefferson had a field goal attempt-to-assist (FGA:A) ratio of 10.6:1.
That means that Jefferson shot the ball 10.6 times for every 1 assist he made. For his career, his FGA:A ratio is 10.9:1, and last season it was 8.2:1.
For a comparison, let's take a look at Kobe Bryant, surely one of the most notoriously gluttonous ball-hogs of all-time, right?
For his career Kobe Bryant has a 4.1:1 FGA:A ratio.
In 2005-06, when Bryant earned his reputation as a mad gunner, he averaged a career-high 27.2 FGAs per game.
His FGA:A ratio? 6:1, or two less than Al Jefferson's career-low just last season.
Allen Iverson? For his career it is 3.5:1. When Iverson averaged a career-high 27.8 FGAs per game in 2001-02, it was 5:1.
Not fair, you say, to compare guards to a big man like Al Jefferson?
Darko Milicic's career ratio is 6.6:1.
Playing with the same teammates last year in Minnesota and shooting essentially the same field goal percentage themselves, Milicic's FGA:A ratio was 4.3:1, compared to Jefferson's 8.2:1.
Milicic also averaged .1 more combined blocks and steals than Jefferson even though Milicic played about seven fewer minutes per game.
Still think David Kahn is crazy?
Other notoriously gluttonous ball-hogs include Eddy Curry (16.4:1 career), Zach Randolph (8.6:1 career) and Rudy Gay (8.5:1 career).
ADVANCED STATISTICS
In a determined effort to bring the NBA out of the Stone Ages when it comes to player and team analysis, advanced statistics like the one mentioned above with Al Jefferson will be used to help commissioner David Sternrock out of his dark cave.
There will also be an area, yet to be named, dealing with clutch performance. In general, clutch will be defined as the last five minutes of the game, or overtime, with neither team ahead by more than three points.
POWER POLLS
Finally, there will be four Basketball IQ Power Polls throughout the season:
(1) Season-Opening Power Poll
(2) Mid-Season Power Poll
(3) Playoff Push Power Poll
(4) Playoff Power Poll
They will be done (1) about two weeks into the season; (2) after about 41 games; (3) after the trading deadline and (4) before or during the first round of the playoffs.
There will no doubt be lots of fun and entertaining games and stories to cover as the NBA looks to capitalize on its high ratings from the Finals with the competition challenging the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA's new super team in Miami.
In another area of the league, you'll have rookies trying to find their way in the league and make names for themselves.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be eagerly attempting to prove they can bark with the big dogs, and the Los Angeles Clippers will be trying to change history with Vinny Del Negro, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman.
These are just some of the stories which may be covered in the weeks and months ahead as we speed toward another playoff push and look to celebrate and crown another NBA champion.
Note: numbers rounded up starting at 7.
Tweet
Tracy McGrady working out for the Chicago Bulls was the most interesting thing which happened this week.
They still are undecided on signing him.
Yawn. While rumors and speculation are great and special entertainment, only things which are concrete--agreements and signings--will be covered here.
So here are some stories being anxiously anticipated, stories which will be covered when something concrete happens, along with other stories which will likely be covered in coming articles.
THE NEXT BIG THREE
This is the biggest story left to be covered. Nothing is more exciting--and frustrating--than waiting to see where Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas will end up.
The Bulls not signing McGrady only means they aren't serious about winning a championship. Their thinking also hints that as an organization they don't have what it takes to win one.
Let's look at how ludicrous their thinking is: They only want McGrady if he is (1) healthy and (2) willing to come of the bench, this according to Marc Stein.
What?! What kind of team would bring a healthy Tracy McGrady off the bench?
A dumb ass team not ready to win a championship, that's what kind.
It was then reported that they wanted to look at other guards like Eddie House before making a final decision on McGrady. Eddie House.
The Bulls aren't ready.
Keep in mind that McGrady is nowhere near the 2-year mark on his microfracture surgery which took place in February 2009. The general rule with major knee surgeries is that the player will be back playing in one year but won't be fully-recovered until two years later.
Having just turned 31, McGrady has plenty of basketball left in him as long as he is patient with his injury and takes care of his body.
It will be believed that Gilbert Arenas is staying with the Washington Wizards when he is on the court with them on opening night.
Other than that, his new team awaits; and maybe Allen Iverson will end up somewhere as well.
THE SUPER FRIENDS
The Miami Heat didn't have enough of a roster to evaluate their chances of winning a championship, and I couldn't care less that LeBron James announced his decision to go to South Beach on national television, so no story was written about Miami's free agency signings of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Now that the rest of their team is rounding into shape, they can be evaluated along with almost everybody else.
OFF-SEASON WINNERS
This will feature teams which have improved themselves with the draft and free agency and other moves made since the end of last season. Surprise teams will be covered as well, my favorite.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will most definitely be covered here, if for no other reason than to tick this guy off.
Most everything the Timberwolves have done this off-season has been terrific, especially getting rid of gluttonous ball-hog Al Jefferson.
In his three years in Minnesota, Al Jefferson had a field goal attempt-to-assist (FGA:A) ratio of 10.6:1.
That means that Jefferson shot the ball 10.6 times for every 1 assist he made. For his career, his FGA:A ratio is 10.9:1, and last season it was 8.2:1.
For a comparison, let's take a look at Kobe Bryant, surely one of the most notoriously gluttonous ball-hogs of all-time, right?
For his career Kobe Bryant has a 4.1:1 FGA:A ratio.
In 2005-06, when Bryant earned his reputation as a mad gunner, he averaged a career-high 27.2 FGAs per game.
His FGA:A ratio? 6:1, or two less than Al Jefferson's career-low just last season.
Allen Iverson? For his career it is 3.5:1. When Iverson averaged a career-high 27.8 FGAs per game in 2001-02, it was 5:1.
Not fair, you say, to compare guards to a big man like Al Jefferson?
Darko Milicic's career ratio is 6.6:1.
Playing with the same teammates last year in Minnesota and shooting essentially the same field goal percentage themselves, Milicic's FGA:A ratio was 4.3:1, compared to Jefferson's 8.2:1.
Milicic also averaged .1 more combined blocks and steals than Jefferson even though Milicic played about seven fewer minutes per game.
Still think David Kahn is crazy?
Other notoriously gluttonous ball-hogs include Eddy Curry (16.4:1 career), Zach Randolph (8.6:1 career) and Rudy Gay (8.5:1 career).
ADVANCED STATISTICS
In a determined effort to bring the NBA out of the Stone Ages when it comes to player and team analysis, advanced statistics like the one mentioned above with Al Jefferson will be used to help commissioner David Sternrock out of his dark cave.
There will also be an area, yet to be named, dealing with clutch performance. In general, clutch will be defined as the last five minutes of the game, or overtime, with neither team ahead by more than three points.
POWER POLLS
Finally, there will be four Basketball IQ Power Polls throughout the season:
(1) Season-Opening Power Poll
(2) Mid-Season Power Poll
(3) Playoff Push Power Poll
(4) Playoff Power Poll
They will be done (1) about two weeks into the season; (2) after about 41 games; (3) after the trading deadline and (4) before or during the first round of the playoffs.
There will no doubt be lots of fun and entertaining games and stories to cover as the NBA looks to capitalize on its high ratings from the Finals with the competition challenging the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA's new super team in Miami.
In another area of the league, you'll have rookies trying to find their way in the league and make names for themselves.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be eagerly attempting to prove they can bark with the big dogs, and the Los Angeles Clippers will be trying to change history with Vinny Del Negro, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman.
These are just some of the stories which may be covered in the weeks and months ahead as we speed toward another playoff push and look to celebrate and crown another NBA champion.
Note: numbers rounded up starting at 7.
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