ESPN is reporting that Allen Iverson will NOT be dressed in Piston red, white and blue for the third straight game. Remember, he returned to Detroit with “back issues” to get a doctor’s opinion after his MRI following Detroit’s 87-90 loss to the Hornets. He also was MIA in Boston and now that the team is back in Detroit ……AI is on his way (or is already in) D.C. to see his own specialist.
I had mentioned a few days ago that I thought something was fishy with this whole back injury since AI is like the Energizer Bunny. My thinking was the injury would help him save face with his new bench role. But after Curry put his foot in his mouth today, Iveson has got to be ready to explode somewhere.
Iverson is the new Will Bynum!
“Maybe Allen comes in and plays a lot of time at Will Bynum’s spot,” Curry said.
Iverson still has not spoken publicly since learning of his demotion following the Pistons’ loss at New Orleans on Wednesday. He returned to Detroit to have an MRI on his back, and he likely will remain silent Monday since Curry is giving the Pistons the day off following an eight-game road trip.
If he has something to say about his demotion (and he sure had a lot to say the last time a coach tried to bring him off the bench, as Chris Ford will testify), it’ll have to wait another day or two.
Not that what Iverson has to say is going to change anything, though.
For now, and for the rest of this season (barring injuries), Iverson is coming off the bench.
“That’s going to be the last move,” Curry said. “It’s nothing against how Allen has played. It’s just with Rip in that first group, it seems more guys in that group play better. I knew Rip could play off the bench because he’s an efficient scorer; he can score right away.
“I’m still not sure how well A.I. can play off the bench, and that’s what we’re going to have to find out. He’s been in a tough situation all year, and so has everyone else. But this is the team we have, and if we can find ways for guys to do it together — and willingly do it together — we’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”
So it looks like we won’t see Allen Iverson off the bench for Detroit against his former team and the man who truly should have been the only #1 in a Pistons uniform (yes, I’m still upset about that).
Right now we have to keep an eye out for the entire situation, someone’s not talking and someone is talking a bit too much.
March 3, 2009 at 7:57 am
Wow. There is a lot of disagreement amongst these posts. I would like to think that, as a professional, AI will do what he needs to do to help this team win. I was not impressed with the moderate amount of whining that Rip did coming off the bench. Man up, do you job, GO TO WORK! Hasn’t that been the motto around here for years? That expectaation should be fulfilled by ALL teammates. If that means AI comes off the bench, one would hope that he does what needs to be done. As for losing defense when he plays with the second unit, I do not understand that. WIth Maxiell and either Kwame or Hermann, would we not still have some sort of defense? What am I missing?
March 3, 2009 at 11:17 am
You need to be careful here. Playing a couple good games without a star player does not mean your better off without him. The Spurs blew out Dallas and Portland at home without Duncan and Ginobli in the line-up. Does that mean they’re better without them? Duncan comes back and they get blown out by the same Portland team. Obvioulsy they’re not better without Duncan though one could say such a thing given the results of a couple games.
With that said, I still don’t believe AI is a fit for this team. He’s definitely tried, but this team just cannot adjust to letting one guy run the show while AI cannot adjust to just being another part to a team. Maybe if he accepts this bench role he’ll come up huge for us, I don’t know. We’ve won 2 games in a row, still not safe to say that this is the lineup we need for sure.
March 3, 2009 at 12:15 pm
AI should play either as a absolute top player or role player,or become poison
March 3, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Ai should be really happy if we loose tonight….take all the blame off him…..Blame Joe D for making the trade
Blame everyone and there mom for thinking Joe d is some sort of GOD.
Blame stuckey for being way over hyped and for him to supposedly be the future of our team (DARKO)
Blame curry for thinking stuckey deserves a starting roll.(and also for giving maxiell a reduced roll)
But don’t switch blame on Rip and AI They both are awesome players maybe they don’t fit in eachothers system but if anyone should take will bynums job it should be stuckey.
I only see good out of bynum he knows how to run the lane properly he’s not a very passing player but he knows how to do it properly
stuckey will run in to a lane 5 guys and get packed stuffed and just get the foul his ideas suck but he gets paid for it at the line. but if he didn’t get fouled it would look like the dumbest possession.
sum of my story…..stuck is still learning why force him into something and a role he’s not ready for (DARKO) he’ll be good down the road. but make hamilton start and AI come off the bench.
reason why….Hamilton has been her for some years now has seniority helped us win a championship
and AI is just a good player who can avg high number as well.
and for god sake MORE HERRMAN.
March 3, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Allen Iverson should not take the blame, because at the end of the day the coaching staff decides who starts or does not. At this point we don’t know the whole story, we are just specualting on what we have heard but I don’t believe Allen Iverson will be so stupid to cause a fuss over his starting position especially in a contract year. I really do believe he will go to the bench. And P.S. we keep talking about how this is such a team then why is everybody pointing the fingers.
Let’s all move forward because face it without A.I. sparking the bench we ar at best Eastern Confernce Finals (if we play like the game at Boston) But with A.I. he can really cause some damage.
March 3, 2009 at 11:32 pm
All i can say is that iverson did his best to fit in his role. Now, putting him in the bench is a crazy decision! Why would you put a superstar off the bench? I am sure AI is very upset. I wish he could find the right team. They just dont know how to utilize Iverson. He is a great player, w/ a team that has doubt on his abilities. So sad…
March 3, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Iverson Fans, lets wish the best for A.I! Only the Strong Survives!. It’s just a test. I believe Iverson will somehow find the right team where he truly belongs. It is proven that Iverson has already adjusted to this team but the team just cant adjust to his Explosive abilities. Something wrong on the coaching i guess..
March 4, 2009 at 1:07 am
hey ,guys, just let you know, detroit won against boston w out KG ok detroit won denver w out anthony,, detroit need iverson, starting five, all you need is experienced coach.
March 4, 2009 at 1:13 am
i just hope they get it together sometime soon playoffs is comming up..
March 4, 2009 at 7:00 am
Can people please understand
Iverson>Bynum
Like seriously even comparing the two is a disgrace not getting on Bynum or anything but Iverson playing Will Bynum time???????
that is like 10 minutes a game.
Iverson averaging 10 minutes a game. ALLEN IVERSON averaging 10 minutes a game. A GAME.
That is idiotic.
Iverson should come off the bench, but to be-little him to Will Bynum’s role is a traversty. Make him 6th man or something but Bynums role cmon lets be serious.
For all those people who say Iverson is not a pass first point guard, HE ISNT, but he is trying to fit into Detroit so much that he is trying to.
Let him play off the bench, give him 20 shots a game and let the second unit with him defend and rebound (Amir Johnson, Kwame, Afflalo).
Not once has Detroit let Iverson play like he would like.
Now they are mad because after 13 years in the league he cant adapt a playing style where its team first ball. Joey D brought Iverson in for what reason, To score yet CURRY DOES NOT LET HIM.
Evidence of all of this is in the Detroit Games, sometimes Iverson doesn’t attempt a shot in a quarter.
Sometimes he gets dragged when he is the only thing that can bring you back into the game.
Curry has screwed the Pistons over this season. Not Iverson
March 4, 2009 at 8:25 am
I totally agree w/ you Avery!
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