Well this happened a lot sooner than I thought it would.  And AI fans complain that Pistons fans treated Iverson unfairly…see a pattern people?

Iverson made his debut for Memphis on Monday night returning to the court after a partial left hamstring tear, AI put up 11 points in 18 minutes in the Memphis’ 127-116 overtime loss.

“I had no problems (with the hamstring),” Iverson said afterward. “I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That’s the only thing I got a problem with. Yeah, I’ll be disappointed (if he’s a sub this season),” Iverson said. “I’m not a reserve basketball player. I’ve never been a reserve all my life and I’m not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. … To answer the question, ‘No, I’m not a bench player. I’m not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I’m not a sixth man.” Via Fanhouse

Karma…AI, Karma.

I hate to post AI stuff anymore, but I love to say I told you so.
Hat Tip Detroit Bad Boys

Need4Sheed Guest Writer:
Rashid S. Umar

Okay Pistons fans, I know it was tough to watch. I was there watching from the opening tip hoping for a more aggressive and passionate effort too. “There’s no way they will not bring it tonight” I thought. It’s the playoffs right?

Well again the game started off with more disjointed play and lack of passion. Rodney Stuckey seemingly was the only player interested in driving to the basket as everyone else settled for jumpers. The defense did nothing but allow Lebron to pad his stats for his MVP campaign.

With the Cavs now leading 2-0, what can we take from the current circumstance? I’d say that we should expect an entertaining game 3 as the series shifts to the “D” on Friday night.

Photo/Getty Images

Here’s what I think: as you all saw, the Cavs lead early in the fourth quarter 79-50 as they began resting their starters. The Pistons went with their bench players and suddenly like lightening the young and scrappy unit climbed back into contention cutting the once robust lead to seven, once the starters were reinstated the Cavs regained control.

So with the revelation that the starters, for whatever reason, can’t seem to compete for long stretches with these guys perhaps the second unit can provide the hustle and intensity needed to stay with this team?

It’s a bit obvious that the Cavs kinda put it on cruise in the fourth and I wonder if that is something that can be exploited.

Photo/Getty Images

Remember the 2006 series? Detroit was the league leading number one seed against the underdog Cavs. The Pistons won game one rather handily but, in game two Detroit lead by as much as 20 in the second half and the Cavs made a game of it. The Piston would hang on but the Cleveland team gained confidence and later went on to win the next three games before losing in seven.

It’s the playoffs and anything can happen. I’m just saying.

Iverson may be back early – The Detroit Free Press

“I’m disappointed that the soreness I’m feeling in my back is going to force me to miss two weeks of action,” Iverson said in the statement. “After talking with the doctors at Georgetown yesterday they have told me that treatment and rest is the best course of action right now. Hopefully my back with heal and I’ll be ready to go following this two-week period.”

Iverson also said he had no problem with returning as a reserve.

“My goal is to help this team win a championship and I’ve said that from the first day I arrived here in Detroit,” he said in the statement. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help us achieve our goals as a team regardless if I’m starting or coming off the bench.”

Allen Iverson is saying all the right things, lets just hope he fully recovers and flourishes in his new role on the team.  AI off the bench can be deadly, lets just hope he buys in.

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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.

From Chris Sheridan of ESPN

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.

The Detroit Pistons see-saw madness continues (not that I’m unhappy about Rip’s return).

The Detroit Free Press:

“Pistons coach Michael Curry announced this morning that Rip Hamilton will be back in the starting lineup, playing alongside Rodney Stuckey, in an effort to jumpstart a team in the midst of an eight-game losing streak.

“It’s nothing on Allen,” Curry said. “He’s just a guy that needs the basketball and because of it that, it reduced the time Stuckey had the ball in his hands.”

Hamilton has been critical of late about Curry’s decision to make him the team’s sixth man. The Pistons have gone 4-12 since he was benched.”

It’s not like I wasn’t for the move a while ago, but just who is running the show at The Palace anyway?  Could it be Dumars, the players, or, lastly, Michael Curry?  Did Rip’s comments after Wednesday nights loss have something to do with the return?

“Something’s got to give,” Hamilton said after Wednesday night’s loss to New Orleans. “I’m all for doing whatever it takes for the team, but coming off the bench with us not winning, something’s got to change.”

Could is be the abysmal record of 4-12 with Rip on the bench?

I know Stuckey hasn’t played well, and plenty of you would rather see him take a seat, but “they” tried that and it didn’t work either. So now it’s Iverson to the bench.

What’s next? Bynum as the starting PG? That could actually work.

Who cares, at this point whoever is running things in Detroit is going to keep making changes until something works….or they tank this thing and go for a lottery pick.

With Rip possibly coming back for tonight’s game against the Bobcats, Pistons fans are still wondering just how he’s going to fit in the new lineup.  Some say AI should be the sixth man, some think it should be Rip, some think their time should be split.  The thing is, Curry may not know what he’s doing until game time. Either way, some egos will bruised or the Pistons will be putting a less efficient team on the floor.

I don’t know about Iverson’s other skills, but Rip should really think about taking a back seat on the team. It seems that his singing career could blow up if only he had the right management.

24 Seconds with Rip Hamilton