AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

[23]

Allen Iverson has been coming off the bench for Detroit over the last three games while he comes back from injury, but if he had to do it long term he has revealed that he would rather retire, the Associated Press is reporting.

Iverson complained about his minutes on Tuesday after playing 18 against Cleveland. He admitted that he does not like the new role after playing 17 in a 111-98 loss to the Nets on Wednesday.

"I'm in a position now that I've never been in my whole life," Iverson said. "It's harder than I thought it would be. With the back injury, I have to sit out at the start, then go in, then sit again. It's tough to really get going. I take my hat off to the guys who can come off the bench and be effective. It's tough for me. I'm struggling with it."

"I'd rather retire before I do this again," Iverson said. "I can't be effective playing this way. I'm not used to it. It's tough for me both mentally and physically. If I'm able to go out there, I should be able to get it done and I can't right now. It's my fault. I have to be able to overcome the adversity and do what I have to do. I just have to find a way to get it done. Not being 100 percent makes it harder and you can see that I'm not 100 percent."

Im sure the title is emphasized but anyhow here's the story... who could use a new starter next year?

[Joey P]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

Iverson should go West. The East has his number and his halfcourt game isn't as it used to be.

But if he wants a ring, he has to deal with the fact that he isn't a Premier Scorer anymore and accept any role given to him.

[GSW]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

I still dont see why he cant come off the bench and "do what he does"... i mean playing 18 minutes was probably due to him being injured, but at the same time Megettmine (magette/satan) comes off the bench for us and gets liek 30mpg.

I dunno i think the coach doesnt like him basically, if he was on a team where he was wanted im sure he wouldnt care if he came off the bench at all.

[Speedy]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

Here's a link telling the same story as well as the exchance between the reporter & AI...

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5800022806

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

Hold up, wasn't it just a few days ago he said he would embrace the role or something to that extent?

As for what teams could use a new starter? Plenty of teams.

The real question is how many of them will be serious title contenders since I'm assuming that's where he'll want to go to.

[Jasong7777]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

+ =

[Jukeman]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

LOL @ some of the comments in that link!!! I agree with them tho depsite some of the lack of NBA knowledge....

Sadly I really dont see Dumars firing Curry....Im still lost on why he fired Flip (did he fire LB too?) Im als lost on why Dumars passed on Melo & Wade(or is LB to blame?)

[Stumbleweed]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

(magette/satan)

Haha...

And yeah, he should just be playing more minutes -- he'd probably be okay with coming off the bench in a Manu-style 25+ minute role, but he's getting Will Bynum minutes... can't say I blame him for complaining.. he's better than 18 minutes per game, even at this advanced stage of his career. He had one of his best overall seasons in Denver last season, and was making some incredible plays... he's still got a lot left in the tank, and it's sad to see him reduced to a bit part when he has the potential to be a great spark for them in the playoffs. The Cleveland beat writer seemed to think that he was the only one giving a **** in that last game (I didn't see it), so it's clear that he is still exherting himself, he just isn't getting the burn.

Curry's rotations are strange to say the least... not Nellie-Scotch-Frenzy weird, but just confusing.

[Kruza]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

I still dont see why he cant come off the bench and "do what he does"... i mean playing 18 minutes was probably due to him being injured, but at the same time Megettmine (magette/satan) comes off the bench for us and gets liek 30mpg.

I dunno i think the coach doesnt like him basically, if he was on a team where he was wanted im sure he wouldnt care if he came off the bench at all.

AI's minutes are down now mainly because the Pistons are committed to playing Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum significant minutes and developing those players. AI likely won't re-sign here once this season is over anyway, so why not prepare for that moment now?

At any rate... AI is a piece of work, that's for sure. He's a great player, but so many elements have to be perfect in order for his style to mesh with teammates on both ends of the floor in a half-court setting. A team has to pretty much have a tall point guard who hardly ever looks to shoot and has to check the opposing team's shooting guard, a swingman who can run up and down the court whenever a fast break opportunity occurs and not mind doing a lot of watching and/or spotting up outside the arc, plus bigs who are really good at helping and blocking shots so to make up for bad perimeter D and only look to score off dump-off passes from penetrating guards and clean up their misses while crashing the boards. It's almost if AI's game seamlessly complements that of a team full of players who either can't or don't look to create their own shot.

Players who can either create shots on their own and/or can get shot opportunities within a structured offense will get irritated of him because he'll routinely break away from the guidelines of how a set play is run, so a player doesn't know if/when he'll get the ball in a possession. Plus AI has to have the basketball in his hands very often in order for him to make an impact throughout a game. What really hinders him is that he isn't a good enough spot-up shooter who could possibly play off another shot-creator or low post player while running half-court offense. In summary, talented teammates can play off him on the offensive end in a half-court setting, but it's difficult for him to return the favor and play off of his teammates. AI needs to be on a team that's capable of keeping an up-tempo pace throughout an entire game, and whenever the team has to run something in a half-court setting allow him to freelance and isolate him often on different spots on the floor.

Kruza

[Checmate101]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

Iverson said that a long time ago though, when he was still in philly.. I think he was talking about Payton and Malone. That if he have to be on the bench to win a title that he wouldn't do it. He'd rather start and be on a losing team, which I don't get. Matter of fact he might of said it on Stephen A "Quite Frankly" show.

AI. you're my dude man, but your not 24 25 anymore, you're going to have to think about coming off the bench.

Larry Brown will give him a shot next year witht he Bobcats I think

[23]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

That's just not good basketball for anybody... he had to have thought at some point that he has to change his style of play as he gets older

LOL I remember a game in Denver when he was scoring alot in the 1st half and not passing the ball and at halftime George Karl told him he needs to pass and let the other guys get involved more to win the game.

He told them all that he'll pass it but they better make their shots... needless to say he went flat from exhaustion from that first half and I cant remember if they won (no they loss) but the mentality was bad from the jump.

[NBA2k8 CHAMP]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

People say that A.I. can't mesh with teams but He was on a team full of scorers last season and won 50 games with Anthony Carter starting!

The only thing that Denver has changed is they have a low post scorer-Nene

and size in the starting lineup rather than two 6'0 guards.

If you would have seen Iverson was more effective in the pg role last season with Jr Smith at the SG,Only thing is Karl doesn't like Jr Smith

[GSW]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

he needs to be a sixth man.

i mean... Satan/Magette finally got the hint.

why cant Allen.

[Jukeman]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

he needs to be a sixth man.

i mean... Satan/Magette finally got the hint.

why cant Allen.

A.I>Magette........

Im sure he would mind coming off the bench on a WINNING team....Its clear that A.I is mad at this whole situation....If I was one of the best players of all time, I wouldnt wabt to come of the bench for a losing team neither especially after coming off your best season

[DC]

Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

Will the Thrill