AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

[Muzyk23]

agree with stumble..especially the last 2 sentences..

Curry failed - that's it

Iverson averaged 25 and 7 with 42 minutes per game and 46FG%last season - I don't believe he suddenly got old. They have no idea how to use him properly.

18 minutes against Cleveland and 17 minutes now - that's just disrespectful for a player of his caliber. Every player would get pissed.

But, hell, blame it all on him! again.

[Kruza]

AI has been out almost six full weeks so it should take some time to get the stamina up. He really shouldn't be complaining about playing 18-20 minutes when there are people on the team who are barely playing any minutes at all. And to top it off he doesn't look completely healthy when he's actually out on the floor playing.

Moreover, 23/KDRE has touched on it -- the league has changed. In a primarily open-court, up-tempo game there isn't much of a problem with AI. However, in a half-court setting AI can't get all the way to the rim and get his shot off as often as he had before because big men are just too long, too quick, and too athletic these days. And refs aren't bailing him out as much as far as drawing ticky-tack foul calls. So what happens is that he ends up with more empty possessions or fast break opportunities for the opponent going the other way instead of trips to the foul line.

And the bigger issues is what happens defensively to the team. AI tends to lose sight of his man on the perimeter a lot. He also has trouble fighting through screens while trailing his man due to his size and lack of strength. Opposing guards post him up at will and bigs have to help him out far too often which breaks down the interior defense and forces other teammates to scramble around to recover. Will Bynum is shorter than AI but doesn't get beat nearly as often on the perimeter or gets backed down in the post as easily.

Look, I love the guy's heart, energy and tenacity, but frankly AI causes more problems than he solves on both ends of the floor whenever he's out on the court for the Pistons. I wish him well on whatever teams he ends up on next season. He's still fun to watch whenever he gets to run up and down the floor with the basketball and not have to worry about being a floor general and running a half-court offense.

Kruza

[3rdAnswer]

AI is my favorite NBA player of all-time, and it saddens me to see him used as a bench player.

If he goes to either Charlotte or Philly, he should be able to finish his career on a higher note than staying in DET.

A Charlotte Bobcat starting 5 with AI inserted into the mix could look like this:

AI
Raja Bell
Gerald Wallace
Boris Diaw
Emeka Okafor

That is assuming that we make a move with Felton, and DJ is still fine with coming off the bench and still getting quality minutes.

This provides AI with the oppurtunity to create his own shot on a team full of players who struggle to get their own shot. Also, Raja Bell is a great defender, great jumpshooter, and a team player. Raja can guard the swingman, AI can man the point.

I like this idea.

[GSW]

Quote: Originally Posted by 3rdAnswer

AI is my favorite NBA player of all-time, and it saddens me to see him used as a bench player. If he goes to either Charlotte or Philly, he should be able to finish his career on a higher note than staying in DET. A Charlotte Bobcat starting 5 with AI inserted into the mix could look like this: AI Raja Bell Gerald Wallace Boris Diaw Emeka Okafor That is assuming that we make a move with Felton, and DJ is still fine with coming off the bench and still getting quality minutes. This provides AI with the oppurtunity to create his own shot on a team full of players who struggle to get their own shot. Also, Raja Bell is a great defender, great jumpshooter, and a team player. Raja can guard the swingman, AI can man the point. I like this idea.

Raja hates A.I.

[23]

I was about to say didnt the Raja AI thing fail once before under?

[PrettyT11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kruza

AI has been out almost six full weeks so it should take some time to get the stamina up. He really shouldn't be complaining about playing 18-20 minutes when there are people on the team who are barely playing any minutes at all. And to top it off he doesn't look completely healthy when he's actually out on the floor playing. Moreover, 23/KDRE has touched on it -- the league has changed. In a primarily open-court, up-tempo game there isn't much of a problem with AI. However, in a half-court setting AI can't get all the way to the rim and get his shot off as often as he had before because big men are just too long, too quick, and too athletic these days. And refs aren't bailing him out as much as far as drawing ticky-tack foul calls. So what happens is that he ends up with more empty possessions or fast break opportunities for the opponent going the other way instead of trips to the foul line.

This part I just don't agree with. The man was giving you over 26 a game last year on 46 percent shooting. The league didn't get bigger over night. The man can still fill it up. The Pistons just aren't using him right and he is unfairly getting all the blame for this horrible season. Wether he comes off the bench or not he is still very capable of scoring you 20 a night. He can still blow by his defender and get into the lane. If he doesn't get his own shot he can dump it off. The problem is he just doesn't fit with this team and system.

[Vast]

Quote: Originally Posted by 23

I was about to say didnt the Raja AI thing fail once before under?

When?

[WazzuRC]

When they were both in Philly.