| Wednesday, May 3
By Jeffrey Denberg
Special to ESPN.com |
|
|  | | Allen Iverson has repeatedly answered all the questions about his health. |
You are predisposed to dislike Allen Iverson because you can't relate to him.
C'mon, the tattoos that start at his neck, what a story they must tell, eh? And the braided hair, what's up with that?
You're a blue collar sports fan so you are also predisposed to dislike Allen Iverson because he has this uncanny knack for breaking rules, meaning relationships with coach Larry Brown and 76ers president Pat Croce are in constant turmoil.
Predisposed I say, but Iverson won't let you dislike him because he plays his way into your heart, because you know the main reason Philadelphia is back in the second round of the playoffs is Iverson's iron will and indomitable spirit.
Iverson is a playground hoops junkie moved one giant step from asphalt to hard wood, from fenced in courts with bare rims to hoops palaces. He's the kind who shows up early in the morning, muscles and tendons held in place by ace bandages and yards of tape and only goes home after last light, bone-weary, but fulfilled.
Look at Iverson's four games against Charlotte. He came to work in Game 1 with a rotator cuff injury, a chipped bone in his left big toe, an inflamed right elbow. Along the way, he picked up a chip fracture inside his right ankle.
And yes, the minutes played in the boxscores read 45, 45, 43, 44. That means he misses 15 minutes the entire series. His 40 points in Game 1 at Charlotte turned the series. He scored 26 in the finale and made certain emergency starter Aaron McKie got enough shots to score 25.
Charlotte eliminated, Iverson said, "I wanted to be there for my teammates. My teammates know me. They know how much I care about them, and I know how much they care about me."
There is no attempt here to question the severity of injuries that keep players like Tim Duncan or Eric Snow on the bench. They are legitimately hurt. But we all owe Iverson our respect for playing hurt the entire second half of the season and then coming back to the playoffs with more to give.
"We want to do something different," Iverson said. "We want to get past the second round, want to get past the third round. We want to win it all. We're trying to win a championship. Whoever they put up in front of you, you've just got to knock 'em down. Simple as that."
What will it take? More Matt Geiger for one thing. The big center earned the enmity of Philly fans with his indifferent play after coming back from injury this season. But he showed signs of life with eight points in 13 minutes in Game 3 and won back the fans with a 17-point, 10-rebound performance in the clincher.
It was vital Geiger produce against Charlotte's big, agile frontline. It is equally important that he step up again if Indiana makes it to the second round.
It was assistant coach Randy Ayers who pushed Geiger, telling him "You're the X-factor. You're the guy that needs to go out there and be our energy and be our spark."
And if it's the Pacers, it will be a nice second chance for Larry Brown. His old Indiana bunch swept the Sixers last May. But whether it's Indiana, obviously fading, or Milwaukee, very vulnerable, this is a wonderful stage for Brown and Co.
The best teaching coach on the planet can go nine deep with his trapping, scrambling defense. If they've got enough bailing wire to hold Iverson together, if they can get Snow (chipped ankle) back, and if Geiger remains focused, you can see this team in the Finals.
Bye, bye Butch
Talk about a career gone wrong, Butch Carter is basically done as a big time coach.
Carter will be back in Toronto because he signed a three-year, $8 million (Canadian) deal last season. We're hearing GM Glen Grunwald wanted to give Carter a year's extension, but Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Richard Peddie opted for stability. Some stability. Now, Peddie can't dump Carter because he doesn't want to look like a complete fool in front of the directors who would dump him for making a colossal financial blunder.
Now, the thinking in Toronto is (1) get Tracy McGrady under contract and (2) ease Carter out at the earliest opportunity -- next season.
The Carter saga is astonishing. He worked as a high school coach, a college assistant and a pro assistant to get a chance at an NBA head coaching job. He earned respect for his handling of the Raptors young star Vince Carter. He steered his team into playoff contention and once he achieved all that he picked fights with his own players, his old college coach, the league, a rival player...
"I think Butch's comments were misconstrued," Grunwald said at one point.
Don't think so.
Around The League
So, why isn't Isiah Thomas already head coach of the Hawks? He's still trying to win a favorable settlement from the NBA in their disagreement over his CBA ownership.
Lenny Wilkens interviewed with Michael Jordan, but he probably is not a serious candidate to coach the Wizards. Mike Jarvis, despite denials, is reliably reported to be involved in the interview process and the darkhorse might be John Paxson, Jordan's former Chicago teammate, now a radio analyst on Bulls games. Jordan and Paxson share a strong bond of respect.
Candidly, Randy Wittman admits he could have done a better job in Cleveland his first season and he promises to be a tougher coach next season.
"Any coach is tested," Wittman said. "(The players ask) how much can I get away with? That's especially true of a new coach, a rookie coach." He says the team "needs a harder hand."
Grant Hill lobbied hard for with Joe Dumars to make George Irvine the Pistons' full-time coach. Now that's done and you can expect Hill to sign a contract to remain in Detroit for at least one season.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
|  |
Denberg: Pacer dismantling can wait
