Although not the prolific scorer he was in his earlier years with the Philadelphia 76ers, Allen Iverson is still a difference maker.
The 34-year-old Iverson showed he still can score, getting 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter. And his presence alone was a factor as the 76ers pulled away in the final period for a 116-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
Lou Williams scored 22 points and Andre Iguodala had 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the 76ers. Both Williams and Iguodala scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, when the 76ers stretched the lead to double digits. Iguodala said part of the credit belongs to Iverson.
"He has helped us out a lot, he really opens the floor for everybody when he's out there," Iguodala said. "He still draws a lot of attention and teams can't key on myself or anyone else."
Iverson is not happy about being limited to 28-30 minutes a game, which are recommended by the team's medical staff to come in shorter increments due to his arthritic right knee. He missed four recent games with a sore knee, but played 32 minutes against the Kings in his second game back, making 6-of-14 shots and adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
"All my life I've been watching him play and to have the opportunity to play him was fun," said Kings guard Sergio Rodriguez, who was matched up against Iverson at times. "He showed that he can still play and he can play well. He looked great."
Iverson was at his best in the third quarter, when the 76ers took the lead for good and went into the fourth ahead 79-76. He had 11 points, scoring on a variety of shots, including a 3-pointer that put Philadelphia in front 72-70.
"It's important for me to do whatever I can to help the guys and give them confidence that we can win games," Iverson said. "I was telling them when we were down 13 in the first quarter to stay with it, and make them believe we could come back." Even with Iverson on the bench for less than five minutes in the fourth quarter, that confidence was evident. The 76ers spread the court, moved the ball effectively, and repeatedly made perimeter shots when they built the lead to double digits in putting together back-to-back wins for the first time since Oct. 30-31.
Rodney Carney and Elton Brand scored 14 points apiece for the 76ers. who connected on 9-of-16 3-pointers.
"Allen gives us another dimension, guys are really playing off him," 76ers coach Eddie Jordan said. "Lou Williams got it going, and Carney came off the bench and did a great job. All our guys played well in their roles."
Donte Greene and Omri Casspi each scored 21 points for the Kings, who have lost three of their last four home games. But unlike the previous losses, overtime affairs to Cleveland the Lakers, this loss came against a team that entered the game with only eight wins. Jason Thompson had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Rodriguez also scored 15 points.
"We were ripe to be picked off tonight and we need to learn that we are not as good as people say we are," said Kings coach Paul Westphal, whose team defeated Denver on Monday. "Sometimes you have to not only bounce back from tough losses but you have to bounce back from big wins."
The Kings played their second straight game without rookie guard Tyreke Evans, who is nursing a sore ankle and is day to day. Beno Udrih played a rare poor game in his place, shooting 3 of 11, scoring nine points, and committing three turnovers.
"Tyreke is a big piece of our team and he's been showing that the whole year," Udrih said. "But we can't feel sorry for ourselves. Injuries are a part of the game and you deal with it."
Carney opened the fourth quarter with a pair of 3-pointers, and a jumper by Williams gave the 76ers a 90-81 advantage with 9:40 remaining. With the Kings missing open looks throughout the period, the 76ers' lead grew to 107-95 when Iguodala made a follow shot with 3:34 left.
The Kings squandered an 11-point lead after one quarter and were outscored 33-22 in the second. The aggressive inside play of Brand, who scored 11 points, helped fuel the 76ers' comeback. Casspi had 11 points for the Kings.
Game notes
In the offseason, Jordan was an early candidate for the Kings head coaching job, but took the offer from Philadelphia instead of waiting for the Kings to end their search, which resulted in the hiring of Westphal. ... Carney scored 12 points in his first 10 minutes off the bench, all of them coming via four 3-pointers. ... Iverson entered the game 1 for 3 this season in 3-point attempts, but made both attempts against the Kings.
pistons coaching staff 在 pennyccw Youtube 的最佳貼文
PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson not only may come out of retirement in a matter of days. But he also could very well return to the franchise where all of his glory began.
Numerous team sources confirmed on Friday that the 76ers' brass has already talked — and talks will only escalate this weekend — about bringing Iverson back to Philadelphia. Possibly as early as next week.
It's being seriously considered," one Sixers official said before his team lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. "We know the history. We know the ups and downs. But we're also aware of what (Iverson) can do and that he's needed here. We simply can't just ignore the upside he'd bring. Not with our situation."
As of Friday night, coach Eddie Jordan was on board with bringing Iverson back, according to sources. So were officials within the club's hierarchy, along with the team's executive adviser, Sonny Hill.
The rest of Jordan's coaching staff is amenable to Iverson's return, including assistant and former Sixer Aaron McKie, one of Iverson's best friends, as well as assistant coach Randy Ayers — the former Sixers coach who had his share of run-ins with Iverson, ultimately lasting just 52 games before he was dismissed by former president and GM Billy King in 2003-04.
The Sixers say they are aware it will cost them less than $3 million to get Iverson — "possibly less than $2 million, according to another team source — and have every intention of acting on it, probably as early as Tuesday.
With the Sixers' scheduled to play San Antonio on Sunday, then Dallas on Monday, sources said it's entirely possible Jordan will fly from Dallas to Atlanta to meet with Iverson on Tuesday. That also happens to be the day Iverson is scheduled to meet with his former coach at Georgetown, John Thompson.
As far as the Sixers are concerned, it's almost a no-brainer.
Entering Friday night, the Sixers were ranked 29th in league attendance, averaging 11,820 fans. Only the Memphis Grizzlies are worse.
Jordan is said to be incredibly frustrated with everything from Elton Brand's work ethic to Andre Iguodala's inability to make plays off the dribble. The one player he absolutely loves, guard Louie Williams, is out for eight weeks with a broken jaw.
"Eddie needs a playmaker," another source said. "He needs an identity. Something to create some excitement."
To add to the misery, the Sixers are 5-11, averaging just 97.6 points. Their only bona fide shooter is Jason Kapono. So there's no question Iverson is appealing to the Sixers at the moment; even to team chairman Ed Snider, who screamed, "We're gonna trade him," before actually shipping Iverson (averaging 31.2 points per game at the time) to Denver in 2006.
The question remains, however, whether the Sixers would be appealing to Iverson.
"Scratch that," one of Iverson's confidants told me last night. "He's interested."
One thing's for sure: If Iverson returns to Philadelphia, he will be a starter.
Team sources confirmed on Friday that Iverson would be a starter because Jordan had planned on starting Williams with rookie Jrue Holiday anyway, just to put some excitement and more ball-handlers into his Princeton-style offense. So even once Williams returns from injury, he'd be in the starting lineup with Iverson.
That means Iverson will return as a starter. He'll be back in Philadelphia. And with the talent the Sixers already have on their roster, he could be the missing piece that propels them back to the playoffs.
Assuming, of course, the Sixers are willing to pull the trigger.
Under normal circumstances, considering the manner in which Iverson departed, the Sixers wouldn't do this.
"But let's face it: We're very, very boring right now," a team source said. "We have absolutely nothing to lose by bringing Iverson back. Nothing at all."
pistons coaching staff 在 pennyccw Youtube 的最讚貼文
With a late rally, Allen Iverson is an All-Star starter again.
Iverson surged from behind in the fan voting to earn a starting spot in next month's game when the vote totals were released Thursday night. Denver Nuggets teammate Carmelo Anthony will join him in New Orleans after earning his first starting nod.
Iverson rallied to pass Houston's Tracy McGrady in the final weeks of voting to earn his first start since moving to the Western Conference early last season. He started seven straight All-Star Games while playing for Philadelphia, but fell short last year after the 76ers dealt him to the Nuggets in December 2006.
The two-time MVP of the All-Star Game beat McGrady by 10,410 votes and will make his ninth appearance on Feb. 17 in New Orleans.
"It's a good feeling. I think it's a tribute to my teammates and coaching staff because without those guys none of that would be possible," Iverson said in a statement. "But most of all I just want to thank the fans for appreciating what I go out and do on the court night in and night out. It's just a great feeling and an honor, and I'm just looking forward to trying to play the best that I can play for the fans."
Iverson was more than 80,000 votes behind McGrady, who has struggled with injuries this season, when the final update was released two weeks ago. He ended up with 1,203,152 votes. McGrady finished with 1,192,742.
Eastern Conference All-Stars Pos. Player Team App.
Starters
PG Jason Kidd New Jersey Nets 10th
SG Dwyane Wade Miami Heat 4th
SF LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 4th
PF Chris Bosh1 Toronto Raptors 3rd
C Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 2nd
Reserves
SG Ray Allen2 Boston Celtics 8th
PG Chauncey Billups Detroit Pistons 3rd
SF Caron Butler2 Washington Wizards 2nd
PF Kevin Garnett1 3 Boston Celtics 11th
SG Richard Hamilton Detroit Pistons 3rd
PF Antawn Jamison Washington Wizards 2nd
SG Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks 2nd
SF Paul Pierce Boston Celtics 6th
PF Rasheed Wallace3 Detroit Pistons 4th
Western Conference All Stars Pos. Player Team App.
Starters
PG Allen Iverson Denver Nuggets 9th
SG Kobe Bryant4 Los Angeles Lakers 10th
SF Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets 2nd
PF Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 10th
C Yao Ming Houston Rockets 6th
Reserves
PF Carlos Boozer Utah Jazz 2nd
PG Steve Nash Phoenix Suns 6th
PF Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks 7th
PG Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 1st
SG Brandon Roy Portland Trail Blazers 1st
C Amaré Stoudemire Phoenix Suns 3rd
PF David West New Orleans Hornets 1st