In a previous blog written about the Allen Iverson situation of this summer I stated that one of the best players ever to play the game was getting treated unfairly. He had been white balled, cast to the purgatory of a league that he helped popularize. Let's get one thing straight, Allen Iverson is an icon, a trend setter, and an amazing talent. How many players in the league did you see with corn rows, tattoos, and arm sleeves before the "Little Giant" stepped in the the league. When Jordan and his squeaky clean image left the court in 97, Iverson became the new face of a league that wanted no part of his "gangsta" image. When everybody was trying to "be like Mike", Iverson was just being himself. The NBA dress code, just one of many racist mandates handed down by David Stern, was aimed at players like A.I, players who refused too change their image or who they are to cater to the white media. But I digress; this is about Iverson the basketball player, and although he played a part in his decent into the cellar of the league, there should have been another team out there willing to take a chance.
The Memphis Grizzlies won a whopping 24 games last season, but they played hard every night and have an excellent young core of players. There are a couple things they did in the offseason that I didn't agree with as far as their direction as a team, but they still have a lot of talent. The trade for Zach Randolph was a questionable move, especially when you consider the Pau Gasol deal. (Their Salaries are basically the same). But Gasol was already gone, and when you have a chance to get another dominating low post scorer for next to nothing, you take it. What's worse is that they let Hakim Warrick go for nothing, and he was a major contributor to their team.
All is not lost in the land of Memphis. They did manage to snatch Sam Young out of Pittsburgh in the second round, and that was as much of a steal as Dejaun Blair to the Spurs. (These two, along with Jodie Meeks going in the second round just shows how "smart" these GMs really are.) O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay are a dynamic scoring tandem on the perimeter, especially with a post presence down low in Randolph. The issue with Randolph is he doesn't pass out of the post much and is viewed as selfish. As talented as Gay and Mayo are, they are still very young; their shot selections are questionable. Now we come to the intrigue surrounding this team: Where does Iverson fit. Is he starting or coming off the bench? The problem with bringing a veteran of this caliber to a team like this is that it could hinder the development of the young players. There is no doubt that Iverson should start over Mike Conley, but he really started playing well at the end of the year. Is it a good idea to bring Iverson in when the kid was just getting his confidence up and playing well?
At the press conference where Iverson was introduced as a Grizzly, he stated this season was personal and he felt like a rookie all over again. There is no doubt that Iverson has to use this one year stop in Memphis to prove he can play nice and join a contender next year. It's an unfair deal, but it is what it is. He has to be able to mentor the young talent, become more of a play maker without completely sacrificing his scoring ability, and lastly he cannot pout or get frustrated when things are going well. The microscope will stay focused on him, and sports writers across the nation can't wait to gloat in the face of a failed experiment. The Grizzlies will be exciting to watch and might even win a few more games, but they won't contend. What they will do is compete night and night out, something that fits the indemnity of a player that doesn't quit, and keeps fighting even when the odds are stacked against him.
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