Apr.24 at 12:04 pm

j says:
I blame that summer camp video.

Apr.24 at 12:05 pm

RV says:
acceptance is the just the first step Tracy..

Apr.24 at 12:05 pm

ciolkstar says:
Wow. has tracy een reading the comments here?

Apr.24 at 12:11 pm

Sam Rubenstein says:
obvious joke: “It’s not your fault… It’s not your fault… It’s not your fault…” Good will Hunting anyone?

Apr.24 at 12:17 pm

Rasheedionics says:
That’s Karma baby… T Mac never been the most positive guy in the world.

Apr.24 at 12:19 pm

JackBrown says:
Slightly embarassed to say I just watched that again. My boy’s wicked smawt.

Apr.24 at 12:28 pm

bad knee guy says:
i get tracy’s point, however how does (seemingly) throwing everyone else under the bus help this situation?

Apr.24 at 12:28 pm

Ryan Jones says:
Motherf*cker should retire right NOW.

Apr.24 at 12:31 pm

Allen says:
Great to see he doesn’t have a defeatist attitude. Camp CHEN-A-WANDA, baby!

Apr.24 at 12:33 pm

bad knee guy says:
the fact that we’ve all seen more from tracy in these 2 games than we may have ever seen from him helps me respect him more even though he’s losing again…like he said if magic johnson likes his play who am i to critizie?

Apr.24 at 12:33 pm

TADOne says:
Him and his cousin Vince should do counseling sessions together to, you know, cut down on costs.

Apr.24 at 12:37 pm

T Money says:
Global warming is also T Mac’s fault

Apr.24 at 12:38 pm

T Money says:
And the Darfur Crisis

Apr.24 at 12:40 pm

riggs says:
if hillary wins…….its his fault.

Apr.24 at 12:42 pm

RV says:
Magic johnson isn’t exactly difficult to impress

Apr.24 at 12:48 pm

BxBaller says:
Aw man ,sounds like T-Mac is starting to crack.

Apr.24 at 12:58 pm

TADOne says:
Do any of the Rockets faithful who frequent the site have the number to a good shrink?

Apr.24 at 12:59 pm

Benny says:
Even T-Mac is T-Mac’s fault. (Yes, he fathered himself.)

Apr.24 at 1:19 pm

RV says:
keep in mind tmac was being sarcastic when he said all this, it sounds a lot worse if u just read it, sounds like he’s taking it seriously, but not really..

Apr.24 at 1:25 pm

Nick says:
Tad, the only shrink i know thinks we should trade T-Mac. I Don’t think that’d be a healthy meeting.

Apr.24 at 1:31 pm

TADOne says:
In that case, Tracy is kinda funny. Slam should get him a column, ASAP.

Apr.24 at 1:33 pm

FLUXLAND says:
IS THIS FOR REAL? This cannot be happening!!! It’s all on me .. it’s not all on me… now it’s all my fault… dude has SERIOUS issues. I’ve said if before on here.. get him under suicide watch. This will not end well.. for anyone. WOW!!

Apr.24 at 1:37 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Rick is not doing much better either apparently:”He’s pretty tough mentally” Yeah, that much is obvious. I really don’t know how to take this. WTF?

Apr.24 at 1:42 pm

RV says:
once again, he’s not serious, “he decided to make light of the situation” = not serious…he’s though mentally, as in, he doesnt take it seriously!

Apr.24 at 1:44 pm

RV says:
and he forgot about the polygamy raid, its his fault too, at least that’s what the protesters outside their hotel are implying…

Apr.24 at 1:46 pm

vannshy says:
nice one Sam

Apr.24 at 1:50 pm

Jolst says:
It’s all on you in a blink of an eye.

Apr.24 at 1:59 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Phew! I am ill and much worst then I thought… my reading comprehension is way off. Damn ESL. Thanks, RV. Then again, even being sarcastic about sill leaves questions (for me anyway).

Apr.24 at 2:03 pm

Jj (the real one!) says:
Well he did say it was all on him. Then it wasn’t. Oh wait, now it is? No it isn’t. It might be. mmm thinking about it there’s a chance it is. yes it’s on him. no it isn’t. REPEAT AFTER ME……. CHEN-A-WANDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Apr.24 at 2:06 pm

Jj (the real one!) says:
oil at $ 111 the barrel… TRACY’S FAULT
golbal warming… TRACY’S FAULT
worldwide poverty… TRACY’S FAULT I’m beginning to think the world is actually run between tracy and charles oakley…

Apr.24 at 2:08 pm

Eazy-Yi says:
T-Mac: It’s my fault this is classed as news

Apr.24 at 2:11 pm

anonymous says:
Ain’t nuthin to it, T-Mac made me do it…

Apr.24 at 2:12 pm

RV says:
i think people conveniently forget why he said its not on him this yr. Last yr, no scola, no landry, no brooks, a lost Novak, a no scoring Battier, no jackson, he’s got a more complete team now, it shouldn’t be all on him now

Apr.24 at 2:17 pm

Allenp says:
Maybe if he scored in the fourth quarter and stopped avoiding the paint like it was Hell, people wouldn’t be so hard on him. But hey, go ahead and settle for another 25-footer even thought you shoot less than 35 percent from three, it’s not your fault. It’s not like you can Vince couldn’t have stayed in Toronto and been a great tandem. It’s not like you left the Raps looking for a big payday and “main man” status. Nah, everybody’s picking on you. Punk b*tch.

Apr.24 at 2:19 pm

youngmuggsy says:
sad thing is, i’m one of the guys that got budweisers instead of heinekens. f**k you tmac

Apr.24 at 2:19 pm

Allenp says:
Seriously, let’s be real. Allen Iverson took a team with less talent to the Finals. Kobe took a team with less talent and was competitive against the Suns that first year. Dwight Howard and Lebron have done more with less talent, Dirk has done more with less talent and Baron Davis has done mroe with less talent. T-Mac went to eh playoffs with Yao for two years before this one and did not advance. Dem’s the facts.

Apr.24 at 2:20 pm

k.o. says:
hahahaha, nice Sam. u should hug it out now.
the superstar on any losing team will take the brunt of the blame, its just magnified further cuz of t-mac’s consistency…in the playoff loss column.

Apr.24 at 2:23 pm

FLUXLAND says:
@Allenp re: “It’s not like you can Vince couldn’t have stayed in Toronto and been a great tandem. It’s not like you left the Raps looking for a big payday and “main man” status. Nah, everybody’s picking on you. Punk b*tch.” co sign co sign co sign… KARMA AIN’T TO BE F WITH! PAY UP, SUCKA!! Same goes for KG.. you want 200 million plus in total deals? NO SOUP FOR YOU!! NEXT! Cuban, Nash, Boozer get in line.

Apr.24 at 2:23 pm

RV says:
agree with allen, it shouldn’t be on him, but he does things and acts sometimes like he’s the guy, but then he’s not..maybe he does need a shrink, sounds like a dual personality disorder

Apr.24 at 2:50 pm

ciolkstar says:
This whole spiel does come off a little whiny. He’s calling out every mistake in an attempt to make those who are placing the blame on him seem crazy/unfair. But really, whose fault is it that he doesn’t have a fourth quarter bucket yet in this series. Which IS his fault. Does anybody seriously think 1 point over 24 minutes (not to mention the most crucial point of both games) is excuseable in any way? I feel bad for T mac too, but he just doesn’t work hard enough for points when his j is off. and on the real, this is cry baby isht.

Apr.24 at 2:59 pm

Kevin Wilson says:
It was probably T-Mac’s fault that Kenny got run over too.

Apr.24 at 3:03 pm

Ryan Jones says:
Since I’m just stealing sh*t from other media today, here’s this from the esteemed Mr. Leitch, via the weekly NYT “Play” email that hits my inbox every Thursday:
—
For a league that seems to be reinventing itself every three years or so, the N.B.A. sports a fan base and chattering class that are awfully concerned with its players’ legacies. It is an old maxim that an athlete’s career is never quite complete unless he wins a championship. But there’s a difference between the way Ernie Banks and Barry Sanders are remembered, and the way, say, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Karl Malone are remembered.
Part of this, of course, is because of the structure of the individual sports: Great as he was, Sanders was only one man among several dozen — and in Detroit, it was a pretty motley few dozen. His legacy will be his jaw-dropping moves, untarnished by the fact that his miserable franchise never came close to winning a title. Banks happened to be a Cub. Enough said. There was only so much these players could do. So they are mostly forgiven, seen as almost tragic figures, superstars trapped in their respective circumstances.
Not so in the N.B.A. There, if you can’t win a title, it is a failure not of your team but of you, personally. And winning just one isn’t enough. The whole Title Envy thing has a machismo aspect to it that slots superstars into one of several tiers under the general heading of “Cómo Macho Es Usted?” And this bar-room stratification can be traced — as can everything with today’s N.B.A. — to Michael Jordan.
Here are the principal tiers:
Sorry for Overhyping You: Would-be superstars who once showed some dominance but were expected to be so much more than they were. (This excludes Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis.) Historic examples: Chris Webber, Kenyon Martin, Vince Carter. Current playoff example: Dirk Nowitzki.
Warrior: Guys who never had a legitimate chance at a title but won credits just for getting close and not dying while making the attempt. Historic and current example: Allen Iverson. (Iverson is in a category of his own in so many ways. In a way, his failures enoble him — because of his size, his heart, his upbringing).
Your Fault: Players who had all the talent to lead their teams to a title, but fell short because of their own perceived shortcomings. Historic examples: Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing. Current examples: Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd.
You Made It, but One Is Just One: Guys who broke through and won a title or two, but aren’t considered Legends. Historic example: Hakeem Olajuwon. Current examples: Dwyane Wade, Rasheed Wallace.
You’re Not Jordan: Amazing, twice-in-a-generation players who win multiple titles but are not, in fact, named Michael Jordan. Historic and current examples: Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant.
Jordan: Michael Jordan. Requires six titles and psychological mastery over all who meet your gaze. Duncan and Shaq have two to go, Kobe needs three.
LeBron James is a grand example of a player whose greatness will be judged not by whether he wins a title but by whether he joins the Jordan Tier. But this madness has now extended to even the first round. Tracy McGrady, despite his obvious brilliance, has never made it out of the first round, and seems unlikely to do so again this year. The mind shudders to imagine how little macho cred he will have now.
The man might as well play baseball

Apr.24 at 3:04 pm

MK PETRIK says:
T-Mac should of just stayed in Toronto to be the Robin to Vince Carter’s Batman and they would have been a great NBA duo, probably one of the greatest. Now T-Mac is nothing more but a big time player who comes up very short in the post-season.

Apr.24 at 3:04 pm

Ryan Jones says:
Even in focusing on perspective, I think he doesn’t really give Dream enough credit — any serious basketball fan knows that dude is legendary— but otherwise it’s pretty on point.

Apr.24 at 3:16 pm

TADOne says:
The ironic thing is that baseball was and still is Tracy’s first love.

Apr.24 at 3:33 pm

RV says:
not sure why he added “but aren’t considered legends”, seemed unnecessary, but yeah Dream is definitely a legend

Apr.24 at 3:36 pm

RV says:
and the reason i love basketball much more than any other sport, is because everyone that’s playing can literally contribute to all aspects of the game. You have assigned positions, but not spots, u have guys who specialize in certain things, but aren’t limited to those things, that’s also the biggest reason why NBA players are seen differently than football or baseball players

Apr.24 at 3:47 pm

Rocketfan says:
Haha…I don’t blame T-Mac, this team is depleated, missing the best center in the league, it’s starting PG who was the MVP of the 22 game winning streak, and role players who have underperformed once again in the playoffs (L. Head is nonexistent, Landry hasn’t been explosive since the latest knee injury, Battier is not taking enough shots, Scola’s actually the only other person balling his ass off). Take Tim Duncan off the Spurs in the post season and they would be swept by the Suns. Take Gasol off the Fakers, and they would probably lose to the Nuggets. Point is, take a superstar off any contending team and another vital starter and you won’t be very successful. T-Mac’s always balled his ass off in the playoffs, just never has enough help. Hell, Kobe’s never been out the first round without one of the most dominant players in NBA history to carry him (Shaq) and will only get by this year cause he’s playing a team that plays 0 Defense. Go ROckets!!!

Apr.24 at 3:59 pm

Spaceship Jay says:
That’s a interesting article that Mr. Jones posted. I do find the Michael Jordan factor to be true in many ways. The one that frustrates me the most is the “You dunked on a couple of centers, so your the next big thing clause. And yes, Hakeem is a Legend.

Apr.24 at 4:04 pm

Jukai says:
Haha, I love the double standards you give Iverson, Ryan. Iverson has failed to ever win a title, even with incredible talent around him, he’s never gotten close. He’s a ball hog and a failure, he can’t play the point but suffers as a shooting guard. Why is he in the WARRIOR CATAGORY? He really should be with Dirk.

Apr.24 at 4:06 pm

Jukai says:
Honestly, I’d say Iverson is worse than Dirk. At least Dirk lead his team to the playoffs every year.

Apr.24 at 4:16 pm

Z says:
@ Jukai : You’re insane.

Apr.24 at 4:48 pm

Jukai says:
How many rings are on Iverson’s hands?

Apr.24 at 4:49 pm

phil says:
Iverson is garbage.

Apr.24 at 4:51 pm

Mike says:
I think Rod Thorn needs to ship out RJ and pick up T-MAC. Carter and McGrady need each other because neither of them have yet to do any real post season damage, just think of the possibilities….

Apr.24 at 4:51 pm

phil says:
PS T-Mac sounds like a 4 year old here.

Apr.24 at 5:32 pm

E.Jahn8 says:
@Jukai: AI single-handedly led a no talent squad (Todd Mcculloch, Aaron Mckie, Eric Snow, Rodney Buford, etc) to the Finals. Oh, and a ballhog averaging 7 APG? Come On!

Apr.24 at 5:38 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Jordan may have brought the worship to another level.. not expectations. Any NBA fan knows he was on another level and no one will ever compare. Marbury Francis and Kidd are selfish. Carter, Webber and Martin act as if the games owes them something. Iverson like Jordan is in his own league for said reasons. Malone paid for blasting Zeke in the face, Chuck and Ewing never dedicated themselves enough to the game. Same with Nash (never worked on his D). TMac is greedy, like KG..should gave up some money son..do you know now it’s not all in life? The Dream is a legend. DWade has time.. Rasheed finally dedicated himself to team play..but now is back to his old shenanigans.. just kills the rest of that team. Duncan is an unemotional robot.. ppl don’t id with that. (this year looked diff in that 1st game) Shaq has no concept of being humble and think rings should be handed to him. Kobe demands the respect and like Jordan won’t put with mediocrity..he’s paying for what we found out Jordan really was at times.. an a hole. Fans don’t want to be fooled again. The verdict on LeBron is still out..he’s trying to figure the line between egotistical and humble legend. Fans just want guys that love the game as much as we do, that sacrifice for team success and don’t rub anything in anyones face. Its not what you do (wins ring).. it how you go about it. But what do I know anyway.

Apr.24 at 5:45 pm

Jukai says:
What differentiates Iverson from Barkley/Ewing/Nash/KG/TMac? Iverson never worked on making those around him better and moving without the ball. He literally has never changed up the way he plays the game in his entire career. I want answers on why Iverson gets a free pass on this.

Apr.24 at 5:53 pm

Allenp says:
Russ, did that dude say Hakeem wasn’t a legend. Cause I’m going to have question that assessment.

Apr.24 at 5:54 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Cuz he played with a billion injuries and left it all on the court every night…. never demanded cash… carried a bunch on nobodies on that little ass frame..and never let any criticism affect his game. I dunno how he could have made ppl that reached their ceiling any better. Denver is another story..and I blame it on Melo not stepping his ego aside and let AI take him to the promised land. AI would have never stole his thunder … he has a legacy with nothing to prove. C’mon ..if I’m Melo I’m riding AI where ever he wants to go. Not stand in his way.

Apr.24 at 5:56 pm

Allenp says:
I call BS on Jukai. Iverson hasn’t changed his game? Do you watch game film? Cause that whole herky jerky style he has now is totally different from what he did coming into the league. Remember Iverson’s lethal left-to-right crossover, he dropped that by his third year in the league thanks to rule changes. How about that midrange jumper he now unleahes against any guard who can’t get up as high as he can? How about his ability to get to the free throw line by initiating contact, that wasn’t there early on either. Nah, it appears you are talking about of your anus about stuff you haven’t bothered to research. Oh yeah, Eric Snow and Aaron McKie had the best years of the their CAREERS playing with Allen Iverson. So have Linas Kleiza and Anthony Carter. Just so you know.

Apr.24 at 5:58 pm

Allenp says:
Man, Jukai has defended both of Steve Nash’s MVP’s, which means his opinions can’t be trusted. Now, i dare you to name another shooting guard who averages 7 plus assists per game while putting up 30 points. Name any guard who does that?

Apr.24 at 5:59 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Allenp.. co sign again.

Apr.24 at 5:59 pm

Allenp says:
See this ball hog thing is some garbage. Iverson is a scorer, just like soft as Dirk. The difference is Iverson is better at his job and regularly carried random cats to the at least the second round of the playoffs. Jukai, cats respect Iverson because he does his thing.

Apr.24 at 6:41 pm

Jukai says:
To FLUXLAND: He carried a buncha scrubs on his back to the playoffs once, and that was in an EXTREMELY weak eastern conference (weaker than this year) where he just shot the crap out of the ball and barely won every playoff series, until finally getting anahilated by the Lakers (his outburst in game 1, albeit impressive, was Iverson taking the ball in his own hands and shooting the crap out of it. You can win one game like that, can’t win four). And this “never demanded money” player is the sixth highest paid player in the league, which I’m sure was just given to him. Sure, he’s an incredible scorer and a legend in his own right, but christ… What makes him better than KG or Barkley or Malone? In my opinion, he’s not much better than Dirk. He’s got twice the heart as Dirk but not much else. If playing through injuries puts you above T-Mac, then let’s make SHAWN MARION a warrior too. Sounds great to me!

Apr.24 at 6:44 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Perhaps his size..You would expect more from dudes that are bigger and traditionally define the game.

Apr.24 at 6:47 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Shawn Marion punched his karma ticket when he left PHX. NO SOUP FOR YOU!

Apr.24 at 6:49 pm

Allenp says:
Jukai, Iverson upset the Magic and the Hornets in the first round on two previous trips to the playoffs before his Finals run. His Sixers team lost in the secound to the Pacers, who were the second best team in the conference behind the Bulls, before Jordan retired. The year after the Finals appearance Iverson lost to the Celtics in the first round, and he later lost to the Pistons in the first round. Iverson also averaged 35.4 points per game in the Finals against the Lakers, proof that it wasn’t one game explosion. The Sixers were competitive in each of the first three games, but a serious ankle injury to Aaron Mckie, combined with injuries previously suffered by Eric Snow and George Lynch left them severely shorthanded.
Nevertheless, Iverson averaged the most points in the Finals since Jordan. He’s better than Dirk because he’s better. He’s a better finisher, a better passer and a better defender. He’s more clutch, is a better one-on-one scorer and has has more team success with less talent. That’s why he’s better than Dirk.

Apr.24 at 6:56 pm

Jukai says:
To Allenp (the most biased poster on SLAM): First off, I only defeneded ONE of Nash’s MVPs, that was his first. His second MVP should have gone to Lebron or Kobe, but people were so enamored by the teams success (not giving any credit to Shawn Marion who was balling like his life depended on it, Or Boris Diaw’ one good year) that they gave it to him. HOWEVER, you can assume all you like Allenp, and like most of your assumptions, you are wrong. The CHANGES in Iverson’s game were not changed to better himself and his team, but to keep his level of play as rules changed/he aged. Sure, he had to modify his jumper when he got older, and he had to cut his crossover out of his game when he could no longer cheat with that first step. ALL PLAYERS DO THIS, yes, even the players that average three points a game. What Iverson NEVER did was modify HIS style of play for his TEAM. Never let someone else be the leader, never let someone else handle the ball and become a spot-up shooter, never let a point guard change the tempo of the game HE wanted. He has played like Iverson throughout his career, scoring in the high twenties and passing the ball well (he only has one type of pass though, which is drawing defenders and passing to the open man in the lane. Doesn’t outlet pass too well, can’t create passing lanes, is a horrible lob passer, can’t create in the half court… He’s not that great of a point guard). This is CERTAINLY an impressive feat, but what has that got Iverson? Repeated absenses from the playoffs. Did Iverson ever try to slow down the tempo of the game for Phili at the end of his days like his coaches wanted him too? No (and if yer gonna tell me he did, don’t bother responding). Has Iverson TRIED to let Carmello lead the team, despie FLUX’s biased opinion that Iverson doesn’t have enough control of the team? No (and if yer gonna tell me he did, don’t bother responding). He’s the same man no matter what the situation, and in the game of basketball, that just ain’t always the way to play it. Why was Jordan so worshipped? Cause that man could play anyway you wanted him too.. ball handling, spot up shooting, defending away from the ball, creating for his team, staying inside and rebounding. He’d play whatever role he’d have too. Iverson can’t. Therefore, Iverson should be moved from the “warrior” group into the Nash/KG/T-Mac group. All heart and no brain shouldn’t get his own catagory WORSHIPPING him.

Apr.24 at 6:59 pm

Jukai says:
OF COURSE HE’S BETTER THAN DIRK, ALLENP. He’s just not that great.

Apr.24 at 7:02 pm

Jukai says:
HEY ALLENP why don’t we talk about all those times after his 2001 MVP where he was either eliminated in the first round of the playoffs or doesn’t make it at all. Why aren’t you mentioning those moments? Also, averaging outrageous scoring numbers in a playoff series doesn’t mean much if you can’t win.

Apr.24 at 7:02 pm

Jukai says:
Why don’t we mention how he’s going to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs AGAIN, despite playing with Carmello Anthony, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Banks… huh? Why isn’t he making them better?

Apr.24 at 7:05 pm

Jukai says:
Also, Flux, if you’re going to tell me Iverson deserves to beld in higher esteem than Barkley and Malone cause he is shorter, than instead of responding to anymore of your posts, I’m just going to smile and nod pitifully.

Apr.24 at 7:17 pm

FLUXLAND says:
Jukai: what about 80 Jordan? Did he change his game? And it would stand to reason that ppl would hold a shorter guy to a higher regard for carrying a team then a big guy? Is this not somewhat logical? And in turn hold it against the bigger dudes? C’mon man! THEY ARE NOT LETTING HIM MAKE THEM BETTER!! Are you blind? Everyone on that team .. Rider.. Kleiza… Melo.. are trying to be Iverson.. instead of ala Kobe doing whatever necessary to be taken to the promised land.. where AI has been (and Camby) and where they will never go if they keep this up.

Apr.24 at 7:23 pm

FLUXLAND says:
*ala Kobe situationa and his team mates. If Gasol, Fisher, Odom acted like these clowns .. you think they would be the no1 seed in the West. Your frustrations should be aimed at George Karl… not AI my friend…

Apr.24 at 7:41 pm

Hursty says:
jeez, ill have to read all this later. Good luck for tonight dude.

Apr.24 at 8:03 pm

B. Long says:
TMac was the deciding vote that elected Bush.

Apr.24 at 8:09 pm

The Promise says:
T Mac aint got no help…when he gets the ball,he knows he has to shoot the ball becuse he knows that nobody else is gonna hit it…its just like he said back when he was at Orlando…”If I dont shoot it whos goin to?” that says it all…hes just tired of being the only guy on the court…i know i would be…

Apr.24 at 8:18 pm

B_Easy24 says:
I do agree with Kukai; however he has changed his game in some respect he doesn’t look to cross ppl like he used to do in the past, but he’s the same player. I think Jukai said in the effect of Iverson letting melo lead the team but how can he let melo lead the team if he doesn’t demonstrate any leadership?I look at the Nuggets as another philly team that Iverson was on. The only difference between the old Philly and the Nuggets is that he is sorrounded by a better cast of players, but I think that he should to inspire greatness in his teammates like the greats of the past have done. Iverson as good as a player that he is will never win a chip because he is not a leader, nuff said.

Apr.24 at 9:52 pm

Adrian Zapata says:
c’mon Long, gotta show love to that Texas boy bush, haha, especially from the west side. and where have u been the past year? either way… TMac aint gettin it done

Apr.24 at 10:17 pm

Jukai says:
Flux, yes Jordan changed his game. He did it all the time. Did you even read my post? I mentioned that specifically. And c’mon, FLUX, you’re pretty much saying the Denver Nuggets are not letting Iverson play the same role he played in Philly his entire career. That’s my damn point. Instead of the team changing for Iverson, why the hell doesn’t Iverson change for the team? Why doesn’t the offense run through Melo and Iverson run without the ball and spot up and shoot? Cause Iveron would never change for the team. Or maybe he can’t. That makes him a flawed player. So instead of “warrior” he should be put with Nash (can’t/wont take over the game when his team wont score), Barkley (refused to/couldn’t stop running and play defense), Ewing (refused/couldn’t stop “being the man” and and WOULDN’T stop taking that dumb jump shot), KG (cowers in the clutch) and T-Mac (everything).

Apr.25 at 1:20 am

tealish says:
Houston got their must-win tonight, but wow..they almost blew that 7pt lead with minute and change left.
T-mac sure showed them critics wrong with his gutsy and spectacular 4th quarter performance tonight!Psh, all that talk abt no 4th q fgs. 2/9fg! HATERS, WHAT

Apr.25 at 1:27 am

tealish says:
Jukai: So many things wrong with that post.
1)Running the offense through Melo will consist of iso’s all day long, all of which ending with a step back J or a highly contested double clutcher in the paint with no chance of going in.
2)AI has changed his game. His fga are down and he’s more than willing to let Melo do his thing - which isn’t necessarily a good thing for the team, though.
3)Nash can’t make the big shot? Do you watch the Suns at all? Every big shot they need, Nash takes it and makes it more often than not. Game 1 corner 3??
4) Ewing was a beast. A ringless beast, but still a beast nonetheless.
You are mostly right on KG and Mac though.

Apr.25 at 2:10 am

Hursty says:
FU(K Yeh!

Apr.25 at 2:48 am

Brandon says:
Iverson has Carmelo and Camby on his team whats the excuse now?

Apr.25 at 7:44 am

FLUXLAND says:
@Jukai.. we are going to have to agree to disagree.. it took Jordan a while to change his game..(Kobe is pretty much a carbon copy of the man’s career) You don’t drop 63 on Boston on lose cuz you changed your game. I cannot believe you don’t see what we are saying about AI. Let me give you another analogy.. if AI is all heart and heart of the team..and his team mates are say..the limbs..if the heart ain’t working right.. the limbs are useless and laying down. There is no doubt Melo, KMart, (b**cha**)Kleiza and JR are refusing to let AI do his thing. They should just out of respect and seniority if for nothing else. Flawed? Hardly, IMO. And if so.. not to the level of Nash Chuck and Pat.. at least AI tried (ask Larry Brown).. them mofos blatantly refused to even consider the option.
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Also, for the sake of TMac mental well being I’m glad they won last night.. Imma watch the game this afternoon.

Apr.25 at 7:52 am

FLUXLAND says:
@B Easy: exactly re: Melo.. kid has zero leadership skills. Leaders don’t get caught DUI..make tapes in da hood about snitchin cuz the need to look hard.. LEADERS DONT SUCKER PUNCH AND BACKPEDAL.. leaders don’t carry weed (they get dudes to carry it for them )..leaders don’t see greatness and get in the way of it..they use it to their advantage. AI may not have the greatest leaderships skils either but he does lead by example. (his game)

Apr.25 at 11:09 am

Allenp says:
Jukai. So your point is that although Iverson changed his game by abandoning his crossover and adding a mid range jumper in the lane, those changes don’t count because….Why exactly? And I believe I said in my very long post that Iverson lost to Boston and Detroit in the first round after getting to the Finals. I’m pretty sure that was in my post. As far as Iverson dominating the ball, sure he dominates the ball, can’t argue there. And he’s not great at throwing the lob. But, I”m wondering how you can randomnly downplay his ability to get other players easy shots by damn near handing them the ball in the lane. Or, his ability to drive and kick to give shooters like Korver, JR Smith and Kleiza open looks. More importantly, this idea that Iverson is unwilling to come off screens and be a shooter has no factual backing. George Karl has never run an offense that required players to come off screens. He’s running the same offense now that he ran in Milwakee with three proven scorers. Similar to the offens that he ran in Seattle with Kemp and Payton. Lots of isos and random post ups. If I’m not mistaken, Iverson used to be run of screens by Larry Brown when he was with the Sixers. But, since Iverson is not a spot up shooter, and would be wasted as such, why would a coach ask him to do that. More importantly, since Iverson is capable of passing to open teammates while making his own move, why would the coach run the offense through Melo and ask him to create for his teammates when he’s never shown an ability to do that? Look, you can think Iverson is selfish and overrated all you want. I think he’s accurately rated. Remember, it hasn’t been hugs and kisses for him his entire career, he earned teh respect he gets today by proving a lot of folks wrong.

Apr.25 at 3:13 pm

Jukai says:
Allenp, I’ll explain what I’ve already explained again, but I don’t have a video with hand puppets to help me with this so I’m not sure I can convince you… but what you described are changes in his game so he can be as good of an OFFENSIVE PLAYER as he was when he was younger and had the athletic ability. Or, with the crossover, changing his game so he can be as good of an OFFENSIVE PLAYER as he was prior to rule changes. The change I am talking about has nothing to do with creating offense. My change is change so the team will be better, so the team will win. Now I see you personally are blaming Iverson’s lack of change on Coach Brown and Coach Cheeks and Coach Karl. That’s fine, if you really think every single coach in his career wanted him to play like a carbon copy of himself, that’s fine, I disagree. But the biggest point in your article is where you pointed out Iverson wasn’t a spot up shooter. This is a HUGE flaw in his game, he NEVER did it as a Sixer (ever) and there are some nights where he’s amazing getting a pass and shooting the ball at the right/left side of the key and Denver WINS GAMES. When he’s missing that shot, they lose. He’s a flawed superstar. Hense, no ring, no “warrior” status.

Apr.25 at 3:20 pm

Jukai says:
I’m not saying Iverson is a subpar player, he’s easily in the top ten greatest shooting guards of all time. He’s an upstoppable scorer when the ball is in his hand, and that drive-and-kick assist he has gets LOTS of easy buckets. His defense punishes other guards and he’s got enough heart to fill Dirk’s body three times over. He shouldn’t be pushed into his own catagory while players like KG and Nash and Ewing get the “players who had a chance but couldn’t make it cause of their own shortcomings” catagory. Iverson has his shortcomings and it has hurt his career to the point where he couldn’t even carry his team to the playoffs. Why should his “heart” or his “earned respect” put him on a higher pedestal? He has more heart than NASH and KEVIN GARNETT? I dunno man… I’m just tired of people seeing Iverson as this great basketball player when he’s never won a ring, and has a lot of gaps in his game. It’s just this odd Iverson hype that this board has, it’s annoying.

Apr.25 at 3:24 pm

Jukai says:
Also, it would make MUCH more sense for the offense to run through Carmello. Until coach karl is fired and a coach comes in that can run SOME semblence of team offense, it’s pretty much going to be guys going 1-5 the entire night. Therefore, give the ball to Melo and let him score, it’ll collapse the defense and let other guys get in position to create their own opportunities. Iverson’s constant darting is hurting other peoples driving lanes (Carmello goes straight) and Iverson’s patented “DRIVE AND KICK” isn’t nearly as effective because nobody’s aiming to catch and shoot, everyone just wants the ball in their hands so they can start up their own play. If Iverson is going to be running the plays, you need a healthy Nene/a more offensive minded Camby to get easy passes in the paint or an offensive rebounder for a questionable shooting team. Capish??

Apr.25 at 4:19 pm

Allenp says:
Other than Melo, very few of the Nuggets can just create their own offense. Kenyon Martin could play the role of finishing around the rim, but Melo would be perfect at it if he committed to not straying beyond the free throw line extended and hit the offensive boards harder. The fact is, the outside of Melo and Iverson the Nuggets have very few players who can get themselves a high quality shot without help, and between Iverson and Melo is the one who understands how to get the ball to open players. So it makes sense to put the ball in his hands. I responded to your point about Iverson becoming a spot up shooter by noting that he has never done that because he didn’t need to. Could he have improved his jumper more, sure. But, no great player becomes a spot up shooter until they can no longer dominate. Are your asinine assertion that Jordan was a spot up shooter at any point in his basketball career shows a shocking lack of basketball IQ. Even when Jordan was with the Wizards he wasn’t a spot up shooter, since they RAN the offense through him. Finally, your intiial comments were that Iverson wasn’t as good as Dirk. THEN you decided to write that Iverson IS better than Dirk, just not GREAT. Then you write that Iverson is one of the 10 GREATEST shooting guards of all-time. I might need those hand puppets to keep up with your ever changing rationale. (Oh yeah, Ryan didn’t write the comment he mad, he was actually posting somethingfrom somewhere else.)

Apr.25 at 4:21 pm

Allenp says:
And your assertion that iverson never worked on moving without the ball is without merit. He learned how to use staggered screens with Philly under Larry Brown. Granted, he’s not as good as Reggie or RIP, but he still uses them. I have never argued that Iverson was a pure point guard, or possessed those instincts. But, to knock him as a ballhog goes too far since every coach he has played for has asked him to take plenty of shots.

Apr.25 at 4:25 pm

Allenp says:
Finally, where did I say that every coach Iverson played for was the problem? Also, anybody who has watched the Nuggets knows that the most common play they run is an iso for Melo on the low block, followed by a high screen and roll on the wing involving Iverson and a big. Melo get’s more opportunities to create offense than any other player on the team. The problem is that all he can do is SCORE. He does nothing to get his teamates involved, and does not understand how to handle double teams. Consequently, Iverson is the best option to use his scoring to create points for other players by collapsing the defense. Until Melo shows a willingness to improve that aspect of his game, Iverson is the only option. All you have to do is watch how the Nuggests entire offensive structure changes for the worse with Iverson on the bench to understand his value.

Apr.26 at 12:10 pm

pablo (from Argentina) says:
McGrady is a looser and a choker. He doesn´t have what it takes