Two games into the Iverson era in the Motor City and Detroit is 0-2.
Yes.. I realize its only two games.. but they were undefeated before the aquisition.
Detroit’s offense was horrendous against the Celtics in an 88-76 defeat. Allen Iverson shot 4-11 for 10 points with four assists, but none of those assists came in the first half, while all four of his turnovers did. Iverson also missed three layups, and his inability to find Rip Hamilton in harmony, resulted in Hamilton shooting 0-8.
It’s hard to blame Iverson too much as it was only his second game playing with a stringent offensive system, but if Iverson can’t grasp the ins and outs of where to make the right pass and when, the Pistons might not make it back to the Conference Finals.
It would also be nice if Rasheed Wallace didn’t attempt nearly half as many three-pointers (going 2-8) as two-pointers (making 2-9).
Meanwhile, Chauncey Billups only shot 2-13 against the Grizzlies, but Denver won by ten, 100-90. Despite missing 11 of his 13 shots, Billups moved the ball, attacked the paint, and played exceptional defense.
I see that Rosenberg over at the Freep feels "Piston's display a tantalzing potential" and he gave 5 reason why..
1. This one comes from Iverson: "I don't think offense is going to be our problem." At times, coach Michael Curry has played Iverson, Stuckey and Hamilton together, and the potential is tantalizing.
2. While the rest of us wonder about Iverson, and Iverson's effect on Hamilton, and Iverson's meshing with Wallace, and Iverson's views on stem-cell research and the credit crisis, Curry still is paying full attention to Tayshaun Prince. "What I love most is that Tayshaun is still staying aggressive," Curry said Sunday. "Tay has to stay aggressive, even as Iverson and Stuckey continue to get more aggressive."
3. I think a lot of people are wondering if Curry can handle Wallace and Iverson on his team. It's a fair question. But I think it actually helps that Curry is in his first year as coach. Iverson and Wallace are in the last year of their contracts. Curry has better job security than either one of them. That is the ultimate hammer in coach-player relationships -- if Curry has a dispute with Iverson, the Pistons are almost certain to side with Curry, and everybody knows it.
4. The Pistons looked awful in the first half against the Celtics. Dreadful. Rotten. Putrid. Still, I was stunned that at the end of the first half, fans booed loudly. It's not a huge deal. If you buy the tickets and pay $47 for a beer, or whatever they're charging these days, of course you have every right to boo. This team just added a superstar who handles the ball on every possession, and he had one game and one practice to get ready to play the defending champs. Isn't it a little early to boo?
5. The Pistons, the most predictable NBA group this side of San Antonio for the past six years, are now the most unpredictable contender in the league.
I answer with just two words.. Show me.
