November 7
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies still are in "serious negotiations" with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to help coach their centers, according to team owner Michael Heisley. Abdul-Jabbar visited Memphis on Oct. 25 to attend a practice and meet with Griz players and management. Heisley said both sides are trying to iron out a working arrangement. "It's a matter of how much time Kareem will give to us," Heisley said. "We're trying to come to an understanding of how Kareem will work. I want to make sure we're getting somebody who will give attention to these kids and help them. He's got a lot of commitments." Abdul-Jabbar, 62, is under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after having tutored Andrew Bynum ..."
November 7
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dunks against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half Friday. Bryant scored 41 points while becoming the youngest player to reach 24,000. Promises to play something that resembles defense. Now, the guy who writes the checks is about to have his say. Michael Heisley, the Grizzlies' Chicago-based owner, flew to town Friday in time to watch his team lose 114-98 to the Los Angeles Lakers in Staples Center. But Heisley isn't in Los Angeles for a leisurely weekend getaway. He joined the team for the expressed purpose of addressing some of the team's problems. Heisley will have several meetings, including a sit-down with Iverson, today with the goal of trying to get ..."
November 6
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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From the moment the Grizzlies finalized their roster, there were a couple of inherent weaknesses. Memphis assembled the NBA's youngest and least-experienced team, with an average age of 25.35 years and 3.13 years of experience. That doesn't bode well for minimizing mistakes and winning close games. However, watching to see if several top-flight scorers would share the basketball and adequately defend figured to maintain the most interest. The retooled Grizzlies don't seem to have a problem sharing the ball. Concentrating without the basketball enough to avoid making the Grizzlies an embarrassment on defense? That's another story ... That's the story behind the Grizzlies' 1-4 start to the ..."
November 5
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Lionel Hollins laughed at first when asked what it's like to play against a Don Nelson-coached team. Hollins then said his Grizzlies were about to enter a torture chamber. The Grizzlies' coach described Nelson's Golden State Warriors as a team that's churning to find mismatches with a bunch of 6-foot-8-and-under players. "You just have to take advantage of your mismatches," Hollins said, "and find a force that Nelly can't deal with." Memphis' Marc Gasol, who scored 12 points, shoots above Golden State's Stephen Jackson during the first half Wednesday night in Oakland, Calif. Unfortunately for Hollins, the Griz lived in that torture chamber for the final three quarters Wednesday night en ..."
November 4
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies boarded a bus headed for the Bay Area late Monday night not long after they lost a second straight road game. It was a smooth ride from Sacramento. But the Griz can't say the same about their first week of the regular season. They haven't been able to dodge a few potholes en route to a 1-3 start. There are problems with porous defense and too many turnovers. There was an incident with O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay bickering on the bench Sunday at Denver. And veteran guard Allen Iverson made his season debut Monday with a bang, questioning his role as a reserve following an overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. Griz coach Lionel Hollins gave the team a day off Tuesday to rest up for ..."
November 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Allen Iverson finally made his Grizzlies debut after a month-long recovery from a partially torn hamstring. He joined a team Monday night that is badly in need of a few repairs on defense as the Griz were unable to dethrone the Sacramento Kings in their home opener. Kevin Martin scored 48 points and Sacramento buried 14 3-pointers to beat the Grizzliess, 127-116, in overtime at Arco Arena. The Kings bench also outscored the Grizzlies reserves 67-14. Iverson had 11 points off the bench for the Griz but he logged just 18 minutes. Zach Randolph led the Griz with 30 points and 16 rebounds. O.J. Mayo added 22 and Rudy Gay chipped in 21 as Memphis had six players score in double figures. But for ..."
November 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Fourth-year forward Rudy Gay and the Grizzlies failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension before the NBA deadline. Negotiations broke off Monday evening so Gay will become a restricted free agent next summer. The Griz still can match any offer sheet Gay signs. The parties had until 10:59 p.m. CST Monday to strike a deal. "We've agreed to not agree," said Jeff Austin, Gay's agent. "We looked at different ways we might try to get something done and we weren't able to agree." An NBA source said the Grizzlies' final offer was a five-year deal worth about $50 million. Gay was asking for a deal similar to Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge (five years, $65 million with incentives), ..."
November 2
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The scoreboard wasn't all that provided fireworks in what turned out to be a shootout Sunday night between the Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets. The Grizzlies had to douse an explosive shouting match between O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay on their bench before the end of a 133-123 loss in a wildly entertaining affair at the Pepsi Center. Mayo tossed in a career-high 40 points only to have the performance overshadowed by Nuggets' forward Carmelo Anthony's 42-point outburst, and somewhat marred by an incident during a late fourth-quarter timeout. Denver kept Memphis at arms length in the fourth quarter, never allowing the Griz to get closer than five points. Gay took exception when Mayo made a strong ..."
November 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Time is expiring on Rudy Gay and the Grizzlies as it relates to working out a contract extension. But Gay isn't watching the clock. While Gay's agent, Jeff Austin, continues to discuss his client's long-term future with the franchise, the 6-8 forward remains indifferent. "I'm not concerned about that," Gay said. "If it happens it happens. If not I'm looking forward to being a (restricted) free agent. It's hasn't been my focus. My focus is playing games like (Friday night) and getting wins." The Griz, fresh off a 115-107 victory over Toronto, boarded a flight Saturday for Denver where they'll begin a five-game road trip tonight in the Pepsi Center. The NBA extended a deadline for contract ..."
November 1
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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He was one of the last two Grizzlies remaining in the locker room, tidying up, toweling off, strapping his dueling cell phones to his jeans. I asked Zach Randolph if he had a favorite play from the night's work. Randolph broke out in an impossibly big smile. "The block," he said. Which is perfect, isn't it? The man scores 30 points Friday night to carry the Grizzlies to their first win of the season. He has six massive offensive rebounds and three feathery assists. And all he wants to talk is the time -- the one time? -- he got Chris Bosh's shot. The Grizzlies had been trying to keep up with Bosh and the Raptors all night. They had finally drawn within two. So the Raptors went back to ..."
October 31
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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On opening night of the regular season, the Grizzlies didn't score enough points, put up enough resistance or even look as if they wanted to be in FedExForum. Friday night, Memphis got a mulligan and made up for its false start by beating the Toronto Raptors, 115-107, before an announced crowd of 10,563. "It's a sigh of relief. We came out with energy and guys are on the same page," power forward Zach Randolph said after tossing in 30 points to lead the Griz to their first victory this season. The Griz looked like a completely different team than the one that got pummeled by Detroit. From the start against the Raptors, the Griz accumulated deflections on defense, aggressively chased ..."
October 30
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Allen Iverson says he's ready to run with the Grizzlies if the trainers give him permission. And MRI results put Iverson closer to his goal Thursday morning when he was cleared to participate in a full-contact practice. But while Griz coach Lionel Hollins said the workout was encouraging, his understanding is that Iverson's return is targeted for Monday when the team plays at Sacramento. So the Griz are expected to be without the 10-time all-star guard for tonight's game with the Toronto Raptors at FedExForum. "I felt good," Iverson said. "It was a regular day of practice for me. I didn't feel any pain. I didn't feel fatigued to not be able to get through it. I'm ready to play. It's up to ..."
October 29
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Lionel Hollins exited the Grizzlies' huddle after a timeout early in the fourth quarter wearing a scowl and wiping his brow. Unsettling was a 22-point deficit and the Grizzlies hadn't even scored a point two minutes into the final frame. The Grizzlies coach appeared anxious before the game Wednesday night and then spent most of his team's 96-74 loss to the Detroit Pistons agitated and disappointed. Rough start? Memphis did few things right in the regular-season opener for both teams before an announced crowd of 17,212 in FedExForum. "We just came out and laid an egg," Hollins said after a game in which the Griz trailed by as many as 25 points before losing their ninth straight home opener ..."
October 29
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies started the 2009-10 season on fire before flaming out. As part of an elaborate pregame performance that featured Three 6 Mafia ... and "American Idol" finalist Lil Rounds ... and the dance troupe JabbaWockeeZ, pyrotechnics exploded behind both backboards. Big blasts that shook the building. Management spent much of the offseason working to add some sizzle, acquiring high-profile free agents Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson, and then showcasing the new-look Grizzlies at a series of open preseason practices across the city. And at FedExForum on Wednesday, the hope was to capitalize on all that good feeling and excitement. But an evening that started with fireworks ended with a ..."
October 29
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Geoff Calkins
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He was sitting in the front row, enjoying the show and the opener. Lil Rounds was great. Three 6 Mafia rapped out an introduction. The Grizzlies came flying onto the court, looking snappy in their new blue jerseys. Yes, it was good to be a Grizzlies fan, especially one sitting smack in the front row. And then Michael Edwards, the new president of the Mid-South market for First Tennessee, saw the ball bouncing his way. "They say keep your eye on the ball," he said. They apparently never sat courtside. The ball bounced into the stands followed by Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons. Prince jumped over Edwards. Well, nearly. One sneaker did not make it over. One sneaker hit Edwards smack ..."
October 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Michael Heisley's sanity and willingness to spend have been questioned a time or 10 in the near decade he's owned the Grizzlies. But don't doubt, he says, that he wants what all Griz fans want -- a winning team worth supporting. "Contrary to what people believe, I hate to lose," Heisley said. "There isn't anything I find more painful than walking out of the arena after playing a crappy game and we've lost. And to have fans say, 'Don't worry, Mr. Heisley. Thanks for bringing the team here' ... That's nice. But I want to win." Toward that goal, Heisley has seized control of the franchise like never before. As the Grizzlies open their ninth Memphis season tonight against the Detroit Pistons ..."
October 28
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Twenty-seven hours before tipoff to another Grizzlies season, Herman Sykes offered his prediction. "Undefeated," he said. Undefeated? "Good answer!" said Ty Gadsden, who was with him. Sykes and Gadsden are in the Coast Guard. They are serious men with serious jobs. "Let the record show that the local U.S. Coast Guard is extremely optimistic about the Memphis Grizzlies season," said Gadsden. Anchors aweigh, then! Or bon voyage! Semper Fidelis? Break a leg! Tonight at FedExForum, the Grizzlies will launch themselves into their ninth season in Memphis with a game against the Detroit Pistons. "Gotta be positive," said Sykes. It may be your only chance, after all. Or it could be the first of ..."
October 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies added star power to their roster in the offseason with Allen Iverson. Now, they might be on the verge of hiring a Hall of Famer for the coaching staff. Legendary NBA center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sat in on the Grizzlies' practice Monday morning. The NBA's all-time leading scorer will entertain joining the organization, several sources confirmed. Grizzlies management had no comment about Abdul-Jabbar's presence. Memphis, however, asked for and received permission from the Los Angeles Lakers to speak with Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar, 62, is under contract with the Lakers after having tutored Andrew Bynum over the past several seasons. But the Los Angeles Daily News reported earlier ..."
October 27
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Allen Iverson, wearing a white T-shirt and baggy blue shorts, sank seven straight set shots from the right elbow, each attempt eliciting cheers from an enthusiastic crowd before an open scrimmage at Memphis University School eight days ago. It was a rare public viewing of Iverson in action this preseason: He missed all eight of the Grizzlies' exhibition games, a partial tear in his left hamstring limiting him to the training room and a spot at the end of the bench. And that was where he planted himself when his teammates began playing without him at MUS, a good 40 feet of high school hardwood separating him from coach Lionel Hollins, who figures to own one of the most challenging jobs in ..."
October 26
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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After moving in a line about a city block long, the autograph-seeking lady finally stood in front of Zach Randolph. "Will you personalize this?" she asked, pointing to her Grizzlies poster featuring Randolph. "Yes ma'am," Randolph replied. "You killed us every time you played against us," the woman said. "I'm glad you're here." Randolph could muster only a sheepish grin in response. The common Grizzlies fan seems to shower Randolph with appreciation wherever he goes, and the maligned 6-9 power forward has reciprocated, so far, by displaying his best on and off the court. Randolph will put on a No. 50 Grizzlies jersey Wednesday, and then spend every day getting fitted for a new image ..."
October 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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When Lionel Hollins daydreams about how the retooled Grizzlies will function on offense, he closes his eyes and sees a basketball purist's delight. The Grizzlies' head coach pictures the ball shifting from hand to hand, mimicking a pinball machine with strong offensive threats O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson serving as the flippers. It doesn't matter who ultimately scores, as long as the attempt was made easy by sharing. When Hollins opens his eyes Wednesday for the Grizzlies' regular-season opener in FedExForum, he'll see a Memphis Grizzlies team that critics give little chance of functioning as an effective offensive machine. Yet Mayo, Gay, Randolph and Iverson -- ..."
October 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist David Williams
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A: ... is for Arthur, Darrell? Alternate road jerseys? Nah, just messing with you. It's for A.I., of course. The Answer. Allen Iverson -- the franchise's first superstar, and one with an aura, a presence, an undefinable and undeniable something, that a few superstars would go down to the crossroads to possess. B: Buzz. How sweet the sound. C: Cocksure and cold-blooded -- qualities we like in a point guard, but haven't quite seen from Mike Conley. But we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for now, based on his 39 games last season after Marc Iavaroni was fired as head coach and replaced by Lionel Hollins -- averages of 14.3 points (on 45.4 percent shooting overall, 41.3 on 3-pointers), ..."
October 25
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Ronald Tillery
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DeMarre Carroll weighs just 212 pounds, but he would sign up for offensive line duty if his profession suddenly became football. The Grizzlies' rookie doesn't put a lot of stock in size and physical gifts. He's about hustle and heart. "I'm one of those dirty-work guys," he said. Carroll's grit didn't go unnoticed over the past several weeks. The 6-8 Birmingham native, capable of playing both forward positions, shined so much during Grizzlies training camp that he earned the fifth-annual Don Poier "Pride of Training Camp" Award. An unscientific, team-wide poll made Carroll the pick. Shane Battier, Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick, Stromile Swift and Marc Gasol are past winners of an honor ..."
October 23
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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There is an audible segment of the Grizzlies' fan base still doubting his ability to run the club. The third-year point guard is critiqued by family members, and his coaches are no longer enablers to Conley's laid-back approach. "He has to be his own worst critic to get better," Griz assistant coach Damon Stoudamire said. "Mike can't be satisfied with playing cool." The Griz are about to enter a regular season with their most talented roster since the start of the 2007 campaign. That also happens to be the same year Conley was selected fourth overall in the NBA draft. The organization seemed somewhat content with bringing Conley -- a 19-year-old out of Ohio State -- along slowly at that ..."
October 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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He has brought a pass-first, do-the-little-things mindset to training camp in hopes of accomplishing a few things. Mayo desperately wants to win, become more of a complete player and force the Griz to be cohesive, even at the expense of his own game. The second-year guard and runner-up to Chicago's Derrick Rose for last season's NBA Rookie of the Year award almost sounds as if he's happier about not being asked to be a dynamic scorer. "I figure I can do all of the intangibles," Mayo said as the Griz prepare to face the Miami Heat tonight in preseason action. "You may not see 30 points that night but if you look across the (statistical) line you can see I dibble-dabbled a little everywhere. ..."
October 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies rookie DeMarre Carroll planted his feet and waited for the NBA's reigning scoring champion to make his move. With Memphis trailing by a point and about 27 seconds left, Carroll bit. Miami's Dwyane Wade dribbled to 18 feet of the basket, delivered a head fake and drew contact while in the act of shooting. The basketball swished through the nets as a whistle blew. Carroll shook his head while Wade calmly converted a free throw to complete the three-point play. The Griz fell behind by four points and didn't score again Wednesday night before losing, 99-93, during preseason action in AmericanAirlines Arena. Too much Wade. Too many missed shots. Too little focus. Wade finished with 35 ..."
October 22
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies center Marc Gasol granted ESPN Deportes an interview and smiled while dismissing another reporter. "You're not going to understand this," Gasol quipped. The NBA sure understands Spanish-speaking players and the importance of their audience. With 15 percent of the league's total fan base being Hispanic (roughly 18 million), the NBA launched a new campaign this week to help grow interest. Gasol is among several players who will contribute to the league's most comprehensive Hispanic campaign yet. "It's great," Gasol said. "It's not just Spain. But everybody in Mexico and South America loves the NBA. I'm excited about it. It's new for me because I haven't been in many campaigns.""
October 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Apparently Dwyane Wade can turn it on when he wants. Wednesday night, in the Heat's home exhibition finale, Wade wanted. So he scored 14 of the Heat's first 20 points and had 19 by halftime of what turned into a 99-93 victory over the Grizzlies at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I wanted to be aggressive, get my rhythm," he said. Feisty to the point that he was arguing with replacement referees who likely will be replaced by the real thing in time for next week's season opener, Wade pushed and prodded his teammates all the way back from what was an 18-point first-quarter deficit. Wade entered with a 16.3 preseason scoring average on 38.6-percent shooting, coming off of a bruised left calf that ..."
October 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Memphis Grizzlies thumped the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Not to be greedy, but how about another one of these on opening night? Only this time, with Allen Iverson in the lineup. This time, with the house band cranking it out live. This time, with — let's go crazy, shall we? — fans in the stands. Yes, fans. You know, spectators. People who pay for tickets and enter the building and eat chicken fingers and cheer. I know they exist in this city, because they filled this building to overflowing Friday night. That was for a college basketball practice. On Saturday night, the Grizzlies played an actual game. And nobody came. Well, not nobody. Henry Turley was at the game. And Arnold Perl. ..."
October 19
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Coaches never buy into the hype or hysteria. In this case, the Grizzlies can't possibly be as finely tuned as they appeared Saturday night while drubbing the Detroit Pistons. Nor are Lionel Hollins & Co. as inept and uninspiring as their effort against Atlanta showed earlier in the week. So what to make of the Grizzlies -- with seven new players in tow -- and their rehearsals so far? It's difficult to put much stock in preseason statistics because of the odd lineup combinations and irregular playing time given key players. But the up-and-down nature of the Grizzlies' performances since Hollins began to play his regulars together for long stretches is indicative of a team still courting ..."
October 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur sat out Saturday and will miss the rest of the preseason because of a right partial pectoral tear. Arthur originally suffered a pectoral strain a week before training camp began. He aggravated the injury last Monday during the Grizzlies' preseason loss against the Orlando Magic. A timetable has not been set for Arthur's return. "It sets him back from a conditioning and learning perspective," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "Those other guys will be moving into his spot as we go forward. When you get hurt during the season, it's always a problem trying to catch up when you come back." Arthur appeared in three preseason games after missing the first week of ..."
October 18
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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The Grizzlies entered FedExForum on Saturday night with an assortment of messy blotches on a preseason canvas that figured to present an identity by now. But their 115-94 preseason victory over the Detroit Pistons was easy on the eyes, making it less difficult to see how the Griz envision their style of play. Memphis came out in attack mode on both ends of the court, and led by as many as 28 points before securing their second win of the exhibition season. "Everybody was just doing their job," point guard Mike Conley said. "We were taking the little things for granted early in the preseason. We're a young team so we can't afford to do that. Coach got on us. If we can play offense off our ..."
October 16
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Unless there is significant progress in negotiations, it appears the Grizzlies and forward Rudy Gay will not agree to a long-term contract extension before the Oct. 31 deadline. Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Thursday that the discussions, while amicable, are about where they've been since the summer. Wallace has negotiated with Gay's agent, Jeff Austin, since July 1. They have met in Las Vegas, Memphis and briefly in Richmond, Va., where the Griz played a preseason game against the Washington Wizards. Wallace would not characterize their most recent talks, and it is not known where each side stands with regard to total compensation. "We've had our discussions. We'll have ..."
October 14
Memphis Commercial Appeal
columnist Scot Cacciola
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Allen Iverson called his wife after the second day of Grizzlies training camp and shared some unsettling news: His hamstrings were tight. He sensed something was wrong. At 34, he knew his body. And no matter how much he practiced at Birmingham Southern College, his legs refused to loosen up. He realized this was the result of a long summer of relative inactivity. Fearful of injury before he signed a deal, he had held himself out of pickup games and largely limited himself to shooting drills — a good idea, in theory. But on the sixth day of camp, during an open scrimmage that doubled as his public unveiling with his new team, Iverson felt his left hamstring pop when he tried to change ..."