Allen Iverson News: Pro Sports Daily

Allen Iverson a later-rather-than-now issue for Heat

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July 3

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"To a degree, an Allen Iverson-Heat marriage makes sense. For years, Pat Riley has run a last-chance saloon. But it's not going to happen the first week of free-agent negotiations. It's not going to happen at the July 8 start of the free-agent signing period. And it's not going to happen until after the July 12 window opens for Dwyane Wade to be eligible to sign an extension. Iverson makes sense because Iverson may not have many other options. But until the Knicks spend their mid-level exception, until Larry Brown gets an official rejection from Bobcats management, and until the remaining precious little cap space around the league is spent, Iverson doesn't have to move to Plan B. ..."

Allen Iverson made $28.9 million in 2009

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July 3

Detroit Free Press

"The economy, it seems, took a chunk out of the country's highest-paid athletes this year. According to Sports Illustrated, which released its annual compilation of the 50 richest sports stars, the average earnings of those on the list dropped $1.5 million from a year ago. Not surprising, Tiger Woods remains at the top -- he made $99,737,626 despite missing much of the season because of knee surgery and despite losing Buick as a sponsor. Fellow PGA Tour golfer Phil Mickelson kept his No. 2 spot from a year ago with the tidy sum of $52,950,356. Both Woods and Mickelson earned far more in endorsements than winnings, a pattern that doesn't hold in team sports -- except for LeBron James, whose ..."

Could former Pistons Iverson, Brown reunite?

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June 6

Detroit News

"Former Piston Allen Iverson needs a team, and ex-Pistons coach Larry Brown needs a scorer. Just think, they could reunite. Seven years after his famous rant in Philadelphia during a feud with Brown over missing practice, Iverson is set to become unrestricted free agent. Brown is coaching the low-scoring Bobcats, and Iverson was recently spotted in Charlotte. It's fueled speculation Iverson, who had a difficult season in Detroit, could be paired with Brown again. Iverson's agent, Leon Rose , said his client would be willing to play for Brown again. "I love Allen," Brown said."

Departing Piston Allen Iverson still a retail success

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May 1

Detroit Free Press

"Allen Iverson might not have worked out as a Piston, but he's still making cash registers ring. The future Hall of Famer and unrestricted free agent ranked fifth on the list of most popular NBA jerseys, according to a release from the league Thursday. Only jerseys for the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Cleveland's LeBron James, New Orleans' Chris Paul and Boston's Kevin Garnett ranked ahead of Iverson's red, white and blue No. 1. There was a spike in interest in the Pistons when the team acquired Iverson from Denver in a November trade that sent fan favorite Chauncey Billups to the Nuggets. Although many Pistons fans might want to set fire to their Iverson jersey after he was shut down with a sore ..."

Allen Iverson's bodyguard involved in brawl

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April 17

Detroit News

"A birthday celebration early Easter Sunday turned into a bar-room brawl involving a bodyguard of Pistons All-Star Allen Iverson, according to claims by partygoers. The incident reportedly started about 2 a.m. Sunday at the South Beach Lounge at 3011 West Grand Blvd., Detroit Police spokesman James Tate said. "According to the people who made the complaint, there was a birthday party in the bar, and the group was sitting in a booth next to Iverson and two of his bodyguards," Tate said. "Supposedly, Iverson's guards were flashing some money, and then they locked eyes with the partygoers. Words were supposedly exchanged back and forth, and then one of the bodyguards allegedly struck one of ..."

Iverson, controversy, and the fans who love them

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April 12

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist Phil Sheridan

"The latest and perhaps last Allen Iverson controversy passed without much comment here, lost in the swirl of Villanova's Final Four appearance and the start of the Phillies' defense of their 2008 championship.There are two reasons to revisit Iverson's apparent refusal to play basketball off the bench for his latest and perhaps last team, the Detroit Pistons: first, because the whole thing says something about Philadelphia, and second, because Iverson was eviscerated by one of the biggest sports columnists in the country, Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star and Foxsports.com.Wait, make that three reasons: Iverson is going to be a free agent this off-season and there is some minuscule ..."

He was never The Answer, but Pistons can rebound

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April 4

Detroit Free Press

"In retrospect, it was a bad fit from the beginning. Allen Iverson, a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, was asked to subjugate his game to do things the Pistons' way when he was acquired two games into the season. He tried, but after playing a certain way since he first picked up a basketball, he could not change. The pieces just did not come together, and the Pistons are stumbling through their worse season since 2000-01. The experiment ended with a news release from president Joe Dumars late Friday afternoon that said Iverson, 33, officially was done for the season because of a bad back. There was no additional comment from the team or Iverson, but no comment was needed to see that ..."

Pistons guard Allen Iverson out for rest of the season

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April 3

Detroit Free Press

"The Pistons announced today that guard Allen Iverson will miss the remainder of the season. "After talking with Allen and our medical staff, we feel that resting Allen for the remainder of the season is the best course of action at this time," Pistons president Joe Dumars said in a released statement. "While he has played in our last three games, he is still feeling some discomfort and getting him physically ready to compete at the level he is accustomed to playing this late in the season does not seem possible at this point." Iverson missed 16 games from Feb. 27 to March 28 with a sore back. He returned on March 29 against Philadelphia as a reserve. In his three games off the bench, he's ..."

Iverson doesn't want to be The Answer from the bench

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April 2

Detroit Free Press

columnist Vince Ellis

"That didn't take long. Two games into the Iverson-off-the-bench experiment, Allen Iverson let his displeasure be known. After scoring 11 points in 18 minutes in Tuesday night's 79-73 loss to the NBA's best team -- the Cleveland Cavaliers -- Iverson let the media know he didn't get the minutes he deserved. What set off his diatribe? A reporter asked how his sore back felt. And then he let us all know how he felt about coming off the bench. "How many minutes did I play?" Iverson asked. When told 18 minutes, he said, "Damn." When asked to clarify his feelings, he said: "Nah, it felt way, way less than that. "Eighteen minutes, c'mon, man. I can play 18 minutes with my eyes closed, with a ..."

'Sheed sits, Curry not bothered by Iverson's actions

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April 2

Detroit Free Press

"One night after a defensive gem, a 79-73 loss at Cleveland, the Pistons put up little resistance Wednesday night. The Nets scorched the Pistons with 42 points in the paint in the first half on their way to a 111-98 victory. Detroit is holding seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff chase with seven games remaining, but the Pistons didn't look like a team battling for their playoff lives. Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Pistons were a step slow. "Sometimes when maybe your energy level isn't where it needs or physically you're not where you need to be, then you start cheating (on defense)," coach Michael Curry said. "That was the game right there to give the Nets that ..."

Curry unfazed by Iverson rant

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April 2

Detroit News

"Michael Curry addressed a couple of pressing issues before the game Wednesday. First, was he bothered by Allen Iverson's postgame rant after the loss in Cleveland Tuesday? Iverson complained about playing only 18 minutes and wondered why the Pistons bothered to "rush him back" from his back injury. "He probably would've complained after the first game (when he played 21 minutes) had we lost," Curry said. "I don't think too much about that." When asked if he had to sit down and remind Iverson of his role, Curry said no. "Only thing I would have to remind him of is if I wavered on what I told him," Curry said. "He's coming off the bench as the backup two (shooting guard). He might get ..."

Piston Allen Iverson vents about lack of playing time

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April 1

Detroit Free Press

"After playing 18 minutes in his second game coming off the bench, Allen Iverson apparently isn't taking to his new role. He said so following the Pistons' 79-73 loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday night. When a reporter asked him how he was feeling in his second game back after missing 16 games with a sore back, he responded: "How many minutes did I play?" Told 18 minutes, he said, "Damn." When asked to clarify his feelings he said: "Nah, it felt way, way less than that. "Eighteen minutes, c'mon, man. I can play 18 minutes with my eyes closed, with a 100-pound truck on my back. That's a bad feeling. "I'm wondering what the rush was to get me back. I mean, for that?" It was announced shortly ..."

Pistons' Allen Iverson already tired of his new role

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April 1

Detroit News

"It took two games and already Allen Iverson is fuming about coming off the bench. Rasheed Wallace was finally back after missing 11 games because of a left calf injury, but he'll sit out again tonight in New Jersey after picking up his 16th technical foul Tuesday in the Pistons' 79-73 loss to the Cavaliers. "We outrebound them (53-43), we hold them to 38 percent shooting and LeBron James goes 9 for 24," coach Michael Curry said. "That's a game you should win." At the very least it's a game the Pistons should be encouraged by, given that the Cavaliers ran roughshod over them the last time they played at Quicken Loans Arena. But nothing about this game felt good. "How many minutes did I ..."

Will Bynum-Allen Iverson pairing is paying off

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March 31

Detroit Free Press

"Will Bynum scored nine points in the fourth quarter to help the Pistons rally to beat the 76ers on Sunday night at the Palace. Bynum was paired with Allen Iverson early in the fourth, and they delivered a 14-2 run that put the Pistons up for good. Bynum had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes. Iverson returned after missing 16 games with a sore back and had eight points, two assists and two rebounds in 21 minutes. "It's definitely fun," Bynum said of playing with Iverson. "It's like teams pick their poison, and it opens things up a lot out there. We can get out and run and have some fun and bring some excitement. I love playing with him." Bynum welcomes the chance to ..."

Allen Iverson returns after 16 games out; Pistons beat his old team

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March 31

Detroit Free Press

"The Pistons picked up their first home win on a Sunday in nine tries this season, coming back to beat the 76ers, 101-97, at the Palace. Allen Iverson, who missed the previous 16 games with a sore back, came off the bench to score eight points in 21:04. The Pistons came back from deficits in each of the first three quarters. They took control of the game for good with a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter. Will Bynum, who had three points heading into the fourth quarter, scored nine in the fourth to help turn the tide. Tayshuan Prince, who scored 19 points in the first half on 7-for-7 shooting, finished with a team-high 21 points. Rodney Stuckey added 16, Richard Hamilton had 14 points and ..."

Iverson 'frustrated' about those questioning time off for injury

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March 30

Detroit Free Press

"Allen Iverson came off the bench to score eight points Sunday night in his first game with the Pistons since missing 16 with a sore back. Iverson's steal and lay-up in the first minute of the fourth tied it at 83. The Pistons used a 12-2 run to build a 95-91 lead and beat the 76ers, 101-97, at the Palace. Iverson said he "tried to put it in an extra gear" on that play in the fourth quarter "and I might not be ready for that gear yet." Iverson shot 3-for-9 with two assists, two rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes. "As far as getting back out there, it was different for me," he said. "Coming off the bench, it was just so much different. I have a lot of respect for guys that come off the ..."

Allen Iverson returns, Pistons beat his former team

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March 30

Detroit Free Press

"The Pistons picked up their first home win on a Sunday in nine tries this season, coming back to beat the 76ers, 101-97, at the Palace. Allen Iverson, who missed the previous 16 games with a sore back, came off the bench to score eight points in 21:04. The Pistons came back from deficits in each of the first three quarters. They took control of the game for good with a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter. Will Bynum, who had three points heading into the fourth quarter, scored nine in the fourth to help turn the tide. Tayshuan Prince, who scored 19 points in the first half on 7-for-7 shooting, finished with a team-high 21 points. Rodney Stuckey added 16, Richard Hamilton had 14 points and ..."

A.I. adapts to coming off the bench

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March 30

Detroit News

"He doesn't love it -- that much is clear. But if what he said Sunday is truly how he feels, then Allen Iverson is going to do everything in his power to make this coming-off-the-bench thing work. "You know, a person with my resume and all the things I've done in this league, to be coming off the bench, I just thought that would be tough for me mentally," he said, after returning to the Pistons for the first time since Feb. 25 and scoring eight points in the Pistons 101-97 victory over the 76ers. "I know I can get through the whole thing physically, but mentally it was tough for me. "But I just thought about the big picture and that's helping my teammates get wins. The more I thought ..."

Iverson returns, Wallace still out for Pistons

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March 30

Detroit News

"Coach Michael Curry resorted to psychological tactics in his effort to coax Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson back onto the court. It half-worked. "Those guys are going to be in uniform, and I am only going to ask them at the end of (pregame) warm-ups if they can go," he said. "Maybe being in uniform, going through warm-ups, their palms get to sweating and the heart starts beating faster, maybe that will entice them to get out there a little faster. "Maybe there's a little strategy to the madness." It worked on Iverson, who told Curry he was ready to return after missing 16 games with a sore back. Iverson stepped up his pregame routine, working up a pretty good sweat. Apparently, the ..."

Pistons win in Allen Iverson's return

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March 30

Detroit News

"There was an awful lot for the Pistons to like about Sunday's game. Allen Iverson returned after missing 16 games because of a back injury. The Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers engaged in a physical, entertaining, playoff-type battle. And, with just nine games left in the season, the Pistons seem to be finding a workable formula. Using Iverson as a setup man with Will Bynum and Richard Hamilton as closers, the Pistons played one of their best fourth quarters in several weeks to pull out a 101-97 victory. "That was great," coach Michael Curry said. "I feel real good about this one, especially coming on a tough back-to-back." The victory, which stopped an eight-game home losing streak on ..."

Knucklehead of the week: Allen Iverson

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March 29

San Francisco Chronicle

"Fans love Allen Iverson because he is the little guy kicking sand in the faces of NBA thugs and bullies. They slam li'l Allen to the hardwood and he bounces back up and makes 'em pay. But that's all an act. In real life, Iverson is the bully. He has been ordered to pay $260,000 to a man who was beaten up in a nightclub in 2005 by Iverson's bodyguard. Look, maybe the guy deserved the vicious beat-down. He and a friend refused to vacate the club's VIP section to make room for Iverson and his personal traveling fellowship group."

Iverson not close to game shape

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March 29

Detroit News

"Allen Iverson hopes to play Tuesday, but he's not going to be ruled by his heart on this one. "I am going to wait until I feel right, until I feel comfortable," Iverson told reporters at shoot-around Saturday. "I'm not going to give it a go just because my heart says so." Iverson has been out since twisting his back in a loss at New Orleans on Feb. 25. After numerous tests revealed no structural or nerve damage, doctors at Georgetown Medical Center prescribed two weeks of rest. Iverson hadn't even attempted to run until practice Friday. Needless to say, he's nowhere near game condition. "I haven't played in a month," he said. "I am trying to take a couple of days to get some running in ..."

Miller rips Pistons' Iverson for inactivity

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March 25

Detroit News

"Reggie Miller, TNT analyst, blasted Pistons guard Allen Iverson during the broadcast of the team's game against Chicago on Tuesday. "I've played a lot of games against Allen Iverson when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he is one of the toughest guys I've ever gone against," Miller said. "But having said that and knowing the information we know, what Arnie Kander is saying, it's almost like (Iverson) is holding this team hostage because he cannot accept the responsibility of coming off the bench. That's sad because he is one of the truly great little men we've ever had in the game." Miller played for the Pacers from 1987-2005. What Kander told TNT's Craig Sager is essentially the ..."

Pistons' Iverson closer to returning

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March 23

Detroit News

"Two days of tests on Allen Iverson's back revealed no structural or nerve damage and he began daily treatment sessions with physical therapist Arnie Kander Sunday. "Our hope is he can get out on the court as early as Monday," coach Michael Curry said. "We are anxious to start that process of getting him back and into shape." Iverson has been out and mostly away from the team since Feb. 26, the day after he twisted his back against New Orleans and found out he would be coming off the bench the rest of the season. Curry is convinced that Iverson has accepted his new role. "Yep, he's on board with it," Curry said."

Iverson getting closer, but still out

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March 22

Detroit Free Press

"Allen Iverson will miss his 13th straight game today when the Pistons play host to the Miami Heat, but he appears closer to returning to the lineup. Coach Michael Curry said tests Saturday on Iverson's sore back came back "fairly good" and he has begun therapy and rehab with strength-and-conditioning coach Arnie Kander. "Hopefully, we can get him out on the court to do some things as early as tomorrow," Curry said."

Allen Iverson 'doesn't want to be the story'

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March 16

Detroit Free Press

"Allen Iverson's sore back has caused him to miss almost two weeks. He is expected to travel later this week to Washington to get it re-evaluated. In the meantime, Iverson has spent little time around the team. His coach said Sunday that the guard's relative absence is by design: "He doesn't want to be the story." Michael Curry said he talks to Iverson every day, or "every other day, maybe," to get updates. He said Iverson often shows up after the games start to get treatment on his back. "He can't sit out there. They don't want him sitting out there that long," Curry explained. "That's coming from when he" originally "got evaluated." Curry reminded reporters Sunday that Iverson comes up in ..."

Iverson says he'll accept new role with Pistons

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March 5

Detroit News

"Allen Iverson was at the Pistons' practice facility Thursday, doing his rehab work with team physical therapist Arnie Kander. He did not speak directly to the media, but he did issue this statement through the team's media relations department: "I'm disappointed that the soreness I'm feeling in my back is going to force me to miss two weeks of action. After talking with the doctors at Georgetown (Wednesday), they have told me that treatment and rest is the best course of action right now. Hopefully my back will heal and I'll be ready to go following this two-week period. "My goal is to help this team win a championship and I've said that from the first day I arrived here in Detroit. I'm ..."

Allen Iverson will miss 2 weeks because of sore back

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March 5

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons guard Allen Iverson will miss the next two weeks at the request of Georgetown University doctors because of a sore back. Iverson, who has missed the past three games, was evaluated Wednesday at Georgetown after an initial MRI last week revealed no structural damage. He won't travel with the team to prevent stress on his back and will be reevaluated by Georgetown doctors after two weeks. Iverson will begin treatment for his back after he returns to Detroit today. The Pistons want him to be completely at ease when he returns. "We want him to be totally comfortable with how he feels as we would with all our guys," coach Michael Curry said before Tuesday's victory against the Denver ..."

Pistons' Allen Iverson out two weeks

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March 4

Detroit News

"The Pistons will be without guard Allen Iverson for at least two weeks. The team announced Wednesday that Iverson will miss the next two weeks due to a sore back. That amount of time was requested by doctors at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where Iverson was examined Wednesday. Doctors recommended Iverson stop any basketball activities for the two weeks. He will not travel with the team to prevent stress on his back. Iverson is expected to return to Georgetown to be re-evaluated following the two-week period."

No Answer in Detroit

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March 3

Denver Post

"The reporter approached the retired legend, figuring he'd get a glass half-full toast to the guy's old team. "So, the Pistons are struggling, but do you think they'll work out their problems come playoff time?" "No," said Bill Laimbeer, as blunt as one of those elbows he threw in the 1980s as part of the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys. "Their team is structured incorrectly. (Allen Iverson) is not the best defending guard, and guards got to be defenders these days. He's small. He's got a big heart, he still can score, but come playoff time, it's tough. It's the Eastern Conference, grind it out, and it's physical. It's going to be a hard road." On Nov. 3, Denver traded Iverson to Detroit for ..."

Iverson to miss game vs. Nuggets

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March 3

Denver Post

"Former Nugget Allen Iverson will not play in Tuesday's Pistons-Nuggets game, his agent Leon Rose confirmed, because Iverson will instead visit a specialist because of his lingering back issues.

Iverson did not play in Detroit's past two games because to his back, two games the Pistons won at Orlando and Boston. Iverson averages a career-low 18.0 points per game this season, his first with Detroit.

On Jan. 9, Iverson scored 23 points at Pepsi Center in the Pistons' 93-90 victory against the Nuggets."

Iverson (back) reportedly will sit out Pistons-Nuggets game

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March 2

Detroit Free Press

"It looks like Allen Iverson will miss the Chauncey Billups lovefest Tuesday night. ESPN.com is reporting that Iverson will miss his third straight game with a sore back on Tuesday, when the Denver Nuggets visit the Palace. Pistons officials did not confirm it, but the report also says that Iverson is headed to Washington to get a second opinion. Iverson had an MRI exam Friday and flew back to Detroit the same day for further tests. Pistons coach Michael Curry and trainer Arnie Kander indicated Sunday that Iverson was feeling better and they expected him to play Tuesday. Obviously, the news will further heighten speculation that Iverson is not taking his benching well and his back injury is ..."

Team not worried about Iverson's return

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March 2

Detroit Free Press

"Despite winning two huge road games without him, the Pistons are saying all the right things about Allen Iverson. After Sunday's 105-95 victory over the Celtics, the Pistons said they are confident that Iverson will adjust to coming off the bench whenever he returns to the lineup from a sore back. But Celtics superstar Paul Pierce, coming off an up-close look at the Iverson-less Pistons, had this to say about the franchise that has reached the last six Eastern Conference finals: "You can tell they're playing the same system they played before Iverson got there. Those guys that are out on the court, they're comfortable with each other. "You know when Iverson is out there they're still ..."

Iverson questionable for Nuggets game

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March 2

Detroit Free Press

"Allen Iverson's status for Tuesday home game against the Denver Nuggets is still questionable. Pistons coach Michael Curry said just before Sunday's game against the Celtics he still hadn't heard the results of Saturday's examination of Iverson's sore back. Curry did say he had exchanged texts with Iverson on Saturday and the 13-year veteran said he was "feeling batter." "If he's healthy and he can go, he'll play," Curry said of Tuesday. Iverson, who will become the team's sixth man when he returns, took a hit on his back during Tuesday's game at Miami and was noticeably limping following Wednesday's game at New Orleans where he played only eight minutes. It is likely a good sign that his ..."

Iverson feeling better, hopeful to play Tuesday

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March 1

Detroit News

"If Allen Iverson doesn't play Tuesday against Denver, it most likely won't be because of his back. "He says he's feeling better," said coach Michael Curry who exchanged text messages with Iverson Saturday. "We will see where he's at when we get back into town. Hopefully he will play Tuesday." Iverson visited a doctor in Detroit Saturday and the Pistons were still waiting on the results of that examination. Pistons physical therapist Arnie Kander said the fact that he hadn't heard anything was a good sign. Iverson told Kander the same thing he told Curry -- he was feeling better. The MRI that Iverson took in Orlando Friday came back completely negative, which fueled speculation that ..."

Hamilton replaces Iverson in starting lineup

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February 28

Detroit Free Press

"The first time Allen Iverson was faced with the prospect of coming off the bench, let's just say he didn't react too kindly. With the Pistons mired in an eight-game losing streak, coach Michael Curry decided to make Iverson the sixth man and reinsert Rip Hamilton into the starting lineup, where he will play alongside point guard Rodney Stuckey. It paid fast dividends: Hamilton scored 31 points as the Pistons snapped the slide with a 93-85 win Friday night against the Magic. "It's nothing on Allen," Curry said at Amway Arena after the team's morning shoot-around Friday. "It's just that he's a guy that needs the basketball, and because of it, that reduced the amount of time Stuckey has the ..."

Ailing Iverson out; Hamilton will start

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February 28

Detroit News

"Allen Iverson will not play tonight against Orlando, and he is questionable for the game Sunday in Boston. Results of an MRI on his ailing back Friday came back negative, but the team has sent him back to Detroit for more tests. Iverson injured his back in Miami Tuesday and could play just eight minutes in New Orleans Wednesday before shutting it down. Coach Michael Curry announced Friday that Iverson would be coming off the bench the rest of the season, with Richard Hamilton moving back into the starting lineup. In addition, the NBA has fined Rasheed Wallace $25,000 for throwing a towel first into the stands and then in the direction of referee Bill Kennedy Wednesday."

Hamilton bumps Iverson as starter

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February 27

Detroit News

"Richard Hamilton is back in the starting lineup and Allen Iverson, for the first time in his hall-of-fame worthy career, will be coming off the bench. Coach Michael Curry announced his decision, calling it the final lineup change of the season, after shoot-around Friday -- a shoot-around Iverson missed because of his sore back. "This change is more than about Allen and Rip," Curry said. "We hope that with this change, more guys will play better. That's what we are seeking. Hopefully this will allow us to execute better, get us back in sync and rejuvenate us." Curry said he talked at length to Iverson Thursday night. Curry said Iverson isn't happy with the decision but he expects him to ..."

Pistons' new answer: Bench A.I.

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February 27

Detroit News

"When the Pistons tip off against the Magic here tonight, Richard Hamilton should be in the starting lineup. Allen Iverson, whether his back is healthy or not, should be on the bench. There is more than enough evidence to support the move. The Pistons are 4-12 with Hamilton coming off the bench. The Pistons have been routinely starting games flat and digging double-digit deficits. And in the games they dig out, they stumble down the stretch. Fair or not, it is obvious the Pistons play with more cohesion, spirit and efficiency when Hamilton is with the first unit. Make the switch. The Pistons can't worry about bruising egos anymore. Iverson isn't going to be happy. No kidding. Hamilton ..."

Long trip may be good thing

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February 23

Detroit Free Press

"Great teams, hostile crowds and unfamiliar beds might not sound like the most appealing circumstances to most NBA teams. But the friendly Palace crowds and the comforts of home haven't worked well for the Pistons as they take their five-game losing streak on a trip featuring games against some of the top teams in the league, starting tonight at Cleveland. And by the time the team returns to Detroit after the March 1 game at Boston, the Pistons will have played five games in eight days. With their current 27-26 record and games against the Heat, the Hornets and the Magic on the trip, the Pistons face the prospect of falling below .500 this late in the season for the first time since the ..."

A.I. has all-star appeal, but all-star ability?

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February 15

Detroit Free Press

"It was early Friday afternoon at the Sheraton Downtown, and the national media was waiting for the NBA's Eastern Conference All-Stars. The Western All-Stars were just wrapping up. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers -- the league's biggest star not named LeBron -- and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire -- the hottest commodity on the market less than a week before the trade deadline -- had drawn the largest crowds around their small tables spread out through the ballroom. That's when Pistons guard Allen Iverson, voted by fans to start in tonight's 58th All-Star Game, made his entrance. Wearing a cap with the initials "A.I.," he plopped down in his seat and began fielding questions on topics ranging from ..."

Pistons seek strong 2nd half; Iverson still fighting

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February 13

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons coach Michael Curry hopes his players come back from the All-Star break recharged for the second half of the season. "It's still a long season to go, a lot of basketball to play," Curry said after Wednesday's 99-95 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. "We gotta play some really good basketball down the stretch, to position ourselves for the playoffs." The Pistons fell to 0-2 against the Hawks this season, a team it could face in the first round of the playoffs. "We haven't played great basketball either game, and we've had a chance in both of them," Curry said. Curry said before the game that rebounding is one area the team needs to improve in the season's second half. "When we rebound the ..."

Michael Curry is undeterred by cyber attacks

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January 29

Detroit Free Press

"On the Pistons' social network Web site, Posting Up, blogger Kristenlea47 questioned whether Michael Curry was the right choice to coach the Pistons. She said she wished ex-Dallas coach Avery Johnson had replaced fired Flip Saunders instead. At WTFDetroit.com, message board poster Kstat wrote that the Pistons won't finish .500 "unless a trade is made, Rip (Hamilton) gets hurt again or Curry is fired." And within a handful of comments under a Free Press online article Tuesday, the adjectives "incompetent," "terrible" and "clueless" were used to describe the first-year coach. Such are recent cyberspace samplings of opinions on the job Curry has done to this point. He is aware of the ..."

Rasheed Wallace leads Pistons over T'wolves

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January 29

Detroit Free Press

"Rasheed Wallace tied a season high with 25 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Pistons to a 98-89 victory over the Timberwolves on tonight. Allen Iverson added 19 points and Antonio McDyess had 14 points and 10 boards off the bench for the Pistons, who snapped a two-game losing skid with a gritty victory over an improving Timberwolves team. Al Jefferson had 24 points and six rebounds for the Wolves, who entered the night with the best record (10-2) in the NBA in January and a three-game winning streak. Rookie Kevin Love had 17 points and 10 rebounds, but Minnesota had no answer for Wallace most of the game. Too big for Love and Craig Smith and a bit too quick for Jefferson, Wallace got ..."

Iverson: 'I can offer a little more to the team'

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January 26

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons guard Allen Iverson was not making waves, but he just couldn't understand it. As his teammates were mounting a comeback that ultimately ended in a 108-105 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Iverson watched the last 11 minutes from the bench. And for a guy who has scored more than 23,000 career points and hit countless big shots, he just doesn't get it. "I just feel like I can offer a little more to the team," said Iverson, who scored 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting. "I can help us do more to win basketball games. "When the opportunity presents itself, I'll be right here to take on the challenge. I'm going to stay positive, stay focused, keep believing in my teammates when ..."

Better 'D' will give Iverson more shots

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January 25

Detroit News

"Free Allen Iverson? There is only one way that's going to happen, and that's if the Pistons' starting unit starts playing better defense. "It all comes down to defense," coach Michael Curry said after practice Saturday. "We will get shots when we make stops. It's hard to get into transition and work our secondary break when we keep taking the ball out of the net." In the two games since Curry changed the starting lineup and moved Richard Hamilton to the bench, Iverson has taken nine shots and 11 shots. Granted, one game was a blowout win against Toronto and the other a blowout loss to Dallas on Friday, but nevertheless, Iverson does not seem comfortable. "It is what it is," Iverson said ..."

Iverson steps up on defense

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January 24

Detroit Free Press

"The matchup wasn't favorable for Allen Iverson and the Pistons. During Monday's 87-79 victory at Memphis, Iverson, who stands 6-foot-1, found himself trying to guard the Grizzlies' Rudy Gay -- a 6-8 small forward. Of course the Grizzlies went to Gay in the post and he tried to back Iverson down. But Iverson, who was voted to start his 10th All-Star Game on Thursday, didn't back down and Gay was called for an offensive foul. Gay just gave a wry smile as if to say: "Iverson did that?" Iverson had a similar play against the Hornets' Rasual Butler last Saturday and both teams went away from trying to post-up Iverson. And while Pistons coach Michael Curry stopped short of calling Iverson a ..."

Iverson on skid: It's everybody's fault

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January 18

Detroit News

"Frustration? Allen Iverson is beyond that. "You lose this many games in a row, I mean, is there anything on a higher level than frustration?" Iverson asked after the Pistons dropped their fifth straight, 91-85 to the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday. How about disgust? All five of the losses have been ridiculously similar: an offense that stagnates for long stretches, particularly in the fourth quarter -- the Pistons went 3 1/2 minutes without a point late in the game. Untimely defensive lapses -- the Hornets scored on 12 of 14 possessions in one stretch of the third quarter and wound up shooting 48.6 percent for the game. And some bad breaks. With the score tied at 81, Chris Paul ..."

A.I., not Rip, should come off the bench

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January 13

Detroit Free Press

columnist Drew Sharp

"The Pistons have an important decision coming. Either Rip Hamilton or Allen Iverson must become the sixth man. Neither will like the demotion, but there's no alternative. This is becoming Rodney Stuckey's team much faster than anybody envisioned. Michael Curry can no longer mess around, massaging massive egos with a three-guard starting lineup that simply isn't compatible with the physical defensive demands of Eastern Conference basketball. He's like the parent who is worried about disciplining his teenage kids. They might dislike what they're hearing so much that they'll yell, then sulk and maybe give you the silent treatment. But if you're the boss, you establish the ground rules ..."

Iverson feels at home in return

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January 11

Denver Post

"Tayshaun Prince and Aaron Afflalo ensured Allen Iverson's return to Denver was a success. Prince hit a running jumper with 20 seconds left, Afflalo hit six straight free throws after that, and the Detroit Pistons overcame 30 points by Chauncey Billups to beat the Nuggets 93-90 on Friday night in Iverson's return to the Mile High City. Iverson, making his first appearance in Denver since being traded to Detroit for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb on Nov. 3, led the Pistons with 23 points - 20 in the second half. He said his return to Denver was special. "It was emotional, being that I had so many memories here. I felt like this was going to be the place that I would finish my ..."