Agent for Abdul-Wahad may want client to sue Francis.

Toronto Sun
http://www.canoe.com/Basketball/mar28_ive.html

Tuesday, March 28, 2000

Iverson the real deal
By FRANK ZICARELLI -- Toronto Sun

Allen (The Answer) Iverson continues to answer the bell.

The Philadelphia 76ers guard, who has a history of making more news off the court than on it, has emerged as a leader to win the MVP award in the NBA.

Iverson made his all-star debut this season and is igniting Philly's late-season surge.

The 76ers have won a season-high six in a row going into tonight's game in Minnesota against the Timberwolves.

The Raptors, who were torched by Iverson's 44 points last week, aren't the only Eastern Conference team hoping to avoid the 76ers in the playoffs.

With each win, Iverson is dispelling the notion he can't co-exist with coach Larry Brown and that he can't defer to teammates.

If anything, the rumours of Iverson's perceived problems with Brown have galvanized the 76ers.

"One of us has to go,'' Iverson reportedly told friends.

When confronted by the allegations of his distaste for Brown, Iverson said publicly: "That is just people trying to break our family down, trying to break me down. No one can break me.''

Iverson continues to play through a painful rotator cuff injury and a broken foot.

Brown, the ultimate itinerant coach, has agreed to an extension which will see him in Philly through the 2004-05 season at reportedly $6 million US a season.

The combination of Iverson and Brown -- while combustible and combative at times -- has the 76ers excited about the post-season.

The presence of Toni Kukoc also has helped the 76ers. With Kukoc in the lineup, Iverson doesn't have to score as often. It is one of the reasons Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers has vaulted past Iverson as the NBA's scoring leader.

Iverson isn't complaining. With Kukoc, the 76ers are 14-5. During the team's six-game streak, five players have scored in double figures in each win.

"Allen has been playing great but we don't need him to be great every night to get a win,'' Brown said.

At 41-28, the Sixers are in position to finish with their best record since going 44-38 in 1990-91.

A DELICATE DUNCAN

The San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, last year's NBA final MVP and co-winner of the award at this year's all-star game, recorded his first-career triple-double on the weekend in a win over Cleveland.

Despite the achievement and Duncan's reputation as one of the game's best players, the third-year pro admits the grind of last season has caught up.

After leading the Spurs to their first NBA championship, Duncan represented the U.S. at the Olympic qualifying tournament. Earlier this season, Duncan suffered an abdominal strain and missed four games.

"We need a day or two off,'' Duncan said. "I know I need the rest. Playing ball in the summer is catching up to me a little bit. Every day off is a great day to me.''

Duncan becomes a free agent this summer.

SHAQ ON THE ATTACK

Not only has O'Neal passed Iverson as the league's leading scorer, the 7-footer also has taken steps to solidify his status as the game's most dominant player.

He made a rare free throw to seal a Lakers win over Sacramento, prompting L.A. coach Phil Jackson to anoint O'Neal as the league's MVP.

O'Neal, however, remains unconvinced.

"I have heard this talk before and they have given it away before. So it wouldn't surprise me if they give it to somebody else -- again. You never know,'' O'Neal said.

"I don't know what the hell will go on. It wouldn't be surprising if they gave it to somebody else.''

COURT MATTERS

The agent for Denver's Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Paco Belassan, wants his client to sue the Houston Rockets' Steve Francis.

Abdul-Wahad, a free agent this summer, was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul by Francis on Feb. 24. Abdul-Wahad badly sprained his left wrist and, with the Nuggets no longer in playoff contention, the shooting guard's season is over.

After he stripped Francis of the ball, Abdul-Wahad was about to take off for a dunk. Francis came over to foul Abdul-Wahad, who fell awkwardly.

"My agent wants me to sue (Francis),'' Abdul-Wahad said. "I swear I am not going to go do anything like that. I haven't spoken to him (Francis), but things like that you never forget. I have to look at the replay again to see if he really did it intentionally or went after the ball.

"But I think he went after the ball, so I didn't worry too much about it.''

AN UNEASY RIDER

Responding to criticisms from released Hawks guard Isaiah Rider, Atlanta GM Pete Babcock said it was he and not Dikembe Mutombo or LaPhonso Ellis who reported Rider's suspected drug use to NBA officials.

"I couldn't bury that sort of thing,'' Babcock said.

Rider apparently threatened Mutombo's life at the all-star game over the incident, prompting the Detroit Pistons' Grant Hill to say: "I wish I would have known that. I wouldn't have ridden on the bus next to Dikembe.''

Not surprisingly, no team has signed Rider, but the Miami Heat may dangle its $2.25-million exception this summer.

BUZZER BEATERS

NBC's Bob Costas called Miami's Tim Hardaway to apologize for saying a "case could be made'' for Vince Carter to replace Hardaway on the Olympic team. Costas said he meant to say Carter's name would be brought up if Hardaway's health did not allow him to play. Costas made his initial comment during the Heat-Lakers game on March 5. Hardaway was angered by the comment, saying, "I am on the team and there is nothing they can do.'' ... Wizards minority owner Michael Jordan was in attendance for two consecutive Washington wins. "Whether I am here or not, you still have to go out and do your job,'' Jordan said. "That's the thing they have to understand. If they have to wait for me to look over their shoulders, then they are not the players I think should represent this organization.'' ... Denver coach Dan Issel and Utah Jazz counterpart Jerry Sloan have buried the hatchet since their confrontation in January. "It is over with,'' Issel said after shaking Sloan's hand in the Delta Center press room before a game last week ... After starring in Rogaine commercials two years ago ("Mailman, you grew hair!''), Utah's Karl Malone has reversed course and shaved his head. "I had to do a double-take to recognize him,'' a stunned John Stockton said.


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no pain, no gain.