Associated Press Posted: 4 hours ago AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Allen Iverson said he was ready to play in Sunday's 85-69 loss to the Detroit Pistons but changed his mind after 76ers coach Chris Ford told him he'd come off the bench. "I'm a starter. I've been a starter here for eight years. I'm not a sixth man," Iverson said after the game. "I'm a starter. I know in this league ... if someone comes back from an injury, if he's a starter he starts. What's the difference? If you're going to cut my time down, cut my time down. It doesn't make any difference. I'm a starter." Iverson has been hampered by a swollen right knee, which caused him to miss three straight games before Sunday. The league's second-leading scorer participated in the shootaround before the game but was on the Sixers' bench in street clothes at tip-off. After the game, he said he "was already taped and everything and had my uniform on. I had to take it back off, so that was rough." "I feel real disappointed because I told the trainers I was going to play," Iverson said. "He (Ford) said I hadn't run up and down the court, and he wasn't sure about my conditioning." Ford and Iverson have had a rocky relationship since the coach replaced the fired Randy Ayers on Feb. 9. "I didn't know he was going to attempt to play until how much time was left on the (pre-game) clock? Not much," Ford said. "From my understanding and what I was told yesterday after his workout, I'm going to look out for A.I. and the team. Somebody's got to make decisions around here." link ---------------------------------------------------------------------- What a ****ing moron.
Iverson: "What's the difference?" Isn't it ironic that he asked this question? If there's no differnce, why can't you just come off the bench for one f**king game? What a f**king idiot! Selfish m*ron! It's all about himself and not the team. Sigh ......
i don't like his attitude man....he think he's ALL THAT..... he's making everyone else in the league looks good... example..tim duncan...when he play that one game last week and only played 15 minutes...he didn't have any problem with it.... allen iverson is overate...because he jacks up 30 shots per game and came up with an average of 30 points...
Chris Ford has been a jackass all year. Granted, I think Iverson should step up and come off the bench, but Ford is an idiot. Telling Iverson that he doesnt have proper conditioning to be a starter is pure bullsh!t.
what rezdawg said and b/c it seems that he manages to get iverson publically pissed off at him every few weeks. i would think being an interim coach, tweaking your star player (who is known to be volatile) all the time isn't the brightest idea. brown managed to push enough ego aside to at least not let it get to this point all the time. ford should have even less of an ego.
First, rezdawg said "all year" when the fact is that Ford has only been head coach since he replaced Ayers on February 10...about 5 weeks ago. Which doesn't lend much creedence to your "publically pissed off every few weeks" follow-on because it's only been 5 weeks. Secondly, Ford has had the enemic Sixers playing nearly .500 ball...7-8 including 5-5 in their last 10 of which Iverson has one been the leading scorer in 1 of the Sixers last game games. Lastly, Brown's parting comment was to the effect that "I've taken them as far as I can". Translated - I've had enough of Iverson and his ego. "I'm a starter. I've been a starter here for eight years. I'm not a sixth man," That's all we need to know about the subject. That and the Sixers management will probably be returning all phone calls once trading season 2004 begins.
This is exactly why I was not happy with the Francis for AI rumors. I just can't picture myself cheering for a team with AI, or even Rasheed Wallace for that matter.
Duncan started because he practices. Iverson is an idiot. The coach says you come off the bench, then you come off the bench. What is with this "I'm too good to come off the bench" attitude. He should be suspended for being a jackass.
duncan started..but i was refering to the idot iverson that complains "why cut my minutes down"..so i was refering to tim duncan only 15 minutes of action..and he didn't complain about it
Ford obviously is having trouble demanding respect from his team. He's tried hard to insist on it, but Iverson isn't giving it to him. Not to say that Iverson isn't completely at fault here, since he is, but a leader who can't command obedience isn't going to be sticking around long. I bet both Ford and Iverson are gone this offseason.
The difference is between him and others who came back from injury and kept their starting status. Not starting and coming off the bench.
That may be true. But refusing to play because the coach wants you to come off the bench for 1 game is just childish.
I know Iverson can be a punk, but the coach should have decided to let him play, to START, and see how it goes. "You can play and we'll see how it affects you. But I'll have to pull you if it gets obvious you shouldn't be out there yet."
I don't see how anyone can take AI's side on this. What coach says goes, and Ford clearly has ownership behind him with this "taming of the shrew" tactic. He has them playing better ball with a somewhat reduced role for AI. I would not be surprised to see Ford stick and AI go (just not to us, please).
