"I dont like Iverson because he is the whinniest b**** in the history of the NBA and no one will even come close in the future." -rockets 03 That sums it up perfectly!
Wakko, you remember WRONG. Iverson had two 50pt games in the same series, Vince had a 50pt game and a 40pt game. They went insane. It was like Magic/Bird all over again. Wonderful. Iverson carried them in that series scoring against Alvin Williams, who is a 2nd team all-defense player(he's now injured but still playing). Most people will tell you Toronto should've won that series. Iverson avged like 38ppg in that series or something insane like that(Vince had 35ppg). Wakko, you're overrating Eddie like crazy. Nobody in their right mind would pass up trading Eddie for AI. Hell, Philly would probably pass on AI for Eddie AND Cuttino. For what players like AI or Vince bring a franchise cannot be measured solely on the court. Dream singlehandedly won it?!! I dunno about that. I bet if something like Iverson/McKie for Francis/Griffin came out the Rocks would do it.
I know Iverson scored a lot in those games, but you remarked on Vince blocking people and he did get some nice blocks on AI. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike Allen, but I think you're overratting him. I admire his game in certain areas (moves, layups,) but I see his faults in others (shooting, selfishness.) Also I don't know if you saw Steve pay last year against Philly, but Steve schooled him BAD!!! I believe, like many, that Steve could produce 50+ point games. Hell he would've done it against utah had it not been for the joke of the league (refs.) He hasn't even been in the league as long as Allen and already he's reaching that status. The only thing hurting Steve is the fact that he hasn't been to the playoffs to prove himself. I'm sure there are many coaches who would take Iverson over Steve, but I'm fairly confident that others would take The Franchise over The Answer. On Dream, he did pretty much carry that team (not to take away from his teammates.)
The first championship, Dream did basically win it singlehandedly. OT, Horry, Kenny and Vernon were all role players. Cassell was still a rookie. None of those other guys were superstars back then. And HELL no the Rockets would not trade Griffin & Francis for Iverson and McKie!
I'd trade cuttino and the rest of the team minus franchise for iverson..and pick up spare parts...beef to clog the middle defense oriented... I still contend that a francis /iverson...and charles oakley..old school otis thorpe (as he was before) type guy in the middle and a team of scrubs could pull it off.. just my opinion now basket ball geniuses tell me otherwise.. btw my opinion as well but iverson in his prime (if that is now not clear still ) vs francis ( later obviously )in his prime I still think after it is all said and done iverson will have been the better player.. just my opinion... i am sorry iverson can ball and thats not to diminish steve whatsoever...
Wakko, if Steve could do the things Iverson could, he would and the Rockets would kill. He can't and never will be the kind of superstar Iverson is. Iverson's at a level above, IMO. A level that only Vince, Kobe, TMac, Duncan, CWebb, Garnett and Shaq are at.
Steve hasn't been in the league as long as these guys. He's barely hitting that superstar status. I personally believe that if Rudy did away with our good players (with the exception of Steve) and inserted a team of good defenders, then gave Steve the greenlight to carry the offense, he could pull it off. Even still I'm sure Steve would make his teammates better.
Iverson is the best one-man team in the league. BUT... he is not good enough to win a championship. Kobe/Shaq > Iverson/Mutumbo Franchise/Eddie will be better than Iverson/Mutumbo...and with any luck, Shaq will have retired by then. =) And for the record, if we traded Steve/Eddie for Iverson/Mckie I would never watch the Rockets again. Why would you even think about trading our future for a combo that can't win now and is not going to get any better?
