Sixers, Baby, Sixers

I find it a great pleasure to wake up to a post like this in the morning. I realize that the Sports Guy absolutely shit all over the Sixers organization for letting AI go, but you have to admit that it has been paying dividends in Philly more so than in Denver. I thought there was hope for this deal a while back, and I feel Mr. Simmons was just a little unfair in his judgment of the trade due to the fact that Iverson is a once in a lifetime superstar who packs the stands. That fact is undeniable but he forgot one thing: selling out arenas does not equate to a championship. I give Iverson all the credit in the world for laying it on the line every night for his team, but he isn’t enough of a team player to help a team win the rings. He becomes too much of a distraction with his rants about needing to practice.

Yes, you can be MVP, but a player cannot hurt his skills by continuing to polish them. Yes, you can play with all the grit and determination even at his small size, but that small player can also be a huge distraction to the organization. Yes, you can win the love of a city, but you can also be detrimental to the development of younger players through your selfish play and personal demeanor. At this point in his career, Iverson should realize he should be playing the role of mentor to the younger guys in the locker room, not saying he’s still number one.

Just look at how the Sixers are playing now that the Answer has been moved out West. Hell, there is even talk of making the playoffs of all things. Why you ask? Because the Sixers shed themselves of a great player, but even an even greater burden. Now, their younger players can develop into a team, and from what I keep reading, this team is starting to play with some fire. I’m not wholly expecting the Sixers to make the playoffs, but all in all, it is encouraging to see a team that is finally developing rather than stalling out because of one bad apple.