Making The Call: He Was Part Of The Answer

They are a lot of issues that Allen Iverson brings to the table. He sulked his way out of Memphis and he has never been a great distributor of the basketball. But, he is still a great scorer and a great defender and for a team lacking both of those attributes, the Knicks were foolish not to sign him.

The Knicks claimed they passed on Iverson because he would take time away from players they wanted to develop. That’s a great idea, but who exactly would Iverson have blocked? Chris Duhon would have lost the most minutes if Iverson had been signed and Duhon is not even signed beyond this year. Toney Douglas would have lost some minutes, but while developing Douglas is important, winning is more important right now.

Remember, the Knicks have traded away their first round pick this year and so the team on the court is what will convince someone like LeBron James to come to New York and rescue this franchise. LeBron probably won’t come anyway, but he definitely won’t come to a team that wins 17 games, the pace that the Knicks are currently on.

And that’s the biggest problem the Knicks have created by passing on Iverson. There is absolutely no reason to watch this team right now. They are not competitive and apart from the possibility that Eddy Curry can actually rediscover his game, there is little reason to think things will get better. Iverson would not have turned the team into a playoff contender, but he would have helped them win a few more ballgames and provided some excitement at The Garden in the process. Don’t Knicks’ fans deserve that after all they have been through?

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By Peter Trinkle in News on November 22, 2009 5:20 PM

Comments [rss]

dunktoday

Allen would have definitely been the Answer in NY. With D'Antoni and the Knicks up and down style, Allen could have put up a ton of points, got a ton of steals, and the Knicks would be playoff contenders. I thing D'Antonti wanted to sign him, but the owner wouldn't let him because of nutcase Marbury.

dunk

Crening

Had the Knicks signed AI and turned it around to some extent the argument could be made that the team responds well to a legit all star presence. Had they signed Iverson and continued to implode... So yes: either way could have had an impact on LeBron's decision. In not signing him the risk of the team failing to coalesce around a superstar is avoided. Or at least delayed.

whitecastlerock

If I wanted to see street ball I would go to Rucker Park. The Knicks are a shitty team with or without Iverson. Crappy offense, defense, and prison tattoos...

junkrabbit

Totally, bring Iverson so the team gets one more selfish scorers, it's as if Harrington, Chandler, Robinson, and Larry Huhghes doesn't shoot and hog the ball enough (and everyone of them shoot in the low 40s..) "Winning is more important right now." Really, what are the expectations here? Look at the roster and tell me these guys can compete and win (maybe in the east) but they probably couldn't even beat the Clippers even if they tried.

Kevin Walsh

At this point in his career, he's Marbury, and the Knicks had enough of Marbury.

www.forgotten-ny.com

resa

I could go for a reason to actually watch a Knicks game. Right now, nope.

airtech1

I agree with #1. Utterly unpersuasive article -- actually, flat out wrong. Bringing AI and sell a few more tickets and "win" a few more games? You mean like the Starbury experiment right?

jaycjay

"LeBron probably won’t come anyway, but he definitely won’t come to a team that wins 17 games, the pace that the Knicks are currently on."

So you really believe that if the Knicks pick up Iverson on the one-year deal being discussed, it will make a difference in James' decision next year... when Iverson wouldn't even be on the team any more?

So he wouldn't sign if the Knicks stay on pace and win 17 games. But sign Iverson and through his magic say they win 30... you don't think LeBron pays enough attention to what's going on in the NBA to know that that turnaround was all Iverson?

Hey, you want to argue that he could bring some excitement, create something for the fans to watch, that could be a valid point. Tying a LeBron James deal to it, though, is just silly.