Sixers Beat Nuggets, Iverson
In their only match-up against the Denver Nuggets for the rest of the season, the Sixers pulled off the upset and sent Allen Iverson to an early shower. Iverson was ejected after picking up a second technical foul.
I know it’s just one game in a non-stop NBA season, and the Nuggets have 2 of their 3 best scorers suspended. But this has to be considered a surprise, and, to fans of Iverson while he was a Sixer, maybe a disappointment. The Sixers won this game with some ease, and Iverson never even came close to “taking over” the game as he was apt to do in key games in Philadelphia.
He took some shots at Mo Cheeks and Billy King before the game, and he really never showed any fire on the court. His comments suggest he was clearly up for this game, and he didn’t exactly play poorly with 30 points (albeit on 10-24 shooting) and 9 assists. Maybe it’s nieve, but somehow I expected more from Iverson.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy the Sixers won. But despite all the baggage Iverson created in Philly, he was still a guy I think most people rooted for on and off the court. He often seemed like a guy who truly meant well, but always ended up doing the wrong thing. That’s generous, I know, but that’s the point. Even most of his critics wanted to like the “little guy” that came to play with a big heart.
Tonight, he came up small — on and off the court. In fact, that seems to be the way he left Philadelphia.
I know it’s just one game in a non-stop NBA season, and the Nuggets have 2 of their 3 best scorers suspended. But this has to be considered a surprise, and, to fans of Iverson while he was a Sixer, maybe a disappointment. The Sixers won this game with some ease, and Iverson never even came close to “taking over” the game as he was apt to do in key games in Philadelphia.
He took some shots at Mo Cheeks and Billy King before the game, and he really never showed any fire on the court. His comments suggest he was clearly up for this game, and he didn’t exactly play poorly with 30 points (albeit on 10-24 shooting) and 9 assists. Maybe it’s nieve, but somehow I expected more from Iverson.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy the Sixers won. But despite all the baggage Iverson created in Philly, he was still a guy I think most people rooted for on and off the court. He often seemed like a guy who truly meant well, but always ended up doing the wrong thing. That’s generous, I know, but that’s the point. Even most of his critics wanted to like the “little guy” that came to play with a big heart.
Tonight, he came up small — on and off the court. In fact, that seems to be the way he left Philadelphia.
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