My Thoughts on the Trade

by sungo on Dec 19, 2006 8:11 PM CST in Spurs News Comment 7 comments

(Thanks to stampler for getting a thread up so quickly.)

My first thoughts about this trade have not been amended: I wish AI would have gone somewhere else because I strongly dislike George Karl and the Nuggets.

My second set of thoughts were that this trade wasn't going to work out for DEN. Now, after reading Hollinger's article and doing some mental percolation, I have changed my mind.

Yes, both Iverson and 'Melo shoot a ton. But it's not like Iverson is averse to passing the ball; he's averaged over 7 APG the last three years, on teams without the talent DEN has.

The obvious question is can each player alter his game for the good of the team? Why not? Iverson wants to win more than anything. He has something to prove, and that's not merely a cliche when applied to a guy with a drive like Allen Iverson. And let's not forget what a fucking ridiculous and hopeless situation Philly was.

He's free at last.

He has talent around him. A big man in the paint who has his back. A perimeter shooter who can nail the open 3. A running style that fits him (DEN has the fastest pace in the league). A city with rabid fans that will support him. He's in the Western Conference, where the real competition plays. You think he doesn't realize all this? You think he isn't filled with joy and energy right now? If not, have you never seen this man play?

An interesting twist to this whole thing involves Carmelo's recent actions at Madison Square Garden. People have used terms like "cheap-shot;" he's been portrayed as a punk. And who's the least punk-ass player in the NBA? Who's got the most cred? Iverson. He's always been himself. He's not GQ like Wade. He's not aloof and unproven like LeBron. He's not a back-stabbing snitch like Kobe. You're telling me that after what just happened to Carmelo's rep that he's not going to be willing to subjugate his game for a player who, just by dropping some quotes to the press, could do more for the restoration of Melo's reputation than Melo winning the scoring title?

As for this trade's impact on the Spurs? I still don't think DEN can can beat SA in a seven game series. They have two good defenders they can throw at 'Melo (Bowen and Manu) and three they can run against AI (the above plus Parker). But Finley, Barry and Beno will be useless defensively against this team, and considering how much DEN runs the Spurs may need another guy off the bench who can guard animate objects. Like His Flightness. Just sayin'.

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Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

only time will tell if this trade works out or not. I don't think any team can beat the Spurs because they are the smartest Nba team out there. The only team that I have concern about is Dallas, but this year we are healthy and don't have Nick, Rasho, or Nazr on the team. As long as Barry keeps producing we should win it this year, barring no major injuries to our big 3.

I never believe the Suns will win because they can't play defense. Also 2 years ago we bet them at there own game. So what's the difference this year? Nothing, Amare is back, great, but didn't we beat the Suns with Amare on the team? I knew when I saw the Suns give up 157 points to the Nets with Carter not playing in overtime that Phoenix can't stop anyone and can't stop the Spurs at the end of games.

The concern I have for the Nuggets is at their point guard position. Iverson can bring the ball up, but he is more inclined to play shooting guard. Will it make them better of course, but can it also make them worse. We will see how the team coexists and if Karl can actually coach. But I wish AI the best!

by adam8065 on Dec 19, 2006 10:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

I knew that Philly was going to get jobbed on this trade, but Andre Miller and Joe Smith??!?! Thats like 5 cents on the dollar. Jesus Christ.

I'm happy that AI got out of the shitty situation in Philly and I think he's going to be absolutely awesome for the next 3-4 seasons.

by JamesR on Dec 19, 2006 10:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

I don't see AI changing his game. Sure, he has something to prove but my gut feeling is that he's going to keep on doing what he's doing. Not a bad thing by any stretch, but with the 2nd leading scorer on the team being the second leading scorer in the league there's going to have to be some sort of give and take. If Melo can allow AI to be the alpha dog I think it can work.

They might be able to play very well together with AI on the outside and Melo working more in the post.

There's a whole other way to look at this also - it's not if AI can get along with Melo, it's if AI can get along with Karl. Karl seems like a saturnine (yes, saturnine!) jerk at times, and I could see him dragging things down. Just a thought.

In unrelated news here's this:

Pop loves wine, as everyone knows. Still, imagine how unexpected it is to see him here.

I had two questions:

I wonder how the wine tastes?
A professor?

by Jones on Dec 19, 2006 11:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

Yep, Pop also speaks fluent Russian, when he studied Soviet Studies while he was in the Air force. The guy is freakishly smart!

by adam8065 on Dec 19, 2006 11:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

I thought he was just the coach, not actually teaching classes.

by Jones on Dec 20, 2006 12:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

I wouldn't worry too much about what Hollinger wrote, he probably wrote up that article the day Iverson went on the block ("___ is now an instant Western Conference contender!"), and then just filled in the names when he got traded to Denver. I like how he talks about the "Sheed factor", but convieniently forgets that Detroit had gotten to the Eastern Finals the year before, just as the Rockets had won the 'Chip the year before the got Drexler. Iverson is selfish and demanding on offense and a gambler on defense. He's also a coach-killer (I think this has been an underrated aspect of his career...no truly great player goes through that many coaches, right KG? Paul Pierce?), and for all the talk of him being clutch, can you name more than one or two big shots he's made in the playoffs during his career? He probably had one in '01, but I don't remember.

As for Melo, he's used to having the ball in his hands at the end of the game, and demonstrated last year that he can actually make a few in that situation, but will AI give the ball up to him? And even if they do mesh during the regular season, which of their frontcourt guys can stop a healthy Amare, Dirk, or Timmeh (let alone stop Manu)? And for all Melo's sucess in the regular season, he still has yet to make an All-Star team and in his three playoff visits (all first round exits), he's played like the little girl that his pigtails always indicated he was. I see 45-50 wins for the Nugs, getting by an LAC or even outrunning Phoenix in the first round, but they sure as poop ain't gettin by us.

by davidpj24 on Dec 20, 2006 12:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: My Thoughts on the Trade

As we've seen in recent international play, all the talent in the world don't kount for krap without cohesion and chemistry. While producing the latter is incumbent on the player, the former is primarily the responsibility of the coach.

George Karl is a good coach, it's hard to argue against that. But he's the kind that only retains his effectiveness for a limited time in any given city. I'm sure everyone remembers how well he had the Nuggets playing in 2005 when he came on as a mid-season replacement. But since? I was genuinely frightened of the Nuggets in that 2005 first round series. But not anymore. Until Karl can prove that he can get Nuggets to play with the kind of cohesive focus we saw out of the gate in '05, they'll pose no more of a championship threat than any USA national team.

I'm much happier he's in Denver than Miami.

by schwazz on Dec 20, 2006 1:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs