Allen Iverson signs with 76ers again AP – FILE - In this April 12, 2006, file photo Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson reacts during the fourth … By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston, Ap Sports Writer – 37 mins ago PHILADELPHIA – Allen Iverson is rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers. Sixers president Ed Stefanski announced the signing Wednesday on the team's Web site. Iverson is expected to make his debut Monday at home against the Denver Nuggets. "In light of the recent injury to Lou Williams, which will sideline him for close to eight weeks, we felt that Allen was the best available free agent guard to help us at this time," Stefanski said in a release. Williams, who averaged 17.4 points and 5.1 assists, broke his jaw in Philadelphia's loss to Washington on Nov. 24. Iverson, his agent and business manager met with Stefanski, coach Eddie Jordan and two other members of the organization Monday. The 34-year-old Iverson announced his retirement last week after an ill-fated stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 10-time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001 when he led the Sixers to the NBA finals. Iverson was offered a one-year, non-guaranteed contract on Tuesday, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract talks had not been made public. The Sixers would owe just under $650,000 if they guarantee his contract for the remainder of the season on Jan. 10. Stefanski plans to talk about Iverson's return in a noon teleconference. In 10 seasons with the Sixers, Iverson posted the highest scoring average in team history (28.1), was second on the points list (19,583) and holds the record for 3-pointers (877). He was a seven-time All-Star, won four scoring titles and two All-Star game MVPs. The Sixers (5-13) have lost seven straight entering Wednesday night's game at Oklahoma City and need Iverson to spark sagging ticket sales and their playoff chances. This reconciliation was once thought foolish after their acrimonious split three years ago. Iverson's last game with Philadelphia was Dec. 6, 2006 in Chicago. He refused to play the fourth quarter and was banished from the team two days later. He was eventually traded to Denver as part of the Andre Miller deal, and bounced to Detroit before landing in Memphis. The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways. The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time from younger players they are trying to develop. He will likely start for the Sixers with Williams out. Iverson's refusal to come off the bench ended his time in Detroit and Memphis on a sour note. Iverson would get another look at his former teams after playing Denver. The Sixers, who have not won a playoff series since 2003, play at home Dec. 9 against Detroit. Iverson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, but his 10 turbulent seasons in Philadelphia were marred by his rants about practice, run-ins with former coach Larry Brown, arrests, and a failed rap career. Iverson often arrived late for practices or missed them entirely. In one infamous blowup at the end of the 2002 season, he repeated the word "practice" nearly 20 times during a rambling monologue. Iverson has career averages of 27 points and 6.2 points in 889 career games in 14 seasons. He is tied for the fifth-highest scoring average in NBA history and ranks third among active players. Iverson has played in 71 career playoff games and owns the second-highest postseason scoring average (29.7 ppg) in NBA history, trailing only Michael Jordan (33.4 ppg).
Luckily Shaq is playing basketball, it won't hurt much when his wife uses a basketball to attack him. Tiger should start considering playing basketball instead of golf.
hey, i never thought of that. the injury and explanation fits regarding tiger's wife clubbing the window with a driver/putter whatever. getting a basketball smack in your face is by no means painless er?
Six questions on Answer's 76ers return Comment Email Print Share ESPN.com Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty ImagesHe's 34 and totes a 27 ppg career scoring mark, but a lot of questions arise about The Answer. The Philadelphia 76ers, reeling with seven straight losses, have come up with The Answer as a solution to their woes. Allen Iverson, a four-time scoring champion who led the 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001, is stepping back on the court for the home team in Philadelphia, accepting a second chance with the Sixers. Here's what ESPN's panel of experts thought of the acquisition: 1. For Sixers: Marketing move, basketball move or desperation move? Henry Abbott, ESPN TrueHoop: 25% marketing, 25% basketball, 50% desperation. Desperation is an essential ingredient. Detroit and Memphis proved he won't fit in, so you bring him in only if you're willing to say goodbye to your current system. But he's good! So it could prove to be smart basketball. And as for the marketing component -- the Iverson brand means more in Philly than anywhere else. Feels like no coincidence that's where he has popped up. J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: 70% marketing, 20% basketball, 10% desperation. The Sixers are next to last in attendance, averaging 11,965 fans through eight home games. Basketballwise, it's not a step toward the gold trophy. He hasn't won a playoff series since 2003. Chris Broussard, ESPN The Magazine: 100% desperation. Of that, it's 65% basketball move, 35% marketing. Fact is, the Sixers have two highly paid vets (Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala), so they are in win-now mode (or at least playoff-now mode), and 5-13 won't cut it. Without Lou Williams, they've struggled to find someone to make plays down the stretch, and they feel A.I. can do that. John Hollinger, ESPN.com: 30% marketing, 40% basketball, 30% desperation. If Lou Williams were healthy, I don't think they'd be looking at Iverson, so I still say the biggest chunk of this is basketball-driven. If he's willing to play for the minimum, he's by far the best player available at that price. But you can make a stronger case that they wouldn't pursue this if they were playing well, or if the arena were selling out every night. It's a perfect confluence of all three, basically. Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: 40% marketing, 20% basketball, 40% desperation. I'd be a little more generous with the basketball part if I hadn't been to so many Sixers games in recent years, including playoff games, in which the place was half-empty and dead. Philly fans have been down on the Sixers for years. This breathes excitement back into the equation. Marc Stein, ESPN.com: 100% marketing, 0% basketball, 100% desperation. I know the math doesn't add up, but this is all about a team that's 100 percent desperate to stay relevant and sell some tickets. The Sixers can say anything they want about needing guard help while Lou Williams' busted jaw heals, but everybody in the league sees it: Miles from title contention, Philly is making the business side its No. 1 priority. 2. Should A.I. start right away? What about when Lou Williams returns? Abbott: Yes. If he's on the team, just spare us all the headaches and make your team all about him. It's just the way it has to be, and that's OK. Adande: If the Sixers don't start him, they'll be startin' somethin' (to quote Michael Jackson). Keep it simple and keep him in the starting lineup -- even after Lou Williams comes back. Who would accept it better? Right. Leon Halip/US PresswireWill Lou Williams be relegated to the bench when he returns from a broken jaw in eight weeks? Broussard: Well, of course, he should start right away. He has to, or this would become Memphis (and even worse) all over again. Even once Lou Williams gets back, you're probably going to keep starting A.I. alongside Lou (assuming A.I. can still be productive). The fact that the contract likely will be non-guaranteed gives the club the leverage to bench him, but we all know benching him essentially means releasing him. Hollinger: Let's start with the easy one: When Williams returns, Iverson needs to come off the pine. If not, yeah-thanks-bye. One presumes the Sixers made this perfectly clear to Iverson, but one also wonders how much of that he heard. Until Williams returns, however, there's no good reason not to start Iverson. The Sixers need to up the tempo and create more scoring, and that's exactly what he can do while Jrue Holiday -- the league's youngest player -- learns the ropes. Sheridan: He plays only one way; he needs to be a starter to play that way; and Philly fans know that better than anyone. The Sixers can play Lou Williams off the bench, occasionally alongside Iverson. Both guys can be combo guards, but defensively, the lack of height makes them vulnerable. Stein: Won't surprise me at all if the Sixers try to start Williams, Iguodala and Iverson to try to appease everyone when Williams comes back. Making that trio work might prove easier than trying to part company with Iverson during the season. Sending away a local legend in February or March, no matter how far you think Iverson has fallen, would be really tough PR-wise. 3. Bigger risk: Iverson disrupts team play or disrupts team off court? Abbott: You can ensure he'll be no trouble off the court by starting him and giving him a zillion shots. Then he'll shoot you in or out of games, which might be better than what they have going now. Adande: Iverson disrupts the team on court. He's 34 now, much less volatile. I doubt he'll be interacting with the Philadelphia police department as much this time. Broussard: They go hand in hand. If it goes badly on the court, it'll go badly off the court. But "on the court" has to come first. A.I. won't disrupt the locker room if he's getting his minutes and shots. But what's the risk of on-court disruption when you're 5-13 and losers of seven straight? That's how Philly's brain trust sees it. Hollinger: Much bigger risk off court. If he disrupts things on court, the solution is easy -- cut him. But if he starts convincing Holiday and Thaddeus Young that the way to be a "pro" is to hang out at the casino all night, blow off practice and let the other four guys worry about defense, the consequences could last far after Iverson is gone. Sheridan: On court: He'll change the way the Sixers play, no doubt, but they've lost seven straight, so they need a disruption (or, better put, an injection). Off court: Atlantic City is only an hour away, and the emerging tabloidian Internet media won't ignore A.I.'s forays there the way the Philly media did during his first 76ers stint. Stein: There's no on-court flow for Iverson to disrupt. But signing him just to bring back the buzz also means setting up Iverson as an example setter for Holiday and other youngsters. It also sends a message to Iguodala and the Sixers' other vets that winning and character are not the organization's priorities. Those are some significant drawbacks. 4. Will Iverson get the 76ers into the playoffs? Abbott: They're lucky in that their best player, Andre Iguodala, doesn't need a ton of touches to contribute, so they are an unusual team that has the chance to improve with the addition of a born gunner. And, Iverson won't be pushing aside an established point guard. I bet he'll make them a tiny bit better and they'll squeak in. [+] EnlargeNathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty ImagesCan A.I., who led Philly to the '01 Finals, propel it into the playoffs? Adande: No. Too many better teams ahead of them, including Chicago, Toronto and Washington. Broussard: This is a tough one, but I'll go with a hesitant, halfhearted "no." It won't be A.I.'s fault, though. He should make them better, and they definitely could make the playoffs. But I'll stick with "no" just because they've looked like garbage and he's not what he used to be. Hollinger: It really has little to do with him -- the operative question is "Can Elton Brand get the 76ers back into the playoffs?" and the answer so far has been an emphatic "no." Iverson is no longer good enough to dramatically alter their fate. Sheridan: Yes. They weren't on track to get there without him, and all the bad teams in the East (yes, even the Knicks) are only a two-week surge from bringing themselves back into the eight-seed hunt. Stein: No playoffs for the Sixers. They're one of about nine teams trying to snag one of the last four playoff spots in the East, and they're in a bigger hole than the standings say because confidence and morale are low after an opening month filled with injuries and losses. And A.I. was never a galvanize-the-troops kind of a guy, even in his heyday. 5. Will Iverson finish the season with the Sixers? Abbott: Yes. He has tasted retirement and spat it back out. And the Sixers have to know they can't expect him to sit on the bench. Adande: Hmm, he hasn't finished the season with the past three teams he has played for … but this time around, I think he realizes either he finishes or he's finished. Broussard: Another tough one, but I'll say "yes," again hesitantly and halfheartedly. Bottom line is if it ends badly in Philly, A.I.'s career is over. For real this time. Hollinger: I suspect he won't, just because I'm not sure he grasps that he can no longer get away with being a law unto himself. Recent history says that he'll be fine as long as he can get shots and minutes but will react very badly when Williams comes back and that it will all go downhill from there. Sheridan: Yes, and I think he'll finish his career there, too, if he leads them back to the playoffs and starts filling the house again. But if this project fails, I think A.I. will end up overseas -- that's where the most money will be available. Stein: I really do expect him to last the rest of the season in Philly. It'll be a hugely unpopular decision when the Sixers let him go for the second time, no matter what happens in this stint, so I suspect they'll let it happen naturally by waiting until the offseason instead of trying to pull off a tricky, eight-week reunion. 6. Bottom line: Good move or bad? Abbott: Good. Adande: Good. Broussard: Good. Hollinger: Good. Sheridan: Good. Stein: Convenient.
Philly is back with Allen Iverson! No place like home! Won't (Allen Iverson) you be anywhere else? No Mutombo this time to carry us to the Finals and beat LA this time! 1983 was a long time when Dr. J finally with Moses Malone's filling in the missing piece brought them the Championship.
New NBA Record for Nets: 0-18.. Only 1,500 season ticket and partial season tickets holders... @ $7,000 a seat for the whole season... How in the world do they get the rest of the money to pay off the players and still make money... ... ... ... ... Selling beers n popcorns ... hotdogs and parking tickets?!?! Cause I don't think there are a lot of people that would want to buy a Nets player's jersey... Or Betting against their own team can also generate some income. It's a safe bet. Guaransheed! ??? ... ... ... Will they fold like the Monarchs ?? (i heard they are trying to move outta NJ??)
perhaps bet they can finish a perfect 0 for 82! i trust no one would ever beat that (or want to). yeah they're movin to brooklyn. new york mets, anyone?
the nets finally won but the bookies are still playing the odds of them beating the 73 losses by the 76ers.
Injury curse keeps on hitting Grandpa Oden.. ..wow, he's out for the season...tough luck for madbad & his Jailblazers..
madbad, just when things are getting heated up...then, arrggghhh. looks like clipperland? MetalOrange
SIGH... guess we'll have to settle for just making the playoffs now. Wow, we're quite depleted heading out on the upcoming Eastern road trip
Lake in the Sun Lakers beat Suns 108-88 for 9th straight victory AP – Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots over Phoenix Suns center Channing Frye (8) for a basket … By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham, Ap Sports Writer – Mon Dec 7, 12:09 am ET LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Ron Artest added 15 points and five steals, and the Los Angeles Lakers raced away from the Phoenix Suns in the second half of their ninth straight victory, 108-88 Sunday night. Pau Gasol scored 14 points for the well-rested Lakers, who improved to an NBA-best 16-3 with their second home win in 24 days over road-weary Phoenix. Two nights after Bryant banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a one-point win over Miami, the defending NBA champions didn't need another lucky shot. They made a 15-1 run late in the third quarter, holding Phoenix without a field goal for 3 1/2 minutes while jumping to a 23-point lead. Amare Stoudemire had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who scored their fewest points of the season while playing their sixth game in six cities over the past 10 days. Bryant had nine points in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer that put the Lakers up by 21. The Suns trimmed the lead to 14 points in the fourth before Shannon Brown hit back-to-back 3-pointers, finishing with 12 points. Steve Nash had 12 points and 10 assists for the Suns while playing just 29 minutes, and Grant Hill had 12 points. Both veterans sat out the fourth quarter along with Stoudemire, taking a break in a demanding stretch of travel for the surprising Suns (15-6), who have lost three straight road games by an average of more than 21 points. The Lakers realize their fast start is a partial product of an exceptionally generous early-season schedule. Los Angeles hasn't played outside of California since Nov. 13, with 15 of its first 19 games at home overall — and two more games still remaining in a six-game homestand. Los Angeles also met its closest pursuers in the Pacific Division under fortunate circumstances twice this season. On Nov. 12, the rested Lakers beat Phoenix at home 121-102, one night after the Suns played a tough home game — just as they did Saturday night against Sacramento. The Lakers played their league-high 15th home game, while Phoenix had its league-high 14th on the road. Los Angeles had a superior jump from the opening tip. The Lakers raced to an 11-point lead in the first quarter and hit six 3-pointers in the half, taking a 54-44 halftime lead with late 3-pointers by Artest and Derek Fisher. A meeting of two high-scoring teams took on a physical bent in the third quarter, with aggressive defensive play by Lamar Odom and Amare Stoudemire catching on with both clubs. Artest also played with visible aggression, harassing Phoenix's star scorers while hitting his outside shot. NOTES: Referee David Jones left the game in the first quarter after a bout of dizziness. He was taken to a hospital, and the game continued with two referees — Kevin Fehr and Derrick Stafford. ... After Friday's home game against Minnesota, 19 of the Lakers' next 28 games are on the road. ... Gasol missed the Lakers' first meeting with Phoenix with a hamstring injury. Los Angeles is 8-0 since his return to the lineup.
games he bet on Donaghy says he didn't influence games he bet on AP – In this image taken from video and released by CBS, former NBA basketball referee Tim Donaghy is seen … Sun Dec 6, 9:19 pm ET NEW YORK – Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy says he refused to make calls to affect games even if it meant he lost money and it angered the mob. In one game where he bet on San Antonio, he ejected coach Gregg Popovich midway through the first quarter and the Spurs eventually lost the game. That drew the ire of the mob, which reportedly lost money using his tip. "I just told them that I wasn't making calls in games to influence the outcome," Donaghy said in an interview on "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday night on CBS. "And I'm not going to be able to obviously predict the winner every night, and they have to accept that's what's going to happen." Donaghy insisted he made wagers on NBA games based on his knowledge of other officials' biases for and against certain players and teams, and that his officiating was not compromised — a claim that was backed up by the FBI. "Watching the tapes, we could see there was never anything outlandish where he called a foul or he omitted a foul because he wanted to see a certain team win" retired FBI special agent Philip Scala told the news show. "We never saw that." Donaghy made his wagers through a high school friend and used a code to indicate his picks. "If I wanted them to bet the home team, I would discuss his brother Chuck," he said. "If I wanted him to bet the visiting team, I would mention his brother Johnny." He claims he was winning 75 percent of the time, which drew the attention of the mob, which he said threatened his family to ensure he provided his insider picks to inform betting on games. "They basically told me that I needed to give them the picks and if I didn't, that it's a possibility that somebody would go down and visit my wife and kids in Florida," he said. His connection with the mob caught the attention of the FBI, which overheard something on a wiretap that led them to believe an NBA referee may be involved. After he was caught, Donaghy said he cooperated with investigators because he believed it was in his and his family's best interests. Donaghy said he then received death threats to his home phone and is still worried about retribution from the mob. "Certainly it's in the back of my mind, but I'm not going to live my life in fear," he said. "I was informed by the FBI agents that they certainly had an eye on what they called these wiseguys and that if anything would come up they would inform me immediately." Following the airing of the interview, NBA commissioner David Stern released a statement saying any allegations about officials will be referred to Lawrence Pedowitz, a former investigator in the U.S. attorney's office who led a review of the league's officiating. "Mr. Pedowitz's review revealed that the NBA's core values of neutrality and accountability were not compromised by anyone other than Mr. Donaghy," Stern said.
