I'm not sure any opposing player has ever been cheered at a pro sports event in Philadelphia.
Then again, upon closer inspection, I'm not sure how often hometown athletes are cheered in Philadelphia.
I think tonight those two worlds will collide.
Philadelphia selected Allen Iverson with the first pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. That year, Carmelo Anthony turned 12 years old.
Iverson became a legend in Philadelphia, despite never winning an NBA title. The Sixers have not put their hands on the Larry O' Brien trophy since 1983--but in 2001--they came close, only due to the fact that Iverson was on the roster.
They lost to the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals that year, though in a stunner, won the first game in Los Angeles behind 48 points from the man they call "A.I." That performance more than anything embodies the enigma that is Allen Iverson.
He led his team to an Eastern Conference Chamionship that year and coincidentally defeated George Karl's Milwaukee Bucks to accomplish that.
As was pointed out to me by my colleague, Ben Billings, he had virtually no help on that team, yet still got to the NBA Finals. Ironically, that same lack of help five years later and the realization that another Finals appearance was becoming more remote, forced his hand to ask for a trade from the only pro team he ever played for.
In 2001, the Sixers gave Iverson such stalwarts as Aaron McKie to help him out on the floor. McKie was a good player in the city of Philadelphia...then again, that was in 1993 when he was playing for Temple.
This next comment may sound a bit bizarre, though I think it has some merit to it: Despite all of his problems in Philadelphia with management, Larry Brown, practice, the media, practice, the police, practice, Billy King, and shall I mention practice, I think Iverson's best chance to reach the NBA Finals has come and gone.
There is almost no arguing that he has a better crop of talent here than he did in Philadelphia, but the quality of the competition is just too strong in the West now for me to honestly think the Nuggets can break through. In 2001, Dallas was owned by Ross Perot, Junior and was about as irrelevant as his dad's 1996 Presidential campaign. The Suns were eight years removed from their 1993 NBA Finals team, led by another Sixers legend, in Charles Barkley. The Jazz were three years removed from their loss to Chicago, in Michael Jordan's last game as a Bulls player. Point is, the West is a lot deeper now, so, even though Iverson is surrounded by more overall skill on the floor, so is everybody else.
I think, in a single game, the Nuggets can hang with anyone. They are the only team in the NBA that has had four different players (Iverson, Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Linas Kleiza) score at least 40 points in a game this season. Those types of situations are rare, though. In a best-of-five or best-of-seven playoff format, good, solid, and consistent play, is the key. The Nuggets have the feel of a knife--that is, sharp one moment and dull the next. In the Playoffs, that hot and cold streak won't get it done.
Then again, they may have to make the Playoffs first, if they even want to see how far they can go.
One thing is pretty certain and the fans in Philadelphia can tell you this better than almost anyone. If everyone on the Nuggets played with the dedication, intensity, and determination displayed by Iverson, Karl wouldn't be worried about making the Playoffs he would more concerned with figuring out how to win the NBA Finals.
So when you hear that cheer go up in Philadelphia tonight, remember, it may be the only time you do...and in Philadelphia for 11 years, they got to experience what we know here in Denver today: there is only one Iverson.
Tip-off is at 7:00 P.M. from the Wachovia Center.
Have a great day, everyone.
-"z"
