He had 32 points.

The Nuggets had 113 points.

Advantage, Allen Iverson.

I cannot say this enough: as always, Iverson played with incredible emotion in last night's tough 115-113 loss in Philadelphia. Sure, he was playing his old team, a city whose fabric Iverson embodies. For that reason, you would expected "A.I." to play with extra intensity last night. Emotionally, that was most likely the case. Physically, hard to imagine.

Iverson plays hard no matter who the opposing team might be. He has been playing with a non-displaced fracture on his right ring finger. Not sure how close that is to being a broken finger, but the bottom line is, any basketball player needs his right hand. Iverson had 32 last night and the only pain you saw was on the face of Philadelphia fans who were torn, rooting for Iverson to play well, but pulling for the Sixers to win.

The victory put the Sixers at 34-34, they have four in a row--big comeback over Chicago, a win in Detroit, a win against San Antonio, and a win over the Nuggets.

The last trip the Nuggets took to Chicago? Loss. Last trip to Detroit. Gave up 136 points in a loss. Last game playing San Antonio. A loss. I'm not sure that, despite being a few games better in the win column, right now, Philadelphia isn't more dangerous than Denver. The Sixers have no maximum contract player. The Nuggets have three of them. The Sixers are thriving, the Nuggets are surviving---barely. Sure, playing in the East helps but you play the hand you are dealt. The Nuggets play in a more competitive Conference but have much better overall talent and that should be the mitigating factor, after all, the NBA, by many accounts is a player's League.

That said, this morning I'm not sure I think the Nuggets truly are better---right at this moment---than a team that is 34-34, though, I think Iverson deserves better.

Have a great day.

-"z"