Iverson – Dannie you said it…three different coaches (O’Brien, Cheeks, Karl) have all claimed Iverson is able to average 10 dimes a game, and Iverson has always proclaimed “this will be the year”…and it never happens.  He HAS grown incredibly off the court, and I think he has a sense of humbleness and maturity that he never had in his youth…always love listening to him in interviews now, and shockingly consider him to be a good role model for how he TALKS about the game.

But his actions are another story, and while he admittedly was thrust into a crappy situation with Detroit last year, Iverson did not handle himself like a pro.  He claims they told him he would never come off the bench…mid season things werent working, they say, “AI, how about coming off the bench?”  A pro’s pro would keep his anger in check, say “F— it, let’s give it a try, and I’ll prove doubters wrong by being the best 6th man this league has ever seen,” but of course Iverson whines and rattles off to Scoop Jackson about how Detroit “betrayed” him.  Give me a break.

Love AI to death, always will, and I do think his game has matured over the years as he was a MUCH better decision maker during his last two years with the Sixers and two years with the Nuggets…he was very efficient and shared the ball nicely with Melo, and his assists were way up in our mediocre C-Webb years, both of which has flown under the radar a bit…but he still pulls up for J’s too much and needs to dominate the ball to the detriment of the team.  I’m really in his camp more then ever this year, and hope he proves the doubters wrong so that he can land on a contender next year as a lightning bolt off the bench.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about AI: don’t bet against him when he’s backed into a corner.  Best of luck AI, Philly is pulling for you.

Sam Young – One of the five second round steals of the draft this year.  I cant believe we didnt trade up to get him, he would have been perfect for our team.  Grizz have gotten very lucky to have players the caliber of S Young and D Arthur fall to them in the late 20′s/early 30′s two years in a row.

Greatest weakness(es):
-Inexperience (from the young players)
-Road woes
-Chemistry?? 

I think the Grizzlies will be 5th in the Southwest, 12th in the West. 

(On a side note, the Sixers will sweep the Grizzlies (2-0).   Expect both games to be hard fought like last season.) 

Every time I get a bad notion about our management, or the direction our team is going in, or just want to give up on the Sixers…I think of teams like this.   Who on earth would basically get rid of Pau and pick up Randolph.  I mean really.  I know they got his brother, some bums and a couple picks, but they’ll just keeping screwing it up.  I would also like to thank them for giving Allen a chance, as I was sure he’d wiggle himself on our roster because of the revenue situation, and once again, I was wrong.  So thanks to the ownership and Chris Wallace for making my days that much better.