From the Vault: A Complex Relationship

Anyone who lived through the Allen Iverson-Larry Brown rendezvous in Philly will appreciate this brilliant piece, written during the 2001 season, from the Sports Illustrated vault.

Iverson was one Matt Geiger trade-waver option away from being a Piston in the summer of ’00 after three very frustrating (yet successful) seasons fighting Brown’s views with his own. AI went from being “Me, myself and Iverson” (Barkley’s words, not mine) as a rookie, to a guy who dished out 16 assists in a Game 7 against the Raptors in ’01, en route to leading his gallant Sixers to the Finals.

Despite 2001 officially being the year where Iverson won over the general public with his play-like-there’s-no-tomorrow attitude, it was his part in mending the bridge with Brown that was what the year came to symbolize. From his “Where’s my coach?” speech after the ’01 All-Star Game, to helping Brown, a coaching vagabond of extreme proportions, reach his first NBA Finals, to claiming his only MVP trophy while leading Philly as far as they’ve gone in the last 25 years, 2001 was the zenith of the Iverson era.

And both men endured darn-near unspeakable hardships growing up (as detailed in the SI piece), which made them more in common than appeared.

Brown, long before he became the coach of what feels like 78 teams, was a point guard (in the ABA), the position Iverson was drafted to fill in Philadelphia. Brown was taught the game by Dean Smith, who was taught by Phog Allen, who was taught by James Naismith – so he had a hoops pedigree unmatched. Iverson, on the other hand, represented a new NBA – the tattoos, the rows, the attitude. But as harsh as his critics were at the time, the oft-overlooked aspect of his game – the fact that no one played harder – was right below the surface.

So for all the differences in their lives, and their basketball lives, in that one year they co-existed. With historic results. As this story indicates, their’s was a special relationship; sometimes hate-filled, sometimes drastically the opposite, but with never a dull moment. With Brown, since this story first went to print, having coached three teams in the interim, and with Iverson nearing the end of his career as a Nugget, it’s fascinating to look back.

Retro: Fat Lever

In this photo are two of the best four guards on the planet, as of the first Sunday in February, 1988. The guy with the ball, well, that's You Know Who. The guy guarding him? Fat Lever. The only guy in the last 30 years (Magic and Bird included) who has a career high of at least 20 points, 20 boards, and 20 assists. One of three players (Wilt and Kidd being the others) in NBA history to have a 15/15/15 playoff game. The smallest player - at 6-3 - to ever lead his team in points, boards, and assists (for the '90 Nuggets). The guy who once hung a 31-16-12 line on Mike in Chicago, this during the '88 season, Jordan's first MVP year. A player who was unfortunately hurt in the '85 and '88 playoffs, on the two best teams he ever played on. You now know who Fat Lever is.

PG Evaluations: Atlanta

Over the summer, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment

KEY NUMBER: 30 - The age of Mike Bibby. On a team loaded with young guns (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford), Bibby seems oddly out of place in Atlanta. He played like it too. Sure, he provides stability – and credibility – at the point in the two months he was in Atlanta after the trade from Sacramento, but his 41% field-goal shooting, ill-timed comments (see below), and generally ordinary play left a lot to be desired.

THE GOOD STUFF: Bibby gets a full year in Atlanta. Don’t underestimate the difficulty not only for the individual, but also the team, when you throw a new PG out there mid-season. But Bibby’s good, and really, if we’re all honest with ourselves, a lot of his ball-handling responsibility is brushed off onto the versatile Joe Johnson, saving Bibby’s legs with hopes he can unleash his oft-pretty but surprisingly-missing-of-late jumper. His health is better of late too; he missed a large chunk of the first half of last season, which was odd for a guy who had missed more than two games in a season just once in the prior nine seasons.

THE BAD STUFF: “Bandwagon fans.” That’s what Bibby called Celtics fans prior to the opening-round series with Boston. Of course, he responded to the booing and taunting by shooting 7-28 FG (including 1-3 in Game 7) in the four games at Boston, all while being thoroughly outplayed by Rajon Rondo. The lesson: Isn’t it obvious?

THE BACK-UP: Acie Law. Had a roller-coaster rookie year if there ever was one. Started out the season, almost by default, as the team’s starting PG. Then missed a good portion of both Nov. and Dec. with various ailments, came back, played patchy ball, very inconsistent, missed more time in February, then came back again, but by that time Bibby was firmly entrenched with the bulk of the minutes. Did have an 11-point game in the playoffs, albeit in a blowout Game 2 loss in Boston. Let’s give the kid a break - he’s 23 with hopefully plenty ahead.

EVALUATION: The days of Mike Bibby, circa ’02, hitting your clutch shots and consistently getting 18-20 are gone - that’s not his role in Atlanta. But if he can make open shots, shoot above 45% (which he has done before), have some semblance of a positive effect on Law, then Atlanta’s decision to trade for him will be a good one. Expect a better year from Bibby with a full season under him.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index

PG Evaluations: New Jersey

Over the summer, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment

KEY NUMBER: 15.4 – Points-per-game by mid-season acquisition Devin Harris as a Net, the same guy who never averaged more than 10 per in three-and-a-bit seasons for Dallas. Of course, his role is different in NJ, but for the Nets to turn an ageing Jason Kidd into an improving 24-year old is definitely a good thing.

THE GOOD STUFF: As stated, Harris came in the Kidd deal just after the All-Star break, played in 25 games, immediately took the reigns of a gutted team (who had lost one of the two most influential players in franchise history; Dr J being the other), and played admirably. He scored 20 or more seven times over the final six weeks of the season, this after having just eight all season long in Dallas. Why is this important? With Richard Jefferson gone, Harris, despite being the PG, will be relied on to score more in 2009.

THE BAD STUFF: Well, he is Devin Harris. Let’s not get too carried away here. He’s not on the Paul-Nash-Williams, or even Kidd, level. He has the tendency to be, at times, over-confident, which isn’t a bad thing when you have Dirk Nowitzki behind you, but in New Jersey? He was a much-improved shooter last year, but defenses may forever have the Let this guy shoot instead of drive attitude towards him.

THE BACK-UP: Marcus Williams just hasn’t kicked-on as a professional. Of course, being stuck behind Jason Kidd was never going to reveal great opportunities. He did show flashes during the tiny daylight that passed through after Kidd left and before Harris arrived, including a 25-point game against Chicago, a Kidd-like 8-7-13 line against Indiana, and averages of 11 and six as a starter. Probably needs to make big improvement to retain his spot.

EVALUATION: Harris is a keeper. He does command a high price though, his $50 million contract, signed in the summer of ’07, means he’s locked up until 2013. So, for that, you’d expect more of the improvement that he showed over the final six weeks of the season. For a team actually planning two seasons ahead, and basically eyeing one guy, and one guy only (LBJ!), you’d figure Lawrence Frank will provide Harris plenty of time to get better on a bad team.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index

2008 Draft Review

#1 CHICAGO – Derrick Rose, 6-3 196, Memphis
Throw him up there on the list… The list? Yeah, PG’s to go #1 since the NBA-ABA merger in ’76: John Lucas, Magic, AI and now Rose. Nice company… The Bulls get the local guy, and he’s immediately anointed The Savior… Provides athleticism, defense, good leadership, and best of all, a winning attitude from both HS and college… Unfortunately, he went ahead of Michael Beasley, who could have a HOF career, so basically Rose better do the same… Immediately made Kirk Hinrich expendable… As hyped as he was, his stock especially rose (no pun intended) in the last two weeks… This bloke is going to be good for Chicago.

#4 SEATTLE - Russell Westbrook, 6-4 192, UCLA
Stock didn’t just rise in the last few weeks it actually went through the roof… Some were scratching their heads at Seattle overlooking the talent available, but when you consider Seattle has Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour at the point, pairing Westbrook with Durant will get Oklahoma City, err, Seattle fans excited… Had dramatic freshman-to-sophomore improvement at UCLA… Can play either guard spot, and is, from all reports, an unselfish player.

# 9 CHARLOTTE – DJ Augustin, 6-0 172, Texas
Easily one of the more curious top-10 picks… Word on the street is that Raymond Felton is available and hence the Augustin pick… More of a true point than Felton, anyway… Put up 19 and six as a sophomore at Texas… CBS Sportsline threw out the Isiah Thomas-comparison; let’s hope they mean as a player instead of as a GM… Good shooter, is aggressive, and his (hopeful) duel with Felton will be a hot topic in training camp… Have fun playing for Larry Brown.

# 11 INDIANA (traded to POR) – Jerryd Bayless, 6-3 204, Arizona
Pacers fans went from elated (when he was picked) to heartbroken (when he was dealt) in the space of 60 minutes… Despite being just 6-3, he’s possessed with a scorers mentality… Has been compared to Golden State’s Monta Ellis… Scored more points than any other Arizona freshman ever… Athletic, quick, and as mentioned, more of a scorer than a distributor… Will fit in well in the Blazers youth movement… Pacers may regret trading him.

#26 SAN ANTONIO - George Hill, 6-2 181, Indiana Purdue
If Gregg Popovich says “We were thrilled he was still there” then you get the feeling they were happy to get him… Put up 21/5/4 on 54% FG and 45% 3-PT for national powerhouse Indiana Purdue… One of those stock-soared-after-pre-draft-camp guys… His name should perhaps be on a pensioners discount card instead of being read out by David Stern on draft night… As stated, the Spurs were very high on him - do they know something 25 other teams don’t?

#34 MINNESOTA (traded to MIAMI) - Mario Chalmers, 6-2 170, Kansas
Some had him going higher… Miami was very happy to get him; Pat Riley is a fan… Speaking of Riley, he listed three reasons why they traded for Chalmers: His defense, the fact he’s a combo guard, and he’s a low-mistake guy… Thankfully, Miami doesn’t have a logjam at the point (just Jason Williams and Chris Quinn) so Chalmers has a good opportunity… Yes, he’s the guy who hit the shot to force OT in the NCAA title game.

# 42 SACRAMENTO - Sean Singletery, 6-0 184, Virginia
Despite being three-time All ACC, he was under the radar of many a team… Actually came out for the ’07 draft, thought better of it, went back to school and – surprise! – didn’t hurt his chances… Sacramento might be a good situation for him, as Beno Udrih may opt out this week… From post-draft reports, was unhappy about his late pick and will try to pull an Arenas (translation: will use it as motivation).

#45 SAN ANTONIO (to PHOENIX) - Goren Dragic, 6-4 200, Slovenia
Phoenix actually traded up (from 48) to land Dragic… The Suns had him penciled in as the second-best PG in the draft behind Derrick Rose… Seriously, they did… Word is, the guy is a heck of an athlete and is very well-rounded… Good thing about his Spanish contract is that a buyout is possible… GM Steve Kerr stated on the team’s website that Dragic is a likely participant in training camp, and if he’s not available this season, he’ll “definitely” be there for the 2010 season.

#55 POR (to LAC) - Mike Taylor, 6-2 166, Iowa State
Taylor is the first player to be drafted from the developmental league ever… Did the JuCo thing before playing at Iowa State, where he was a stud on the court and a bonehead off it… Was kicked off the team… Averaged 14.5 points per for the Idaho Stampede of the NBDL… With the Clippers losing Sam Cassell last year and having just Dan Dickau at the point, Taylor has a (slim) chance of making the team.

The Four PG's in Game 4

Game 4 was a classic in so many ways.

And the aftermath has indeed bought many reactions: Doc Rivers is out-coaching Phil Jackson (true), Kobe can no longer be compared to Mike (so very true), and the Celtics are tougher than LA (do I even need to mention how true that is?). But one thing that stood out to me when watching yet another Celtics-Lakers epic was the handling of the PG’s in the second half.

Derek Fisher was out there when LA built their 24-point lead, very present in helping them hold a 20-point lead through the first half of the third, and, along with Vladamir Radmonovic, was one of few Lakers who finished in the “plus” column as far as +/- for the game.

Yet, having said that, Phil Jackson stubbornly kept Jordan Farmar out there until the final minutes, but by the he finally pulled the second-year guard, momentum (“She’s a funny thing,” Jackson told ESPN after the third) was well and truly dressed in green. Worse yet, Fisher was one of the few Lakers willing to mix it up. On a crucial play in the third where Paul Pierce swatted Bryant that led to an Allen breakaway, it was Fisher’s hard foul on Ray-Ray that stopped a Celtics break. It was an anti-Gasol play if there ever was one.

On the flip side, Rajon Rondo was facing his own demons, that of the Lakers continuing to dare him to shoot. Jackson switched Bryant onto Rondo for Game 3, and it allowed Kobe to roam, to sit in passing lanes, to neglect Rondo, deeming him a non-threat. Rondo, who had been a key to the C’s home defense (he had 16 assists in Game 2) was suddenly inept in LA.

It is worth pointing out that Rondo missed most of the second half of Game 3 with a sprained ankle, and it unwittingly forced Doc Rivers’ hand to play Eddie House, a noted gunner who had seen his time handed to “the new guy” in Sam Cassell.

In Game 4, with Rondo again struggling, Rivers turned to House in the second-half. It was his jumper in the final minutes that game Boston their first lead, and surprisingly, Jackson and his Lakers didn’t respect House enough to do something about it. It’s especially noteworthy when you consider that House, when with Phoenix two years ago, was held without a three-point field goal through the first six games of that classic ’06 PHX-LAL matchup. That’s like a human going without water for six days. Seriously. The Lakers put serial pest Sasha “Tears” Vujacic on him, and House couldn’t get a sniff. Fast forward to Thursday’s game and House is bouncing around, firing jumpers, uttering expletives to motivate his teammates, and delivering a daggers (including the one to take the lead, right in front of the Lakers bench) that came to signify The Comeback.

Ragin' Rondo

Just to throw a ridiculous stat out there: Coming into the 2008 Finals, Derek Fisher had accumulated 493 minutes of Finals’ experience. Rajon Rondo? 0. Heck, to take that a step further, Fisher has played in 20 Finals games lifetime; Rondo has played in 21 playoff games.

Anyway, the reason I write “ridiculous” is because it took Rondo all of 29 minutes to figure this thing out. Riding the wave that was The Pierce Return (by the way, it had more of a Bird ’91 feel to it than a Reed ’70, but hey, that’s just me), Rondo was the guy that got the ball to PP on consecutive possessions that resulted in two 3s; two 3s that basically turned the game.

Huge.

Why does that stand out? Rondo took an almost overwhelming moment and stayed in control. And people probably figure you could put a little sister of the poor at the point with the Big 3 and Boston would be good, but you can’t underestimate the two-stage growth of Rondo this year: 1) the regular season where he grew just about every game after the All-Star break and 2) the postseason that has seen him put up 10/4/6, come up big in several games, and has prompted me to write to someone that Rondo “had a little Fat (Lever) in him…”

And of course, Game 1 was basically a microcosm of all that. From the attempted dunk on Sasha Vujacic to the valued fourth scoring option to the 15/5/7 line to the aforementioned Pierce Moment, Rondo was superb. You can’t also forget he’s going against a guy (Fisher) who has been to the Finals four times.

But he handled himself well. Rondo didn’t ooze an ounce of nervousness in the first quarter; seemed quite at ease with it all actually. And he seems to be figuring out when and who to distribute the ball too. The Cs seemed to go to Allen early, KG in the second, and Pierce, of course, late. It was Rondo who was reading the temperature of each, knowing when to give it out, and not shying away from Phil Jackson’s psychological operation We’re Gonna Let This Rondo Guy Shoot The Jumper.

Of course, Game 2 is another day. But it sure is exciting seeing a young PG on the big stage.