AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Allen Iverson said he was ready to play in Sunday's 85-69 loss to the Detroit Pistons but changed his mind after 76ers coach Chris Ford told him he'd come off the bench.
"I'm a starter. I've been a starter here for eight years. I'm not a sixth man," Iverson said after the game. "I'm a starter. I know in this league ... if someone comes back from an injury, if he's a starter he starts. What's the difference? If you're going to cut my time down, cut my time down. It doesn't make any difference. I'm a starter."
Iverson has been hampered by a swollen right knee, which caused him to miss three straight games before Sunday. The league's second-leading scorer participated in the shootaround before the game but was on the Sixers' bench in street clothes at tip-off.
After the game, he said he "was already taped and everything and had my uniform on. I had to take it back off, so that was rough."
"I feel real disappointed because I told the trainers I was going to play," Iverson said. "He (Ford) said I hadn't run up and down the court, and he wasn't sure about my conditioning."
Ford and Iverson have had a rocky relationship since the coach replaced the fired Randy Ayers on Feb. 9.
"I didn't know he was going to attempt to play until how much time was left on the (pre-game) clock? Not much," Ford said. "From my understanding and what I was told yesterday after his workout, I'm going to look out for A.I. and the team. Somebody's got to make decisions around here
First of all, I think without a doubt Ford should let him play, afterall they have a 28-39 (or 28-40 record after the Pistons game), and as things are going right now, they end is near. I think he should start Iverson and let it make the best out of the situation. But what bothers me the most is that Iverson doesnt even care about his team anymore, sure hes their best player, but if a coach decides to bench you for whatever reason, you should respect that decision, maybe not agree with it but atleast respect it.
But Iversons ego overshadows his talent sometimes, this situation really shows that he cares more about his self then he cares about his team these days.
If he cares bout winning, the least he could do is play. Maybe they still would have lost, but showing effort that you want to win and still lose is alot better then just saying "F it".
What do you guys think? should he play the game? or did he do the right thing?
not just like he was this season good so im a fan but as soon as he does sth wrong ill look for someone else to be fan of...
