Incog_Negro
01-02-2007, 07:48 AM
Iverson Prepares To Face Sixers
http://realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/wiretap/photos/2006/Iverson_Allen_den_061231b.jpg
Denver Post - 01/02 - 3:42 AM EST (AP Photo)
http://realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/wiretap/team/den_40.gifWith the Nuggets (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) cancelling practice Monday, the Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) media never got the opportunity to talk to Allen Iverson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/375/allen_iverson/) about the former MVP facing his old team for the first time. But that didn't stop others.
"I'm sure he's going to be extremely excited," Nuggets (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) coach George Karl said, adding that he does not expect Iverson to step out of the boundaries of Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/)'s system to prove a point to his former mates.
"He knows both sides," Karl said. "I think he wants to play great, but I think he also understands that we can't break away from building what we've been building. He's a pro. He's going to be fine. And if we can, we'll help him have a great game. If they triple-team him, we're going to have to find other ways to win the game. The most important thing, the No. 1 priority, maybe the only priority, is to win."
With the Nuggets, Iverson has earned raves from teammates for his play on the court and his example off it. He has averaged 28.6 points, 8.8 assists and 3.0 steals in five games in Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/).
Asked whether Iverson has been as advertised or better, Nuggets (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) forward Eduardo Najera (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/212/eduardo_najera/) said: "More, I think. His leadership out there has been very good for this team. We knew he was very talented, but he's been a great teammate, a great locker-room guy. He's a guy you want to have."
"He's such a great player," 76ers (http://sixers.realgm.com/) coach Maurice Cheeks said in today's editions of The Philadelphia (http://sixers.realgm.com/) Inquirer. "I haven't come up with anything yet (to try to stop him). I don't know if anyone can. You just try to contain him the best that you can."
Feelings were frayed between Iverson and Cheeks in the days leading up to Iverson's trade to Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/). Looking back on it, Cheeks said he wished the last days between the two would have ended more positively.
"It's unfortunate. Let's put it that way," Cheeks said. "You don't like to see things go bad, but it's a coach-player relationship. I respect the guy a great deal. I have no hard feelings toward him. I wish him a lot of success, except (tonight)."
http://realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/wiretap/photos/2006/Iverson_Allen_den_061231b.jpg
Denver Post - 01/02 - 3:42 AM EST (AP Photo)
http://realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/wiretap/team/den_40.gifWith the Nuggets (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) cancelling practice Monday, the Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) media never got the opportunity to talk to Allen Iverson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/375/allen_iverson/) about the former MVP facing his old team for the first time. But that didn't stop others.
"I'm sure he's going to be extremely excited," Nuggets (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) coach George Karl said, adding that he does not expect Iverson to step out of the boundaries of Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/)'s system to prove a point to his former mates.
"He knows both sides," Karl said. "I think he wants to play great, but I think he also understands that we can't break away from building what we've been building. He's a pro. He's going to be fine. And if we can, we'll help him have a great game. If they triple-team him, we're going to have to find other ways to win the game. The most important thing, the No. 1 priority, maybe the only priority, is to win."
With the Nuggets, Iverson has earned raves from teammates for his play on the court and his example off it. He has averaged 28.6 points, 8.8 assists and 3.0 steals in five games in Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/).
Asked whether Iverson has been as advertised or better, Nuggets (http://nuggets.realgm.com/) forward Eduardo Najera (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/212/eduardo_najera/) said: "More, I think. His leadership out there has been very good for this team. We knew he was very talented, but he's been a great teammate, a great locker-room guy. He's a guy you want to have."
"He's such a great player," 76ers (http://sixers.realgm.com/) coach Maurice Cheeks said in today's editions of The Philadelphia (http://sixers.realgm.com/) Inquirer. "I haven't come up with anything yet (to try to stop him). I don't know if anyone can. You just try to contain him the best that you can."
Feelings were frayed between Iverson and Cheeks in the days leading up to Iverson's trade to Denver (http://nuggets.realgm.com/). Looking back on it, Cheeks said he wished the last days between the two would have ended more positively.
"It's unfortunate. Let's put it that way," Cheeks said. "You don't like to see things go bad, but it's a coach-player relationship. I respect the guy a great deal. I have no hard feelings toward him. I wish him a lot of success, except (tonight)."