ESPN NBA

By Henry Abbott

Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer makes a convincing case that Allen Iverson should come off the bench. For instance, the starters score very well, but need defense and rebounding, while the bench could use some scoring. Herrington continues, however:

The problem with all of this, of course, is that it's predicated on a rational consideration of how good basketball teams function, but that isn't what the Iverson Experiment has ever been about. It's about a starstruck owner flexing his muscles and running roughshod over his own organization.

If Michael Heisley, Chris Wallace, and Lionel Hollins didn't directly broach the subject of a potential bench role with Iverson when they collectively met with him before the signing — and it appears that they didn't — then this is an act of negligence. And Iverson himself seems less like a person to be reasoned with than a bomb to be diffused, a realization that detracts from the potential fun regardless of which direction things head. But we are where we are.

Iverson as sixth man, often closing out games, is the best role for the team, but it's probably better to accede to his demands to start than let this issue combust and tank a promising season.

UPDATE: Many thanks to TrueHoop reader Tyler for remembering what the Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery wrote on July 13:

Heisley reiterated that Iverson must come off the bench for the Griz. Interestingly enough, Iverson and Griz shooting guard O.J. Mayo share the same agent.

“Allen is motivated to have a great year,” Heisley said. “He would be a real factor for us. But if he comes to us he’d have to understand that he would be playing on the second team. We need him to really add scoring punch to that group.”"

Who knows what was promised to Iverson in private, but for the record that was in the newspaper a couple of months before Iverson decided to sign with the Grizzlies.