"The Answer"

Over the weekend I was able to watch the Celtics prove they are still the team to beat in the NBA and the Pistons have a long way to go before they are considered a serious threat to dethrone the Champs.

Watching the game had me thinking about the Iverson trade and what the possible reasons were for Dumars to make the trade of Billup’s for Iverson. It goes without saying Iverson is awesome to watch and has the heart of a champion. That's like telling your boys, "I'd bang her!" Really?Thank you Captain Obvious. The guy’s motor running is always in the red and with his god given talents he is truly one of the best players in the game. But being talented and greatbasketball player are two different things. I’m a huge fan of A.I. and this next comparison hurts me more than it’s going to hurt your reading but, is A.I. not just a better version of Marbury?

The Piston have gone to six straight conference finals and have a well constructed team yet Dumars was convinced that his team needed a face lift…..but was trading Billup’s “The Answer”? If I was the man calling the shots (no not time for a tequila just yet)and maybe Dumars even looked into this angle but I would have kept Billup’s and traded Hamilton for Iverson. You need a leader in big time games and “Mr. Big Shot” was the guy for the Pistons. Why trade your floor leader? I certainly would not have traded Wallace or Prince but Hamilton is a dime a dozen guy. Most NBA guys could fit that roll on the Pistons. RIP would be average at best on another team. Imagine RIP on the Warriors or Clippers. You’d probably be watching SportsCenter one night and see him on a rare highlight and you’d say to yourself, “that guy is still in the league?” Plus a guy like Billup’s would keep Iverson in check, at least have more command of the ball. Iverson is going to look for his and include other guys because he thinks it’s his job. It is not anything that comes naturally to him. Not convinced just watch a game. A.I. has no intentions of making his teammates better. He's is like a hot chick....they hate other hot chicks.


I’m convinced there is a bigger picture at hand but like all professional franchises they can’t come out and say it. Imagine if Dumars said “I’m not totally convinced we can beat the Celtics and it was time for a change. Iverson sells tickets and will be off of the books next year, a good short term investment. Do I think we will be competitive? Yes, but I’m also thinking about the future.” Fans don’t really take to kind to dropping a couple hundred bucks on a game to find out that the team is rebuilding for another day by acquiring a super star. It’s rather sneaky if you think about it. Certainly the Pistons are going to win some games but does anybody think they are going to win it all let alone the East…no way. Dumars is not a guy who looks for W's, he looks for banners to hang.


Alex James