Allen Iverson knows two things–shooting and newspapers.
“I’ve worked too hard to let anyone destroy me,” he said, “so I don’t pay attention to it.”
The 76ers guard and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, a frequent target of criticism for selfish play, was referring to more unfavorable publicity that followed an off-season arrest after his speeding car was found to contain marijuana and a gun.
“Today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s toilet paper,” he said.
The Bulls play the 76ers Wednesday in the United Center and then on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C., before finishing the exhibition season at home Saturday against Sacramento.
With Jim Jackson and Jerry Stackhouse struggling with their roles, and with Derrick Coleman supposedly rounding into shape, Iverson has clearly emerged as the 76ers’ star.
And he is trying.
He has dropped the “posse” he had with him last season and is trying to think pass, at least some of the time.
“I’m definitely going to get everyone involved,” Iverson promised. “I have more confidence in this group. But don’t get me wrong–I’m still going to play my game. I’m not going to sacrifice as much as everyone thinks. I am still going to do my thing.”
Which should delight new coach Larry Brown, who is tough on all point guards, having been an all-star at the position in the old ABA.
“The toughest thing (thus far) is that every play we run, everybody thinks that’s their scoring play,” Brown moaned. “And we are breaking things off quickly.”
Although Brown is a disciple of defense and unselfish play, the 76ers have put together one of the most offensive-minded teams in the NBA. Among Iverson, Stackhouse, Coleman, Jackson and Clarence Weatherspoon, there isn’t a player noted much for defense. Rookie Tim Thomas has come on fast, but Brown is no fan of rookies. So it all comes back to Iverson.
“Allen is an unbelievable talent,” Brown said. “He thinks he can beat five guys by himself and I don’t want to take that away from him. Until he understands that if he gets everyone involved it’s only going to enhance his chances, it is going to be a little struggle.”
Money time: Looks like a $100 million future for Mt. Carmel product Antoine Walker, who has been playing almost every position for Boston and dominating the Celtics’ scoring.
Walker was named team captain and coach Rick Pitino said his former Kentucky star has put on about 20 pounds since college and grown an inch to almost 6-feet-10-inches.
“I truly believe this, not only because I recruited him in college, but I think Antoine Walker is one of the future stars,” Pitino said. “He sort of reminds me of when I used to watch Magic Johnson, watch a 6-9 person who can do so many things with the ball. I don’t mean to put that type of (pressure) on Antoine to even compare someone to Magic, but he does things that remind me of Magic. He handles the ball, finds people open and when the shot clock is winding down, he’ll create instant offense for you. He can also pound it inside and make great moves in the interior. He’s without question a star right now.”
The view from Elbe: Jerod Mustaf, who played for the Knicks and the Suns, doesn’t believe he can return from Europe and is looking at life as an exile from the NBA.
“I feel I’ve been driven out by the media,” Mustaf said after collecting team highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds in 48 minutes in Barcelona’s loss to Benetton in a consolation game at the McDonald’s tournament.
“Any time a man is not given due process, which I wasn’t . . . I feel like I was blackballed,” he said.
Mustaf signed with Seattle and then Charlotte early last season, but both teams released him. He’d been questioned by prosecutors in Phoenix about the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, and though he was never charged, a cousin was sent to prison in the case.
Mustaf went to play in Europe.
“You had a prosecutor who wanted to run for office one day and a high-profile case,” Mustaf said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get another chance (at the NBA). If I don’t, I’ll try to do the best job I can here and, in a few years, move on to something else.”
The corporate ladder: Phoenix coach Danny Ainge is concerned about half his roster going into their free-agent seasons.
“You have 12 corporations that you’re over nowadays. It’s not just 12 individuals,” he said. “And a coach can have a huge effect on the monetary value of a player. So those are sensitive issues. . . . That’s the toughest thing I have to do as a coach this year.”
New faces: The Clippers may have found a center in Keith Closs, a free agent who played two years at Central Connecticut State and then for the Norwich Neptune of the Atlantic Basketball Association. He’s 7-3 and got a five-year, $8.4 million contract from the Clippers, even though he wasn’t drafted. Closs is averaging almost 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in 24 minutes per exhibition game, but coach Bill Fitch knows what’s coming. “I’m prepared to name him Otis because I think we’re going to have some ups and downs with him.” . . . Rookie Anthony Johnson, a 6-3 point guard, has impressed the Kings, but they say they’ll start Bobby Hurley. . . . Lawrence Funderburke, who transferred from Indiana to Ohio State, is averaging 20 points and 6.5 rebounds in exhibitions for the Kings after two years in Europe.
Quick hits: Raptors coach Darrell Walker, a former Bull, sees a vulnerable Bulls team this season. “We all say they might be vulnerable without Scottie (Pippen). But when Michael Jordan reads a quote like that, it gives him motivation to go out and average 36 a game. I don’t know if he can do that anymore at his age. And if he’s looking forward to the challenge of going into this season without Scottie, that’s like going in without his right hand.”
