Iverson Traded to Denver...

[mosdef]

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I don't think there's even a correlation between AI's shooting percentage and his team's winning percentage, let alone a causation.

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Please explain! If AI could magically convert one missed shot per game into a make during his career, wouldn't logic dictate that his teams would have won at least a few more games?

With scoring margins as narrow as they are, you'd think one additional make (vs. a miss) could be as valuable as four or five wins per year. If a make is worth 2 pts, a miss is probably worth less than half a point (since some makes are rebounded by a team-mate and scored). That's over 1.5 pts more per game.

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Well, yes, if he had played better they probably would have won more. What I mean is that you don't see his FG percentage go up and down based on the quality of the team around him.

[ThaSaltCracka]

The defensive headache that will be choosing between AI and Melo will be giving opposing coaches nightmares for the rest of the season.

[Assani Fisher]

Best case scenario for Philly:

-Andre Miller is content and plays hard. If so, he can definitely be a strength at PG for them for at least 5 more years

-AI2 uses this opportunity to continue to develop and get a lot more shots this year

-The 76ers totally tank this year and get either Oden, Durant, or Noah(hopefully Oden)

-The 76ers can package those 2 draft picks and a veteran to move up a bit in the draft a bit and get a SG/SF. Obviously drafting well is key here. I really like Corey Brewer's game...I think that he has what it takes to be a lock down NBA defender, which is rare. If they got Brewer and Oden, they would instantly be one of the better defensive teams in the league. Brewer right now is projected to go 20th at nbadraft.net. Or if they want more offense then how about Daequan Cook or Alando Tucker? Tucker right now is projected at 30th, which seems low to me. Seeing that maybe actually they shouldn't even move up and just draft 2 prospects here and hope one of them turns out good. Maybe take one guy with high upside like Cook or Rodney Stuckey and one guy who is more of a sure thing like Tucker.

That leaves them with:

PG Miller
G AI2
G Whomever they draft
F/C Durant/Oden/Noah
F/C ????
6th man Korver

Joe Smith and Webber are obviously gone in a few years, and they'll have a ton of cap room to try to lure a decent big man to play there.

Obviously they'd need some luck and some breaks, but I think that every team looking to rebuild needs that. All you can do is put yourself in position where if you do get those breaks then you'll succeed. I think they may have done that.

[Assani Fisher]

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Being on a better team with a better offense should really improve his shooting percentage.

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I doubt it. He's been between 40% and 42% for pretty much his whole career, and Philly hasn't sucked in each of those years. I don't think there's even a correlation between AI's shooting percentage and his team's winning percentage, let alone a causation.

[/ QUOTE ]He has never had another great player to take the defense's focus off of him.

[mindless]

I don't think Miller get can get traded before the deadline since there's something like a 2 month period before a player that got traded can get traded again, but I'm not sure of the timeline exactly.

What's going to be interesting about the Nuggets is that for the next 15 games, AI will clearly be the focus, and the team will probably do pretty well- it's somewhat similar to 01 team that AI took the finals- the front court has strong defensive players/offensive rebounders to pick up his misses, and he's clearly the number one option on offense. However, when Melo comes back, there will be the alpha dog issue. I forsee them having a much better record w/o Melo, especially given their schedule, than with him.

[Hoover]

have the top 2 scorers in the league ever been from the same team?

[J.R.]

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However, when Melo comes back, there will be the alpha dog issue.

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You underestimate George Karl's leadership (he is the real GM and the reason why Kiki = gone) and exaggerate Melo' perceived selfishness. Melo shoots largely because no else can, and his + .500 FG% and willingness to pass out of double teams (his assists are up 1.5/game) speak to the fact he isn't the chucker he was just a few years ago.

They also score on the run a lot, they aren't a half court offense.

[youtalkfunny]

I know nothing about basketball. I have a question that I haven't seen addressed here.

Did all of the suspensions prompt this deal? Was Denver seriously considering going after this guy before the suspensions?

[J.R.]

Yeah. The last time was the 1982-83 Nugs with Alex English and Kiki 1-2 during the Doug Moe run and gun days. BTW, Moe is assistant coach and Karl is encouraging a similar run and score style of play.

[J.R.]

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I know nothing about basketball. I have a question that I haven't seen addressed here.

Did all of the suspensions prompt this deal? Was Denver seriously considering going after this guy before the suspensions?

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Denver has had a base package of their 2 1st round 2007 picks and Joe Smith (who is expiring salary cap space) on the table since AI demanded the trade some two weeks ago. The Nugs and Sixers discussed a similar structured deal for AI in the offseason.