Fw: It's only a matter of time before Iverson departs

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> Mark, since we agree on practically everything, I don't
> mind taking this up.  I think you underrate Pierce.  He
> has played poorly this year, but as a talent, he's far above
> the one-dimensional and unreliable Peja, the still-timid Yao, and the
> soft and spotty Jermaine O'Neal.  Pierce and Iverson have been
> the Man on playoff teams, and beaten other playoff teams
> by themselves when the pressure was on.  (Which is more than
> KG can say.)  Iverson is a former MVP who carried his team all the way to
> the finals, for pete's sake.  I think you could make a lot better argument
> for Brand, Francis, and a couple of others than the wimps
> you nominate as being better than PP and AI.
>
> Josh
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 11:11 AM
> Subject: Re: It's only a matter of time before Iverson departs
>
>
> > Josh wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > he's a top ten NBA talent.  (Shaq, Duncan,
> >
> > Kobe, KG, McGrady, Kidd, Nowitski, Pierce, Iverson, James)
> >
> >
> >
> > --- --- ---
> >
> >
> >
> > Josh, are you openly challenging me? This is a test, isn't it? Well,
> > I'll throw my two cents in (surprise, surprise ... )
> >
> >
> >
> > Top 10:
> >
> >
> >
> > Shaq
> >
> > Duncan
> >
> > Kobe
> >
> > Garnett
> >
> > T-Mac
> >
> > Kidd
> >
> > Nowitzki
> >
> > James (if not now, certainly within a year or two)
> >
> > Yao Ming (if we're projecting for LeBron, we have to do the same for
> > Yao)
> >
> > Jermaine O'Neal
> >
> > Peja Stojakovic
> >
> >
> >
> > OK, that's 11, but those are the guys I'd consider clear upgrades on
> > Pierce and Iverson, who I lump in the next group along with guys like
> > Ray Allen, Michael Finley, Carmello Anthony, Baron Davis, Steve Francis,
> > Steve Nash, Mike Bibby, Elton Brand, Pau Gasol, Kenyon Martin, and a few
> > others. I'm not so sure I'm rating the point guards high enough. Steve
> > Nash probably is the most valuable Maverick. Bibby is terribly
> > underrated (not underpaid).
> >
> >
> >
> > Anyway, Pierce is out of the elite group until he returns to 2001-02
> > form. In that top 11, by the way, there's a clear cutoff in my mind.
> > Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Garnett, T-Mac and Kidd are the truly elite players,
> > with LeBron and Yao well on their way to joining that list. Nowitzki,
> > Jermaine O'Neal and Peja are a notch below because they don't make
> > everyone better -- the others do.
> >
> >
> >
> > As for the original point about Iverson, no thanks, and it has nothing
> > to do with his tattoos. He doesn't practice (only Bill Russell ever
> > earned that right), is completely uncoachable, plays a style that will
> > never result in a championship and has seen his best years. No way. Not
> > at the price it would cost to get him (think Pierce).
> >
> >
> >
> > Speaking of Pierce, it was nice to see him play better Saturday night.
> > If he can continue to do that, the Celts are in good shape for the
> > playoffs and the future. If those games continue to be the exception
> > rather than the rule, they're in trouble. By the way, the difference
> > between the lottery pick that comes with missing the playoffs and the
> > pick as the last playoff team is shrinking. Right now it would be three
> > spots 11-14. With that difference, it's better to make the playoffs. But
> > a pick as high as seven still is within reach. In my opinion, the
> > worst-case scenario is what we see now - just missing the playoffs, but
> > playing well enough to miss out on a top-eight pick. I want them either
> > to make the playoffs, or go in the tank and get that high pick. One or
> > the other. No in between.
> >
> >
> >
> > Mark