Geoff Calkins: 目前、AI是灰熊要的「答案」 - 籃球

因為英文Title過長的關係，故翻譯大標題。

Source: http://0rz.tw/ZCmlI

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Geoff Calkins: So far, Grizzlies' Allen Iverson has right answers

By Geoff Calkins / September 29, 2009

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On his first day in uniform, Allen Iverson said the Grizzlies are his team.

Yep, it happened. I know because I asked the question.

"Are the Grizzlies your team?" I said.

"I think so," he said. "I think any team that I'm on is my team."

So much for the notion of fitting into a role, eh? So much for ...

"I think this is Zach's team," Iverson continued. "I think this is Rudy's
team. I think this is O.J.'s team. I think this is Mike's team. I think this
is Marc's team. It's our squad."

Then the guy smiled. This is not going to be dull, is it?

The Memphis Grizzlies opened what promises to a wildly compelling season with
a press conference for their wildly compelling addition.

Oh, the rest of the team showed up for media day, too. Hasheem Thabeet looked
tall. Marc Gasol looked trim. Rudy Gay was really darn funny.

But Iverson was the show. Call it foreshadowing. If there's anyone who thinks
this Grizzlies season isn't all about Iverson, I have a Marko Jaric jersey
I'd like to sell you.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, either. Not given the thin gruel that
the Grizzlies have been dishing out the last few years in place of actual
entertainment.

But all it took was one press conference to confirm that Iverson doesn't
exactly plan on going gently into that good night.

He couldn't if he wanted to, honestly. He has too much charisma.

Iverson didn't just answer questions at Monday's media day, he presided.

He said that he wants to be team captain. He answered questions that weren't
even directed at him.

Most of the questions were directed at him, mind you. But two or three times,
reporters specifically asked Zach Randolph -- who shared the lectern with
Iverson -- about one thing or another.

Iverson jumped in and answered those questions, too. Brilliantly, naturally.
But if the guy can't help himself from taking over a press conference, how is
he going to help himself on the basketball court?

Answer: He's not.

Which is -- let me emphasize again -- not necessarily a bad thing.

Iverson at 34 is more entertaining than any player who's ever played for the
Grizzlies. But don't be misled by Iverson's happy talk about the importance
of chemistry and structure in winning ball games.

Someone asked Iverson how his former Philadelphia team made it to the NBA
Finals.

"Because of the identity and the structure," he said.

(Pause).

"Everybody knew that I was going to shoot up all the balls and my teammates
accepted that," he said.

There was laughter all around, after that one. But that's the kind of
structure Iverson has always found most comfortable.

If the Grizzlies wanted something else this season, they should have made it
clear to him in their meeting.

Instead, they avoided the subject. Never even asked Iverson if he'd be
willing to come off the bench.

So now he's here and, in just one day, clearly growing comfortable with the
role of team spokesman and leader.

He was expansive Monday. He was funny and honest and philosophical.

You should have heard Iverson's riff on how young players in the NBA can come
to accept losing. He talked for five straight minutes and was utterly
mesmerizing.

Which is why he can't and won't be anything but the focus of this team.
Because when has any Grizzlies player been mesmerizing?

He's too big a personality to accept a lesser role. He doesn't know how to be
anything other than what he's always been.

For nearly 20 minutes Monday, Iverson said all the right things. He said he
didn't care who took the last shot. He said he wanted to be a leader. And
then someone asked him if he could see himself in the role of sixth man.

Iverson looked crestfallen. Hurt, almost. Why would anyone want him to be a
sixth man?

"I'd be sitting here lying if I told you I wanted to be a sixth man after
being a starter all my life," he said. "But on the basketball court, I pretty
much can accomplish anything."

You see how he made sense of it, right? How he made sense of the possible
demotion?

Iverson can be a sixth man because he can do anything -- which is all the
more reason he won't be happy being a sixth man.

So this should be wonderful to watch. And I mean that sincerely.

Will Lionel Hollins have the nerve to ask Iverson to come off the bench? Will
Gay and Mayo get enough shots and minutes?

The only question we already know the answer to is the one we started with.

Is this Iverson's team?

Yes.

Of course it is.

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Only the strong survive- Iverson ⊕ ═█┘
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