Young Grizz eager to learn from veteran Iverson - 籃球

Source: http://0rz.tw/qQJd6

*********************************************************************

Young Grizz eager to learn from veteran Iverson

Published: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 11:08 p.m. MDT / By Teresa Walker

*********************************************************************

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rudy Gay listened as Grizzlies' teammate O.J. Mayo talked
of the team's need to meld at practice and couldn't stop himself from piping
in, "Practice?"

Oh yes, the player who's been with the Memphis Grizzlies the longest has seen
video of Allen Iverson's infamous 2002 rant during a feud with Larry Brown
about missing practice and heard that word maybe 20 times in the clip. Still,
Gay and the other Grizzlies are eager to learn from and play with the 10-time
All-Star and former league MVP. They're also hoping he helps them win more
games.

"Actually getting a chance to sit down and talk to him really shows his
growth," Gay said of Iverson. "Of course, that was a while ago, and Allen
Iverson is a talented player. To see his growth from then to now and how much
he's turned into a leader and how much he wants to win. ... It's definitely
someplace he wants to influence and bring that winning to Memphis."

The player nicknamed the Answer faces his biggest questions going into his
14th NBA season. Can Iverson, the scoring machine used to leading on the
court during games but not in practice, provide the leadership needed to turn
around a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2006?

Iverson sounds as if he's embracing that role.

"That's the fun part about being a veteran is that you get a chance to lead
guys to places they've never been before and give them something they've
never had in the league," Iverson said.

Leadership? From Iverson? The man happiest when his teammates feed him the
ball to take all the shots? Iverson said he learned how to be more vocal from
Eric Snow and Aaron McKie, and he wants the Grizzlies to follow his lead,
watching and learning what he called the right way of doing things to see how
it translates into wins.

He also understands how reaching the NBA can satisfy so many young players.
They start cashing paychecks, find themselves surrounded by people telling
them how great they are and get comfortable. Iverson, who hopes to be named a
team captain, wants to stoke their hunger to play games that really matter in
the postseason.

"I'm not saying that it matters a lot, but it does. I want to be something
people think I can't be," Iverson said.

No promises have been made or lineups drawn up yet.

Coach Lionel Hollins first wants to see in the preseason how Iverson and Zach
Randolph, an offseason trade pickup, combine with draft picks like Gay, Mike
Conley and O.J. Mayo. Gay and Mayo, so used to winning until they arrived in
Memphis, believe they can learn plenty from Iverson.

*********************************************************************

有人想要領養這一篇嗎？ 科科~~

--
Only the strong survive- Iverson ⊕ ═█┘
⊕ ●╱ 　　　 Ｗ
● ●︵ ● ●)) ３╯
<３\ /３⊕ ／３﹚ ３ \\
/>⊕ >/ ⊕ ╲> >>
========= http://www.wretch.cc/blog/AWEI3 =========

--