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| Those don't look like official Olympic warm-ups. |
Let's start with the facts. AI should be an Olympian—no ifs, ands, or cornrows. On the day word leaked that the Answer wasn't asked to represent his country, Iverson chose to, in the words of Stuart Scott, straight represent with a tidy 40 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in a win at Houston. And keep in mind he posted those numbers playing alongside a one-legged C-Webb and a host of second stringers¿as he has been all season¿while averaging 7.4 APG¿which is more assists than all but two of those were invited to attend the tryouts.
So imagine what he could do alongside talented players. Just check out his All-Star Game averages of 18 PPG, seven APG, and 2.7 SPG, which he put up playing with many of the guys selected to try out for Team USA in limited minutes. Isn't that exactly the type of all-around production U.S. national team director, Jerry Colangelo, is looking for when he picks "hustle" (read: not gifted) guys like Shane Battier? Short answer: no. Long answer: It's actually a lot more.
So who's going to get all of these pure shooters and role players the ball where they need it? Yes, the smaller names on the roster add the marksmanship and defense that we so sorely missed in 2004, but with Steve Nash already committed to the Canadian hockey team, we don't have any point guard depth. As it is now, I trust a mature Chauncey Billups, but after that our best hopes at distributing the ball against all of those international zones are in the hands of a still-learning Chris Paul and a still-can't-believe-he-was-invited Luke Ridnour. Iverson hasn't been a distributing point guard on his team because no one else can score in Philly, but imagine the damage AI could do by penetrating and dishing if he was flanked by LeBron and Kobe.
And stop questioning the Answer's attitude¿he was the only player from the third-place team who was willing to man up and demand a second shot at gold. That's the type of commitment that we couldn't get out of other superstars like Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, and Tracy McGrady. So while everyone praises the new selections for their emphasis on role players and defenders and clean records, don't forget what we will sorely be missing in Beijing: unparalleled intensity and production at the point guard spot. That and jersey sales.