04/18/24
November 04, 2006
Basketball is a Confidence Game: "The ball is in the right hands when it's in my hands." -- Allen Iverson, after his game-winning shot last night against the Orlando Magic
posted by rcade to basketball at 12:29 PM - 18 comments
Look at the bench or sidelines in any game, any level, and tell me confidence is not the difference at the end of the contest.
posted by Mustang 71 at 04:12 PM on November 04, 2006
I agree that confidence is key to success but I have to admit that I am not sure what I am supposed to see on the sidelines to prove it! Its hard to imagine the level of confidence that Iverson (small, poor, inner-city punk kid) must have had to persevere to achieve what he has. Its not just in the game but also off-the-court where you need it throughout your entire 'careeer' to the point where you are in a position make that game winning shot at the pro level. It might be hard for some to take (oh, that guy is so arrogant etc) but I expect all that really achieve at that level of play need to have it to a large degree.
posted by sfts2 at 05:45 PM on November 04, 2006
Confidence is key - but I think talent is pretty essential in order to make the ball go into the basket.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:40 PM on November 04, 2006
Agreed, Weedy. It takes a lot of talent, hard work, and perseverence to even get to play in this league, regardless of skill level. So there better be a good level of confidence in a man or else the league will eat him alive. Although I think Iverson does tend to run his mouth at times, I have respect for him and the fact that he lets his game do most of his talking for him.
posted by NerfballPro at 11:29 PM on November 04, 2006
small, poor, inner-city punk kid who you callin a punk?!?!?! Iverson is hella cool and playz with the most heart out of everybody in the league he is hella raw
posted by travisl212 at 03:18 AM on November 05, 2006
Hella raw ... that's good, right? In my day, we'd call a player like Iverson the bee's knees.
posted by rcade at 08:14 AM on November 05, 2006
He's the cat's ass; the wasp's nipples, even!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:09 AM on November 05, 2006
23 Ski-doo! The Cats Pyjamas!
posted by tommybiden at 10:23 AM on November 05, 2006
Grant Hill is 34 years old.
posted by charlatan at 04:46 PM on November 05, 2006
I'll try to reel this thread in (being a Philly guy, it's the only bright spot we have right now). Iverson's confidence is obviously spreading through the team with tonight's win, making them 3-0 for the 1st time since 00-01. They started 10-0 that year and went to the finals. If this team continues to shoot the lights out and play good defense, they will be a surprise contender in the east. Speaking of confidence: Sixers Forward Kyle Korver On his hot shooting over the last two games… “I’ve been getting open. A lot of that is the guys are setting great screens and Allen is looking for me. I’ve been able to get a good rhythm, hit my first couple shots the last couple games and that [has built] my confidence." Korver is red hot from behind the arch shooting 4-4 at Orlando and 5-6 against the Heat. Iverson had 31 points and 13 assists, 4 rebs and 2 stls, against the Heat tonight. This surprising start comes with C Webb not involved in the scoring yet, adding only 10 points against the Heat. Andre Iguodala, who was also qouted as saying his confidence was high, added 20 points, 7 rebs, 5 assts, 1 blk, and 1 stl. Thank you Sixers. Finally a sports team worth watching in Philly. For how long, no one knows. If it's confidence, we'll take it.
posted by Bishop at 12:50 AM on November 06, 2006
who you callin a punk?!?!?! Oh, I don't know, the guy who went to jail after belting some chick in the face with a chair during a brawl in a bowling alley, who's been arrested on charges from drug possession to gun possession. I guess that's who's being called a punk. Granted, Iverson's grown up over the years, but to act like it's unfathomable that some people still see him as a bit punkish is hella misguided and hella naive, to say the least.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:10 AM on November 06, 2006
I've been a fan of Iverson since he hung 48 on the Los Angeles Lakers in game one of the 2001 NBA Finals, the second-best finals performance of the last 30 years. The 76ers had no business being on the floor with the Lakers that year, and they won the first game and nearly took the second because of Iverson. As for his personal life, he's behaved poorly at times, but some of the incidents attributed to him are overblown. They'd never be reported by the media unless the athlete had a bad rep.
posted by rcade at 07:29 AM on November 06, 2006
Iverson's chair throwing incident happened whe he was 19. I think the statute of limitations on using it as evidence of his character is up after more than a decade. Yes, some people think he's the second coming and are naive to his past transgressions. Other seem to never be able to get over them, or look beyond some neck tattoos. For my money, Iverson is one of the most impressive athletes I've ever seen. For a guy his size to a) be as successful as he has, and b) play the kind of hell bent for leather game he has for this long, at this level, I can't see how anyone can not be floored by his career. He's an all-time great for all the right reasons - he plays harder, or as hard, as any athlete anywhere.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:56 AM on November 06, 2006
I've been an Allen Iverson fan from the very start of his career. Does anyone remember when he shook the hell out of His Airness, MJ? AI has been one of the greatest players to ever grace the hardcourt regardless of his tats & cornrolls. It seems to me that some people cannot get past that for whatever reason. I was actually at the game last night versus the Miami Heat and Iverson continues to dominate the game even though he is around 6', 165lbs. The players around him are really starting to gel starting with the other AI, Andre Iguodala and down to Kyle Korver. Chris Webber is starting to show his age but is a great complimentary player (pulling in a double-double last night). I just hope that the Sixers continue this path of winning and stay as hot as they have been. GO SIXERS!!!
posted by BornIcon at 12:53 PM on November 06, 2006
Allen Iverson Named Player of the Week. Iverson averaged a league-high 34.0 points on .493 shooting, while posting 9.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game to lead the Sixers to a 3-0 week. Iverson has scored 30-plus points in six straight games dating back to last season, two games shy of his career-best eight-game streak, and has scored 30-plus points in his last three season openers tying Michael Jordan's streak from the 1995-96 thru 1997-98 seasons. Here is a closer look at the week for Iverson. Nov. 1 vs. Atlanta: Posted 32 points, six assists and four rebounds in a 88-75 win over the Hawks. Nov. 3 @ Orlando: Connected on 15-of-25 field goals for 39 points, while adding 10 assists and three rebounds in a 105-103 win over the Magic. Nov. 5 vs. Miami: Recorded 31 points, 13 assists, four rebounds and two steals in a 107-98 win over the Heat. If only HE played for the Eagles.
posted by Bishop at 03:17 PM on November 06, 2006
Alright, the defense of Allen Iverson can rest, now. Somebody asked a question, I gave a couple of reasons why people might not be able to see the maturing, team leader that others see. Damn, it's not like I called the guy a primate. Sheesh.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:15 PM on November 06, 2006
Buzzer beating shots used to be all about confidence but now more are about dumb luck. Doing basketball season if you tune into sports center you can see at least one of the top ten plays of half court buzzer beater by people who sometime bearly play or never hit that shot again.
posted by msusportsguy at 06:32 PM on November 09, 2006
Surprised the article doesn't mention that Grant Hill played well but missed a game-tier at the buzzer- would seem to fit in well with the article's theme, given that he can't yet be playing with the level of confidence he once had, even though overall he's had two good games to start the season.