Dec 10, 2008 - 1:40 AM
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This is not what the Detroit Pistons had in mind when they acquired All-Star guard Allen Iverson a little more than a month ago.
Detroit suffered its latest embarrassing setback Tuesday, blowing a 17-point lead en route to a 107-94 defeat to the Eastern Conference's worst team, the Washington Wizards.
Afterwards, Iverson acknowledged it has been an awkward transition joining the Pistons, who are just 8-9 since they sent fan-favorite Chauncey Billups, veteran forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for the four-time league scoring champion.
"Am I comfortable? Sometimes I am and sometimes I'm not - simple as that," Iverson said.
"Anybody watching a basketball game and saw games that I played over the years, then obviously you would say that it doesn't look like me out there because that's not my role like it used to be."
Iverson, who has spent much of his 13-year career at point guard, was moved to the two-guard after Pistons coach Michael Curry inserted Rodney Stuckey into the starting lineup to run the offense against the Wizards.
The 33-year-old Iverson, who has not scored 20 points in his last nine games, was the focal point of the offense during his 10-plus years in Philadelphia and alongside co-star Carmelo Anthony for two-plus seasons with the Denver Nuggets.
"I have a totally different role here and, if it translates to success, I'm totally happy with it," Iverson said. "But it feels different. I don't feel like myself out there on the basketball court."
In what was thought to be the move that could return Detroit to the NBA Finals after three straight exits in the Eastern Conference finals, the trade for Iverson has yet to show the Pistons are better off at all.
Nicknamed "The Answer," Iverson has provoked more questions for Detroit. He is in a situation where he must share the ball - and the shots - with fellow veterans Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince.
Tuesday's loss followed a 12-point defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks and dropped the Pistons to 11-9 on the season.
Iverson, for his part, thinks that his team's struggles cannot be blamed just on his arrival.
"I don't think one player will have anything to do with having a 17-point lead and then it dissolves like that," Iverson said. "Obviously, it's not going to be fair and something is going to be there - it's going to be an issue - but I don't think one player could have took a 17-point lead away and gave a game away like this.
"It's going to be talked about, but I don't think that's the issue."
While Detroit - which has advanced to the conference finals in six straight seasons - should have no problem earning a playoff berth in the East, it remains to be seen whether it can take the next step and play for a second NBA title this decade.
One thing is for sure, if the Pistons' new superstar doesn't find his niche with his new team, he'll probably be watching two other clubs - maybe, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers - vie for the spot in the league's championship series this spring.
