How Will Allen Iverson Finish The Season In Detroit?

As I watched Allen Iverson's highlights on YouTube from his days as a Georgetown Hoya, I remembered just how amazing he was playing under Mr. John Thompson.

He still is.

Or is he?

Iverson's career has seemed to take a backseat to his aging and beat up body, and the Pistons have seemed to join him. That was until Rip Hamilton re-entered the starting lineup.

Iverson has never been a player who played from the bench at all. From his days as a quarterback at Bethel High School, Iverson is used to being the focal point of every offense and defense.

Defenses game-planning against his amazing talent, and his subsequent carving of any and everything standing in his way. One of the purest scoring guards in history, Iverson lit up any court he stepped his Reeboks on.

But, there was always one knock the critics and haters continually bashed against Iverson's head: he is a selfish player who can't play within a system.

There was no situation that could expose that point like joining a Detroit team who epitomized a system. Every player on that team fit into that system like squares of a quilt.

Going back to Iverson's Georgetown days, he always had the ball in his hands and was able to create his own shots and offense at will. With another trigger-happy guard playing alongside him in Victor Page, he and Iverson shot whenever they wanted to.

Guys such as Boubacar Aw and Sheikh Ya-Ya Dia were happy to rebound their sloppy seconds, and those teams were formidable because of Iverson and Page, but never made considerable noise.

Meanwhile, players like Richard Hamilton and Ray Allen made championship strides in the same conference with the Connecticut Huskies.

Iverson was selected 1st overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Sixers, and he didn't disappoint. In fact, Iverson's never disappointed, going hard every play and scrapping his way to a Hall of Fame career.

After his tumultuous split with the Sixers, he was united with George Karl, Carmelo Anthony, and the Nuggets. That relationship didn't work at all, and after minimal success which saw two first-round playoff exits, Iverson was dealt to the Pistons early this season.

Nothing seemed to fall in place for Iverson and the Pistons.

Struggling to play together, Iverson, Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace hobbled to the All-Star break barely playing .500 ball.

A once "class of the Eastern Conference" Pistons club barely winning half of their games? It seemed unthinkable, and of course all fingers pointed to Iverson.

Was it his perceived inability to play within a system and being exposed? Maybe the loss of point guard Chauncey Billups? Nobody knew, but Pistons coach Michael Curry decided to shake up the lineup.

Three-time All-Star Richard Hamilton will play from the bench and Iverson will be the starter. Rip co-signed the move in the media, and many were scratching their heads, including me.

How can you put arguably the most influential piece of the system on the bench in favor of the new guy who seemed to have shaken up the chemistry?

I didn't understand it, and after the move Hamilton began to show us just who he is, as if we forgot. Coming off of the bench, Hamilton averaged over 20 points while the Pistons lost eight in a row.

Hamilton publicly spoke about the move, saying that if it doesn't "help the team win" than he wants to be the starter.

Curry has had a rocky first year in Detroit, and facing a hard decision, Iverson made it easier for him falling to a back injury that forced Hamilton in the starting lineup. Rip looked amazing, and so did the Pistons.

Detroit defeated two of the NBA's best, the Magic and Celtics. Hamilton had 31 and 25 points respectively in the wins. He also averaged 7.5 assists in the wins.

Meanwhile, the media is buzzing about what will happen to the Answer when he returns from injury, barring the possibility that his back is worse than anticipated and missing significant time.

Curry has no choice, clearly. Hamilton stays in, Iverson out.

Iverson playing from the bench? It seems like the unthinkable, and you wonder can Iverson put his past achievements and ego aside to help the team win.

Will he?

We simply don't know, because we've never seen Iverson this way. He's always been the most effective offensive option for any team he's played for, Iverson has always been that entity with the ball in his hands who defies conventional basketball wisdom.

Barely a six-foot guard who can often score on anyone. A career scoring average of 27.1 ppg and 6.2 apg. League MVP. Iverson's credentials speak for themselves.

Does his basketball character speak just as loudly? Is he willing to age as a basketball star playing a different role? Does he want to win at all costs, even if he isn't involved the same way he's used to?

We will soon find out. "The Answer" will be the answer to the Pistons season and playoff hopes.

Besides, he's playing for a contract somewhere next season.

We know it won't be in red, white and blue.