Iverson misses flight to Turkey
Former 76ers star guard Allen Iverson was scheduled to depart for Istanbul, Turkey today. Iverson signed a 2-year/$4 million deal last week. Just now, while waiting for Doug Collins at the Wells Fargo Center, this news came from Twitter.
Iverson misses flight to Turkey
Former 76ers star guard Allen Iverson was scheduled to depart for Istanbul, Turkey today. Iverson signed a 2-year/$4 million deal last week. Just now, while waiting for Doug Collins at the Wells Fargo Center, this news came from Twitter.
From @ismailsenol: "Besiktas Cola Turka's Allen Iverson missed his flight to Istanbul and his arrival delayed to Monday." And then this a few minutes later: "Besiktas board announced that they delayed the big public press conference to a further date."
And what follows is the original intention of this blog post:
Maybe it's because the previous two years were filled with injuries and subpar production, maybe it's because last season Elton Brand spent a good amount of time on the bench, or maybe it's because the 76ers are off to a 1-4 start, but whatever the reason, Brand's productivity this season has gone somewhat unnoticed.
Through five games -- a small sampling, yes -- Brand is averaging 18.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks a game. He has been the team's high rebounder in all five games. He's shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. He's leading the team in offensive rebounds (21 -- the next closest player has 7) and defensive rebounds (27). He has the most steals (13) on the team and has been playing 36.8 minutes a game, second only to Andre Iguodala (38.8 minutes).
Before tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sixers coach Doug Collins spoke about Brand's play this season. You can check out that video, which should be embedded in this post.
One person who never doubted Brand's ability to return to form after back-to-back, season-ending injuries was Brand himself, who spent last season very plainly stating that the reason his numbers were low was because his minutes were low. Last season Brand played 30.2 minutes a game, averaging 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. It's too early to debate whether Brand has fully returned to form, we'll wait for that debate until we get at least 20 games into the season, but each game will bring him closer towards proving his doubters incorrect.
"First of all, Elton is a very proud man," Collins said tonight. "And he knows he has not played the way he has wanted to play for the last couple of years. When you come in at 252 with 6 percent body fat, I think you’re telling people: I’m ready to go. And I like to think the things we’re doing are playing to his strengths."
Tonight's game tips off at 7:12 p.m.
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
Comment removed.
Just wait til Fan Appreciation Day!!— younged- Turkey, I mean we're talikn' bout Turkey...not Boston but Turkey, we're talkin' bout Turkey!— JBP
i gave it two weeks when he signed . maybe it won't even last that long.- diggin kate's new bio pic!— weir99
- AI misses his flight to Turkey. Why am I not surprised. What, I can't carry my handgun on?— P Even
- dum-dum fresh,Uneed to be on that flight to turkey........or somehere else.— t_darb_56
- Airplanes, we talkin bout airplanes.— youpeoplehaveissues
- @weir99 By mid season Kate will be Sixers shooting guard too.— eaglescali
- Is that her in the purple dress :)— BBAX
- Kate, I think you're pretty awesome. I wish the Sixers would do better just so you have more fun covering them.— Zee77
- Just like Rudy, AI is hoping to once again run onto the 76ers floor. Doug might have told Iverson he would like to bring him back to the Sixers.— Drew777
- How pathetic that this is the top story on the page. Philly reporters GET A LIFE, and stop following 35 year old guards around. I am more concerned about our CURRENT roster, especially two players with 80 million dollar contracts that cant make an all star team.— ahmir
- Maybe the dog ate his flight pass. What a bunch of Istanbulsheet!— dasher
- Why does anybody even care if he missed his flight or not. For the entire off season AI couldn't get the the press nor any NBA team to spit on him if he was on fire. Now anything negative about him is put out there like it's really news worthy. Incredible... Oh and he's still better than half the stiffs filling out NBA rosters right now.— jimjam
Keith Pompey has been an Inquirer reporter since September 2004. He takes over the Sixers beat after covering the Temple men’s basketball team for the past three years and Temple football the past two seasons. Pompey also previously covered the Penn and Drexel men’s basketball team and Villanova football team after initially focusing on high school sports.
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh. Follow him on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers or reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
