Vecsey's support of A.I. highlights news and notes

	It's hard to understand why the NBA's second-highest scorer, Allen Iverson, doesn't merit a tryout for the U.S. Olympic team. Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE via Getty Images
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A look at what you may have missed over the weekend in the exciting world of NBA journalism.

• A Boston Globe reader suggests raising the basketball goal to 11-feet, eight inches, in order to counter athletic evolution and encourage the teaching of fundamentals. This is a good idea for those of you who pine for the days when a 6-foot-3 power forward would lead the league with a 41 percent mark from the field.

• As he's done dozens of times since 1999, Vin Baker is saying all the right things. And as we've done dozens of times since the lockout year, we're hoping he means it.

• Peter Vecsey's defense of Allen Iverson is a must-read. AI's game may not be your cup of tea, but anyone averaging more than 33 points and seven assists at least deserves the chance to try and prove his game can fit in with the USA Basketball roster. His mellow reaction to being passed over for the tryout roster has us wondering if his subdued tone is the right way to cope with rejection. If anything, bank on an in-practice blowup at some point, and John Salmons better watch it.

• Mike Monroe has the same weird eyebrow thing going on that I have in my SI.com picture, and he wonders if the San Antonio Spurs (as presently constructed) are going to hold up until late June.

• Dave D'Alessandro details the major issues dogging the Seattle SuperSonics (too cheap) and Portland Trail Blazers (kinda, how do you say ... clueless).

• It wouldn't be a complete weekly wrap up without a gratuitous shot at Isiah Thomas, however indirect. New Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo credits Zeke's needless acquisition of Jalen Rose (more specifically, the future cap flexibility it allowed the Raptors) as one of the bigger reasons for his jump from Phoenix to Ontario.

• Jonathan Feigen reminds us that Jeff Van Gundy is perpetually peeved, and that Darko Milicic is not Michael Jordan. Thanks, mate.

• Mark Heisler doesn't think that the NBA's kids have gotten out of hand, but he's damn sure that the expectations for these neophytes have skyrocketed. Anxious times, indeed. Heisler's also plenty chuffed with the way things have turned out in Detroit.

• Mark Murphy wonders why Elton Brand can't get more support for an MVP bid. I'm still trying to figure out why Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is obsessed with that one blue suit. You know which one I'm talking about. The pinstripe one, his favorite blazer, looks like something Max Weinberg would wear.

• Ira Winderman throws some cold water on the silly stories about the Cavaliers' supposed swoon. Still, the Cavs seem to do most of their offensive damage with isolation plays that either turn into slashing drives or open 3s from the weak side, which isn't a system worth banking on. Akron Beacon Journal columnist Brian Windhorst would like to see Cleveland employ some sort of offensive coordinator in 2006-07.

• Tim Povtak starts his column off with a Mastercard "priceless" parody -- and you know what? Those things never get old.