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Point guard Allen Iverson has been a busy man. Since he burst onto the scene last season with extraordinary skills and precious few wins to show for them, he has been exhibit A of what is good—and bad—about young players today. He was vilified for declaring that he didn't feel the need to respect anyone on the basketball court (the player in question at the time was Michael Jeffrey Jordan) and became the snotty Generation X poster child whom retired and active NBA veterans attacked as the representative of what is ailing the sport. "I've been through it all, in one year," said Iverson. "I'm not worried about anything. I feel like I've seen most of it already." The package Iverson delivered last year included his Reebok sneaker, called the Question (the sequel, called—you guessed it—the Answer, is on the way), a Rookie of the Year trophy (veteran Charles Barkley asserted that what Iverson really deserved was to be named Playground Rookie of the Year) and averages of 23.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, the Sixers' record was 22-60. The controversy swirling around Iverson intensified in August when a speeding car in which he was riding was stopped by Virginia police. Iverson was charged with possession of a concealed handgun and marijuana. After he pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor gun charge, the marijuana charge was dropped, and Iverson had a new issue to address. Meanwhile, Iverson was preparing for his second season with his second coach, Larry Brown, a specialist at turning around moribund ball clubs and well-known for squeezing the most out of his players. Brown, himself a former pro point guard, has a reputation for showing no mercy toward his floor leaders, but he named Iverson team captain before the season opener. The marriage of Iverson and Brown will have its uneasy days, but the exuberance each showed toward the other in the preseason was promising. Indeed, after one session with his new mentor, Iverson declared, "I think God has sent me Larry Brown." The rest of the Sixers are hoping to share Iverson's enthusiasm. Brown's other task is to bridle the obvious yet undisciplined talents of Jerry Stackhouse, who checked in with some gaudy offensive numbers of his own (20.7 points) last season. The Sixers must find shots for Jimmy Jackson, acquired from New Jersey in a draft-day deal. Jackson had the most erratic season of his five-year career in 1996-97 and is hoping to find a niche under the watchful eye of Brown. If he can, Jackson and Stackhouse will split minutes at shooting guard and small forward. The biggest challenge facing Brown will be to persuade power forward Derrick Coleman to play every night and to realize the potential that he has been unable to tap into during his lackluster seven-year career. Despite requesting a trade, Coleman showed up at camp on time and has done what's been asked of him. His college coach, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, observed, however, that Coleman needs to lose at least 20 pounds to be effective. A happy and productive Coleman could help stabilize a front line that includes long-suffering small forward Clarence Weatherspoon, who has already been cheered by the occasional pick-and-roll Brown has designated for him to run off the bench in the preseason. Because he is in the final year of his contract, though, 'Spoon remains prime trade bait. Rookie Tim Thomas, who has shown flashes of brilliance, will have a veteran tutor in Terry Cummings, who was brought aboard more for his wisdom than his productivity. Iverson, too, will be asked to stop and listen to Cummings and his helpful hints on surviving life under the NBA microscope. Yet the Sixers will need more than just talk to cover their lack of firepower in the middle. Center Eric Montross had a fine rookie season in Boston but has been mediocre in two stops since, and Michael Cage's best days are behind him. That means the Sixers will again be a guard-oriented team. For good or ill, Iverson has laced up his new sneakers and will provide Philly with some answers.
—Jackie MacMullan
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