Iverson back to Brotherly Love

So Allen Iverson is returning to Philadelphia. To the team that drafted him and where he was named the 1996-97 Rookie of the Year. He was named an All-Star 10 times, which included winning the All-Star MVP award in 2001 and 2005. Four times the former Georgetown Hoya won the NBA scoring title and in the same year he took the Sixers to the NBA Finals, 2001, he was named the league MVP.

I was browsing ESPN.com and reading an article that asked NBA analysts six questions about what this means, how they think it's going to pan out, et al.

Henry Abbott, JA Adande, Chris Broussard, Marc Stein, Chris Sheridan, and John Hollinger each had varied opinions, but they seemed to question the drama and issues A.I. brings to the table.

Should he start? Will he finish the season in Philly? What kind of influence will he have on the younger guys?

Wait a minute, what about all of the aforementioned accolades? How can a former league MVP and the NBA's fifth all-time scorer be an issue, especially when considering how the city of Philadelphia adored him, antics aside?

Personally I think signing Iverson is a smart move by the Sixers. Lou Williams is out for six weeks so they need a guard and they really cannot get a better player at a better price.

Now to answer the six questions posed to the experts.

Marketing move, basketball move or desperation move?

35% basketball, 35% desperation, 30% marketing. The Sixers are 5-13. If the season ended today they would be the fifth team left out of the playoffs. This has a lot to do with putting butts in seats but even more so to do with winning and more importantly winning ASAP.

Should A.I. start right away? What about when Williams returns?

He should without question start right off the bat if for no other reason than to simply keep him satisfied. If things go smoothly with him starting and the team looks better, why fix what isn't broken?

Bigger risk: Iverson disrupts team play or disrupts team off court?

While A.I. may have a tainted history with legal issues and "talkin bout practice," he's 34 now and been around the block a few times. Sure he's an off-court risk but I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt now that he's older and more mature. Give him his minutes and shots and that will help both the on and off-court disruptions. As for his baggage, do you honestly think the Sixers are concerned? This is the same town that gave Michael Vick a second chance. Oh and by the way Vick and Iverson are both from Newport News, Virginia. Ironic.

Will Iverson get the 76ers to the playoffs?

Yes. I'm saying that hopefully, but I think with him leading a solid group of young guys and Elton Brand to take some pressure off A.I. to score the Sixers can definitely be one of the eight best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Will Iverson finish the season with the Sixers?

Yes. He's 34 and signed with the team that drafted him less than a week after announcing his retirement. If he doesn't know by now that it's Philly or a rap career, clearly they didn't teach him much at Georgetown.

Bottom line: Good move or bad?

Great.

What's even greater is Iverson's first game back will be the Sixers hosting the Nuggets December 7 followed by none other than the Pistons December 9. Oh the drama!