I'm The Truth like A.I.
- Shawn Carter, co-owner of the New Jersey Nets
It's been forgotten by many, but before Reebok made Allen Iverson "The Answer", his nickname was The Truth. (There was also Bubba Chuck, but that didn't seem like the best choice for marketing) Now it seems like A.I. might be joining the player who took over his moniker. The question is, can the two co-exist? Can there be two truths?
While A.I. and Pierce would be a backcourt for the ages, their games don't exactly complement one another. Both guys are number one options but Iverson especially seems to require that he's the focus on the offense. In the past, Allen has fared better surrounded by role players rather than fellow scorers. Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes, Derrick Coleman, Tim Thomas, Chris Webber, the players came and went. While none of them were the caliber of Pierce, the fact remains that the Sixers team that made the Finals featured Theo Ratliff as their second scorer and Eric Snow and Aaron McKie were key backcourt components. To get Iverson to work best with Pierce, A.I. would have to change up his game and you do not acquire Allen Iverson if part of your plan is that he alters his style in any way, shape, or form.
Ironically, if Iverson does come, the team will likely have a similar makeup of the team Ainge blew up: two players eating up all the shots while the rest of the team is left to do the dirty work. The problem is that the roster isn't built with people who can fill those roles. Theo Ratliff and Kendrick Perkins are solid in the middle but neither is athletic enough to guard upper echelon big men. Ryan Gomes and Big Al aren't exactly shutting anyone down either. Delonte West is talented but not on the defensive end, where Erick Strickland helped the 2002 team. Telfair is talented but wasted if A.I. is around. Also, his strength is offense and not defense. The only people on the roster who seem to really complement the Two Truths is Tony Allen and Rajon Rondo, but both have height issues and Rondo is reportedly part of the package to get Iverson.
Getting Iverson would have to be one step of a bigger overhaul. While Ainge has been the king of running half of a plan, he can't afford to aquire Iverson and then hope that Jefferson or Gomes matures into a role for which neither is suited. Another deal for a big man would have to happen. Unfortunately, Ainge might not even have that option. The Jay-Z song that nickname dropped Iverson was "Money Ain't a Thing" which is pretty much the diametric opposte of what the current Celtics owners believe. Money is most definitely a thing when it comes to the Celtics. A resigned Pierce to even a modest contract and Iverson eats up around two-thirds of the salary cap. The C's would be hard-pressed to add the final pieces and avoid the luxury tax.
While people hope that the A.I. deal would be like Houston adding Clyde Drexler, it's more like Houston adding Charles Barkley. It looks good on paper but in reality, it probably won't work out. We might be able to make a run for the conference finals, but in the end, we'll have too many flaws to beat the elite teams.
