In this high-stakes era of basketball, when a sneeze could keep a guy out, Allen Iverson is as permanent in the Nuggets’ lineup as a neck tattoo.
Fans, inevitably, voted Iverson into the All-Star Game because of his glitzy points per game, not his gritty minutes per game. But he entered the weekend with 41.8 minutes per game, tops in the NBA. He doesn’t sit out games. Two weeks ago, he sat out a shootaround, gently holding his left wrist with his right hand, flashing the occasional wince. That night, he scored 29 points, while banging his way to the free-throw line 18 times, making 15. Denver won, against Atlanta, without Carmelo Anthony.
Iverson, in his 12th NBA season, has yet to miss a game, the only Nugget to do so. In the past week, he played all 48 minutes at Memphis, Denver’s third road game in four nights. It was the second time this season he played a full game. The last time a Nugget played two or more full games in a season was Dale Ellis in 1996-97.
Iverson entered the weekend third in the league with 27.0 points per game, and we know about his minutes per game. But then consider that he leads the league in total minutes, too. This is a more telling stat, because a guy could average 48 minutes a game, but if he plays only half the games, it’s a dubious distinction.
If the 32-year-old Iverson leads the league in total minutes, which would be the second time in his career (2002-03), he would tie the record as the oldest player to do so.
In 1971-72, Boston’s John Havlicek turned 32 in April, the season he led the league with 3,698 minutes. Iverson turns 33 on June 7.
Washington’s Elvin Hayes was 31 when he led the league in minutes in 1976-77. The most recent player in his 30s to lead the league in minutes was Anthony Mason, who turned the big 3-0 during the 1995-96 season.
Quantifying Iverson’s grit is easy with the minutes statistics. Qualifying it, just watch Iverson pinball through a defense and then make an off-balance shot — in the fourth quarter. Or, ask those who watch him every day. Coach George Karl said Iverson has “a superhuman body.” And one Nuggets official called Iverson James Brown. James Brown? Because he’s the hardest-working man in the basketball business.
Lakers go from good to great.
Kwame Brown, arguably, is the biggest underachiever in the NBA. The former No. 1 overall pick — and now former Laker — was shipped on Friday to the Memphis Grizzlies. In August 2005, the Lakers made one of their worst trades in history, acquiring Brown and Laron Profit from Washington for Caron Butler and current Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins. Butler is now a thriving star. But, in the last week, the Lakers might have made one of their best trades by shipping away Brown. The Lakers received former all-star Pau Gasol, who should fit splendidly into the Lakers’ lineup. He averages 18.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, and should fill the void at center until March, when budding center Andrew Bynum returns from injury. Throw in the talented Lamar Odom, blossoming guard Jordan Farmar and, oh yeah, Kobe Bryant, and suddenly you have a contender. It was as recently as the 2007 summer when the luminary Bryant criticized management.
On Friday, Bryant told reporters: “It shows a great deal of commitment from the organization. It’s a great step. It’s a matter of us just jelling now and putting it together. We’ve got a great bench. We have a lot of length, a lot of versatility. Now it’s time to walk the walk.”
Getting Jazzed.
Speaking of playoff contenders, the Utah Jazz is back to playing like the Utah Jazz. The Nuggets’ division rival has seven straight victories. Guard Deron Williams is not an all-star, but only three NBA players average more assists than Williams’ 9.5, and those three are all-stars.
D-League honor.
Colorado 14ers post Elton Brown was named NBA Development League player of the month for January. It was a heck of a month for the University of Virginia product. The 14ers played 10 games in January, and Brown averaged 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. During a 14ers’ five-game winning streak, the 6-9 Brown averaged 19.8 points, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Brown also grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds — twice.
SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
Jose Calderon, G, Raptors
Yes, it’s the Eastern Conference, but entering this weekend, only three teams from the conference had more victories than the Toronto Raptors.
And even though their electric point guard, T.J. Ford, is recovering from injury, their offense has been fluid in the sturdy hands of a lesser-known guard. Calderon averages 8.8 assists per game, fifth-most in the league. And his name pops up all over the league-leader lists. For instance, Calderon is third with a 91.6 free-throw percentage. And he is ninth in 3-point percentage (44.8). He has cracked double-digit assists in six of the last seven games, including a dazzling performance in a “we-belong” victory against the Celtics. That night, the Spaniard scored 24 points on 8-for-10 shooting, and added 13 assists.
Now in his third season in the league, the Raptors guard has increased his scoring each season, 5.5 to 8.7 to 12.3 this year.
His role in the lineup has proven paramount. In victories, Calderon averages 9.5 assists. In losses — 7.9. And in the last five games entering the weekend, Calderon’s assist average was a jaw-dropping 12.0.
