Just when you think things can't get any worse for the Iverson Pistons

[cboy4]

Detroit guard Allen Iverson will miss his third straight game with a back injury Tuesday night when the Pistons host the Denver Nuggets.



Iverson will see a specialist in Washington, D.C., to get a second opinion on his injury, which he fears may be more serious than first thought, sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

Iverson, traded from the Nuggets in November for guard Chauncey Billups, left Wednesday's loss to the Hornets in the first quarter after aggravating the back strain he sustained in Tuesday's loss to the Heat.

Iverson was replaced in the starting lineup Friday by Richard Hamilton, who scored 31 points to fuel a victory over the Orlando Magic. Hamilton led the Pistons again Sunday with 25 points in a win over the Celtics.

Coach Michael Curry said last week he was hoping a new lineup would jump-start his Pistons (29-29):wow:, who are tied for sixth in the East with Philadelphia. The top eight teams in each conference advance to the playoffs.

"This change is more than about Allen and Rip," Curry said last week about the timing of the lineup shift coming amid Iverson's injury. "We hope that with this change, more guys will play better. That's what we are seeking. Hopefully this will allow us to execute better, get us back in sync and rejuvenate us."

Iverson is averaging career lows with 18.0 points and 37.5 minutes per game.

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Let's see how Denver is doing without Iverson.

39-21

[trumad]

1. Boy you gotta a boner with this guy....

[cboy4]

2. It drives me crazy that teams think they can win with the guy.

And I'm appalled at the way he treated Larry Brown in Philadelphia.

[dakota_democrat]

4. They don't think that.

They thought they could write off a ton of cap room for 2010, and felt Billups was old enough where they didn't want to invest a large, long-term contract on him.

They realized their window had closed, and went into rebuilding mode. It sucks for fans, but 'tis the nature of pro sports.

[T Wolf]

3. Watching him in Philly for those years taught me one thing - the man is a warrior.

If he is out of the lineup for even one game, you know it is a serious injury. If he is out for longer, most others would retire.

This is not to defend anything else about him.

But Allen Iverson is the toughest SOB in the league as far as playing hurt is concerned.

[Captain Hilts]

5. He is one of THE toughest guys to play the game. Among the hardest working too.

Philly didn't deserve him.

[cboy4]

8. And Philly will have a much better shot of winning a ring without

him, just like Denver will.

Detroit is officially doomed, however.

[Captain Hilts]

10. It's a different team with a different coach. nt

[cboy4]

11. No, Detroit holds a below .500 record since acquiring

Iverson.

But nice try.

[Captain Hilts]

12. We're talking about Philly. nt

[cboy4]

7. And again, I have never once questioned his warrior

characteristics.

I'm saying he's not a team player, because it's more than a coincidence someone who's averaged 30ish points over his career has led all of his teams nowhere.

[LisaM]

6. I have to say they look better without him

Though I think that he can learn a little bit while he's healing about how he could better contribute to the Pistons. Sunday's game was sweet.

[cboy4]

9. Lisa, you guys will make the playoffs .. prolly as a 6-7-8

seed, but it's all over the second the ref throws the ball up to jump the first game involving Iverson.

He is the kiss of death. Look at your record. It's atrocious compared to the impressive W-L .pct's you end up with year after year in Auburn Hills.

[LisaM]

13. But what if he comes off the bench? they haven't tried that much

I think he should accept he's a role player off the bench right now. And he can't fit into the team system. My SO was saying that when Iverson's out there, everyone else just stands still and watches him run around.

[cboy4]

14. Well, I would say it wouldn't hurt to try off the bench, because

he leads teams nowhere as a starting 5.

Still, I think he's a magnet of failure, and there's something about his demeanor out on the court that transforms his play into a detrimental package of CAN'T PLAY AS A TEAM.

There's a relatively unknown, yet very talented player in the NBA, who was always known as a choke artist whenever the Kings made the playoffs.

Peja would light up the 3's throughout the year, but the second the playoffs started, it was like Stevie Wonder was on the court.

I believe New Orleans is now in the same position.