The A.I. is adapting (NBA)

When the Denver Nuggets traded (got rid of?) Allen Iverson to the Pistons for Chauncey Billups and change 17 days ago, the immediate impact was pretty clear.

Denver got a solid team player that’s averaged 14.8 PPG over his career, and Detroit got a player with a 27.6 PPG career average who once told the press, “How the hell am I supposed to make my teammates better by goin’ to practice?”  After the trade, the Nuggets went 3-0 and the Pistons went 1-2.

But I’m a huge proponent of the “wait and see” school of basketball analysis, and for those in Detroit who thought the Pistons were as screwed as the auto industry, last night’s game against the Cavs should at least give Detroit something to believe in.

Everyone knows that adjustments take time–especially in sports.  Yes, some adjustments take more time than others, but they take time all the same.  Billups gelled in Denver almost immediately, which a good sign for the Nuggets.  Iverson’s assimilation into Detroit’s lineup took a while longer but it looks to be clicking now, and suddenly, it’s not as obvious that Denver got the better end of that deal.

See what happens when you’re patient?  You don’t have to eat as many of your own words.

In Detroit, Iverson is doing what the Pistons brought him in to do: making good on his offense.  Iverson scored 23 points or more in four of Detroit’s last seven games, including wins against the Lakers in L.A. to (handing them their only loss of the season) and Cleveland last night to snap the Cavs’ eight-game win streak (despite a killer performance from LeBron).

Now Detroit is only half a game behind in the Central, and they’re in the Garden tonight against Boston for what I’m sure will be a great basketball game.

I know it’s still early in the season and by my own philosophy should wait a bit before handing down a verdict on their post season odds, but it’s safe to say the Pistons are starting to look like the same old playoff threat they usually are, only with a few new (higher scoring) details.

If the Pistons wake up tomorrow morning with wins not only against the Cavs but the Lakers and Boston on the road, that’s an impressive rezzy no matter what time of year it is.

I’ll bet you anything a few tunes will change on the talk radio circuit, and Iverson will have a lot more fans than he did a week ago.

Heck, if Detroit keeps this up, Iverson might actually enjoy going to practice again.

–Joey Alfino, Red Editorial Staff.