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Everything old is new again: A.I., 76ers stink

Just like in his 1996 rookie season, Philly’s among NBA’s worst teams

Image: IversonGetty Images Contributor
When Allen Iverson joined the 76ers in 1996, they were one of the NBA's worst teams. Now, at the end of his career, they're again one of the worst, writes Ira Winderman.

Ira Winderman
The moment was electric. Allen Iverson was back. There was a pulse at Wachovia Center. Fans in the seats. In every seat.

They were partying like it was 2001.

Then Monday's game against the Nuggets began. And the 76ers got perhaps more than they bargained for.

No, not from the extra attention on Iverson — who had his moments in this encore debut — but also was 4 of 11 from the field and a prime contributor to Chauncey Billups' 31-point night.

Rather, it was from an increased focus on a team that continues to plummet to the bottom of the standings, a team that now has lost 10 in a row.

Who knew the 76ers were this bad, capable of essentially being blown out on a night when Carmelo Anthony was just 5 of 21 and Kenyon Martin was playing with a bum hand?

If Philadelphia fans were thankful for Iverson's return, they also should be thankful for the putrid basketball up the Jersey turnpike. Only the Nets separate the 76ers from last place in the Eastern Conference.

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So now the NBA-TV focus goes away, as, likely, do any future plans for 76ers national broadcasts.

What remains is an Iverson, 34, who showed he still can be competitive, energetic and, at times, even spectacular.

What also remains is a 76ers team that is even worse than the 38-44 edition that cast Iverson aside at the start of the 2006-07 season.

They're worse than the Grizzlies, who Iverson deemed not worthy of his presence after a mere three games in Memphis earlier this season.

While coach Eddie Jordan has committed to Iverson as his starting point guard even when Lou Williams returns, what happens when 11 games under .500 turns to 20, when the future focus becomes the only logical focus?

In his 38 minutes Monday, Iverson very much showed he has a place in the 2009-10 NBA.

But, beware: It’s not always sunny in Philadelphia.

In the end, this figures to turn more into sideshow than anything of substance.

When Iverson broke into the league in his initial Philadelphia go-round, it was with a 76ers team that went 22-60 in 1996-97.

Apparently, you can go home again, especially when home is the bottom of the standings.

Ira Winderman writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the Heat and the NBA for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

© 2012 NBC Sports.com  Reprints

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