By Ed DeMayo - It dawned on me today that Allen Iverson is the NBA's equivalent of the NFL's Terrell Owens. Aging superstars that have been superior athletes throughout their careers but both have been major team distractions wherever they have gone. They are lightning rods of the media and sell papers or increase viewership because of their comments. Some comments are blown out of proportion, some are not. Both have put up hall of fame numbers, but both also had to settle for playing on sub-par teams this year as options ran out because no owners wanted to deal with their off-the-court/field comments or divisiveness.

I doubt either are bad guys, I don't know them personally, but based strictly on past behavior in their team settings, their ego's have clearly caused team disharmony. They proclaim to speak "the truth" but sometimes that is a one-sided truth and they do not understand how making somewhat raw comments can rub people the wrong way both in and out of the locker room. They do not realize that in making comments about desperately wanting to be more involved because they think they can help a team win, they come across as being negative and selfish. The thought process of wanting to contribute more to win is fine, but the words they use never seem to come out correctly, yet they continue to speak to the media.

Understandably, they are used to one way - the starring role. Unfortunately when anyone tries to change their role or get them out of their comfort zone they have been so conditioned to being "the man" in the past that it is very hard to let go of being the center of attention without complaining about it or throwing others under the bus. Instead they revert to being defensive and sound off to the media how they are not being used properly, which causes rifts in the locker room and team disunity.

I am not a hater of either T.O. or A.I., I actually have fun watching them play and think some of their quotes have been blown out of proportion over the years, but even I cannot make excuses for all of the things they have done. The history is plain to see and most of the negatives they have brought on themselves...even if they are too proud to admit it. Now in the twilight of their careers, these once great athletes are relegated to playing for non-contenders, not because their skills have overtly declined, but because their ego's have left them isolated to only few who would want them and it is more than clear that their last chances of mattering anymore are running out.


MILLER TIME?
So far the Andre Miller experiment in Portland has not been a success. It was an odd signing to begin with since Miller is not a long distance shooting point man, which the team feelt they needed to space the floor correctly...thus the reason why Steve Blake is still the starter. The reality is that the team is playing slow and lethargic and Miller is and never should have been a bench player. Nate McMillan needs to make the change and insert Miller as the starter to get this team going.
Update: Nate McMillan got the memo...Miller is in the starting lineup...and the team got the win. Hmmmm? Don't want want to say I told you so, but....

RANDOLPH GAMES
Golden State fans need to be patient with Anthony Randolph and Don Nelson's wacky starting lineups. Eventually Randolph will start producing big numbers as we saw down the stretch last year. Nelson did this same shuffling of his lineup at the start of last season before eventually settling on a 'starting lineup'. Don't be fooled, Nelson can only throw around the "...he's only 19" excuse for Randolph for so long. He is too talented to sit and he will be starting when Nelson stops his tinkering...and when Randolph starts being humble and checking his ego at the door.

FOUL ON ODEN
There is no denying that Greg Oden is a good big man, but he won't reach his potential until he starts learning how to limit picking up fouls. Same can be said of Roy Hibbert in Indiana.

NO SWEET JAZZ IN UTAH
This off-season the Utah Jazz matched Portland's offer of a 4-year $32 million deal to bring back Paul Millsap. They had expected to trade Carlos Boozer and make Millsap a starter but that didn't happen. Now they are stuck with a logjam at power forward and Millsap is toiling as the sixth man and won't start until or if Boozer ever gets traded or injured.

NASH YOUR TEETH
Steve Nash is a wonderful player and now that the Suns have finally returned to their run-and-gun offensive ways he will continue putting up ridiculous offensive stats, but for all of his output on offense, he really is not a very good defender. Not a hater in any way, but watch a game and see.

CP.O.'D?
Is it me or does Chris Paul seem awfully angry this year? Can't we just all get along?

D-WILL SHOOTING TO BE ALL-STAR
Point guard Deron Williams really would love to be in the Dallas area Feb. 14, when the NBA holds its 2010 All-Star Game at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in nearby Arlington.

"It would mean a lot. You know, I wish I would have had one by now. But it would be special to have the first one in Dallas. Hopefully, all my family can come see me play", said Williams, who was Texas-raised and played high school ball locally at The Colony.

BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
Dejuan Blair is not a witch or a project. What he is, is downright scary. I don't care if he has no ACL's in his knees, or is missing any other ligaments or muscles, the man is a beast and even with limited minutes will contend for ROY.

KAMAN ISLANDS
Chris Kaman is finally healthy and back to his All-Star ways. While it probably isn't smart to continue playing him 40 minutes a night, he is making a huge early bid for comeback player of the year.

RUDY NOT GAY AND MERRY?
Rudy Gay and his agent were unable to work out a contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies before the deadline and he will be a restricted free agent next summer. It was reported the Grizzlies' final offer was a five-year deal worth about $50 million. Gay was asking for a deal similar to Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge (five years, $65 million with incentives). While it's a business decision as a player to stick to your guns and not accept less than what you think you're worth, Gay didn't seem too upset about not getting the offer he wanted (although it probably doesn't help that the franchise does not think you are worth what the market says). Given the Grizzlies track record, it would not surprise me at all if Memphis doesn't pony up the cash for this kid during the summer and eventually trades him. While I don't think that is their intent, money will make people do strange things.

SHOWTIME
The Lakers are just sick. No other way to put it. Once Pau Gasol gets back, it's not going to be fair. I still shake my head at how inept Memphis was in trading Gasol to the Lakers. It was like the Raiders trading Randy Moss to the Patriots. Are you kidding me????? The rich get richer.

OH POPEYE!
In other news, former player and now Mavericks assistant coach Popeye Jones was arrested for DUI. Turns out someone deviously switched his can of spinach with a bottle of tequila.



Ed DeMayo is a Senior Writer for Basketball.com