Iverson small in stature, big in ability

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The expectations would squash anyone else his size. In an NBA department store, this is a player who buys his clothes in the petite section. He is 6-foot tall, maybe. He weighs 165 pounds, maybe. He is 33 years old -- no, maybe about that.Yet there is nothing undersized about Allen Iverson's skills or his shoulders.Dump it on him. He's willing. He's eager. Before leading his Detroit Pistons to a 100-92 victory at Sacramento Tuesday night, Iverson arrived with suitcases filled with unfulfilled goals, but emboldened by a clear, if complicated directive from the boss, Joe Dumars. Be yourself.Be great.Grab the keys and drive the Pistons deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs.Facilitate the organization's dramatic change of direction. Energize a fan base demoralized by an auto industry shuttered away in the repair shop. Other than that, Joe D isn't asking much, except to further his reputation as a highly regarded executive who pursues shake-ups when things aren't working. And just weeks into the regular season, Dumars concluded that the Pistons were broken, that the hard-edged squad that captured the championship in 2003-04 and reached the NBA Finals the following year -- all without a superstar on the roster, unless one counts Larry Brown on the sidelines -- was as flat as the local economy."We caught it. It was great," Dumars said from his office, referring to the club's most recent championship momentum. "But you have to keep evolving. With the team constructed the way it is, I knew we had gone as far we could. We had to get a difference-maker, a guy who could break down defenses. And getting Iverson sends the message to everyone in Detroit that we're continuing to vie for elite status. That doesn't change. We have to change."Still. There is the concept of change, and then there is Chauncey Billups-for-Allen Iverson change. Despite his lack of size or length, Iverson blows into a city like a tsunami."It's just interesting to see them move away from what is safe, to 'outside the box,' " observed Kings coach Reggie Theus. "Sometimes a team needs a shot in the arm like Allen. We all know over the years that there are times Allen can just carry a team."Against the Kings, the Pistons planned to capitalize on their opponent's injury-depleted backcourt, as well as the fact that Iverson was chafing about the 0-2 record since his arrival.The little guy hates to lose. Even his harshest critics concede the point. He has been known to force shots, dominate the ball, stifle an offense, ease his way through practices (practice!!!???). But no superstar plays with more energy or, perhaps, a greater desire to win. Yet in 12 seasons, Iverson has reached the Finals once, committed to the Olympic team that was embarrassed in Athens, been traded twice and been knocked out of the playoffs in the opening round in consecutive seasons. Been knocked around physically, too."I think this is the best opportunity I've had in years," he said after Tuesday night's win. "Better than in Denver. Just watching the way the Celtics were assembled last year, that's what this reminds me of. Not that Chauncey wasn't hungry, but I'm really hungry. I can add a lot here."No argument from the Kings. Iverson probed the defense, found teammates for nine assists, grabbed seven rebounds and two steals, and scored 30 points in typical AI fashion. High-arching threes. Running one-handers. Baseline drives. And free throws. He attempted as many free throws (10) as the Kings converted.Well, he's older now. Older, hungrier, wiser. What was that he said about practice? (Contact Ailene Voisin at voisina@sacbee.com)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)