Allen Iverson Finally (Sort Of) Speaks

Allen Iverson still hasn't taken questions from the media since being informed by Michael Curry that he lost his starting job. He returned to Detroit early to have his back examined as his teammates finished up their road trip last weekend, and when his teammates returned home, he flew to Washington D.C. to receive another medical opinion.

Eventually he received a diagnosis he accepted: he officially has a "sore back" and will miss two weeks. His back will prevent him from traveling with the team but apparently won't keep him housebound: while his teammates hosted the Nuggets on Tuesday, Iverson was allegedly spotted enjoying the D.C. club scene. (Twitter is the new paparazzi: example one, two and three.)

According to A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers, Iverson was finally in the same zip code as the rest of his teammates this morning, receiving treatment on his back this morning at the team's practice facility. He wasn't made available to the media, but the team did release a statement in his name.

"I'm disappointed that the soreness I'm feeling in my back is going to force me to miss two weeks of action. After talking with the doctors at Georgetown yesterday they have told me that treatment and rest is the best course of action right now. Hopefully my back (will) heal and I'm ready to go following this two-week period.

"My goal is to help this team win a championship and I've said that from the first day I arrived here in Detroit. I'm going to do whatever it takes to help us achieve our goals as a team regardless if I'm starting or coming off the bench."

It's difficult to measure the sincerity of words in a boilerplate press release, but at least ~~the team is putting the right words in his mouth~~ he's saying the right things. As well as the Pistons have played in his absence, his presence on the bench could elevate this team from mere playoff spoilers to a legitimate Cinderella contender -- but only if he returns healthy and focused.