If AI and Melo were so good....

[LBJFTW]

Why couldn

[FireDavidKahn]

The truth is that they are extremely overrated. AI in particular because of how influential he was off the court.

[Kblaze8855]

They played together 2 seasons. Much better tandems than that lost twice....

[LBJFTW]

They played 2 seasons because it was such a disaster.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Neither one played defense. Or were responsible appropriate team leaders.

Who takes a guy with conrows and headband serious in their late 20s and 30s as a leader? What are you still trying to audition for thug life rap videos?

Iverson gambled and got into passing lanes to get a lot of steals however. AI was def the superior player. Even when on the same team. Not overrated at all.

Just ran into a better all time individual player in the Mamba and met a buzz saw of a prime Kobe / Gasol and PJ coached Laker team in 2008.

Same team swapped out Iverson for a far more defensive minded and game management true all star PG in Billups only to lose to the same Kobe Laker team the very next year in the conference finals.

Wasn’t exclusively Iverson (who was past his prime in ‘08 but still putting up a whopping 26 ppg as teams leading scorer and 7 apg) fault and then the very next season dropped off a cliff and basically out of the NBA.

Melo has always been more culpable even in prime than folks were willing to admit.

Kobe / Gasol was a better duo than Iverson / Melo. To answer your question. They played defense and complemented each other’s styles.

The other pair? Not so much.

Melo / Billups was more complimentary just less level game dominance, influence and natural talent.

[FreezingTsmoove]

2007 Spurs and 2008 Lakers werent as stacked as GSW?

both squads could beat the Warriors

[stalkerforlife]

Because they didn't team up with two top 5 prime PER players.

[NBAGOAT]

diminishing returns with two guys who thrive so much off isolation. Bad defensively which doesnt help. I like Iverson a little more since he could pass a lot better and lead the break

Both were overrated a little at least at this point in their careers. At least based on shaqattack's list, he had iverson 19th and melo 9th in 07, 14th and 15th in 2008. If that's how you rank those guys, not winning anything isnt that big a failure.

[kurple]

The truth is that they are extremely overrated. AI in particular because of how influential he was off the court.
AI is the oposite of overrated