With the Western Conference as loaded as it is, it may not be enough for the Nuggets to get out of the first round again, but Denver will be better. Certainly the Jazz players and coaches are more worried about Denver being a Northwest Division contender now than they were previously.

Look at Friday night's results and you may be looking at what it's going to be like all season long. Iverson played his first game in a Pistons jersey and Detroit lost for the first time all year. Billups, meanwhile, saw action with his hometown Nuggets, and Denver won for just the second time.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence, Joe. You probably know exactly what you are doing, and you certainly deserve the benefit of the doubt after all the success you've had as an NBA exec.

Iverson has a huge expiring contract, and if things don't work out this season you can choose to cut your losses and instead go after a top free agent next summer, maybe even the Jazz's own Carlos Boozer should he opt out of his deal.

Maybe all the warning signs that surround Iverson will be dead wrong. Maybe he isn't the selfish player he's thought to be and he will make the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Prince, Stuckey and Hamilton better. Maybe this will be enough to ensure that Detroit is still competitive against the Celtics of the world.

Maybe I'm just dead wrong and the trade will work out beautifully for the Pistons.

I just doubt it.

Sincerely,

A Joe Dumars fan

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E-mail: lojo@desnews.com