NEW YORK — Allen Iverson, who will miss the rest of the season with a "back injury" that sidelined him for 16 games, said he would rather retire at season's end than come off the bench for 17 minutes per game.

Retirement is apt to come a month or so earlier than Iverson expects. I can't see Joe Dumars subjecting Pistons coach Michael Curry to any additional public squawks from the extinguishing superstar, especially in defeat.

When Iverson's expiring contract was acquired (still a good idea in my book) from the Nuggets for Chauncey Billups, Iverson said all the right things.