Carlisle Is the Coach of Year

As much as he didn’t like it, Rick Carlisle couldn’t avoid being in the spotlight Tuesday, after deflecting credit and attention all season for turning around the Detroit Pistons.

Carlisle was selected coach of the year in the NBA after leading Detroit to the Central Division title in his first season as a head coach at any level.

Carlisle, 42, said he’s smart enough to know that he didn’t deserve accolades during the season, when he was once coach of the month, and that it wasn’t warranted Tuesday, despite receiving 73 of 126 votes.

“It really isn’t about me,” Carlisle said. “It’s about the great effort of my team and the great effort of my staff. This award is about our franchise having a successful season.”

Carlisle led Detroit to 50 victories--18 more than last season--and its first division title since 1990, the second year of the franchise’s consecutive NBA titles.

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Allen Iverson wants to spend the rest of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Coach Larry Brown will have the final say.

Tired of hearing rumors and unwilling to go through a summer of uncertainty, Iverson met with Brown, hoping to end the trade speculation.

“I’m not going nowhere and Larry Brown isn’t going nowhere. He told me that,” Iverson said at a news conference.

Over the weekend, Brown made it clear Iverson could be traded if he doesn’t change.

Iverson missed several practices this season, sometimes using what the team considered lame excuses. More than once, he didn’t show because he said his son, Deuce, was sick.

“We’re not talking about the game, the actual game when it matters,” Iverson said. “How can I make my teammates better by practicing? They are supposed to be used to playing with me anyway.”