Iverson wants more playing time in Detroit

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 2 (UPI) -- Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson is angry about being made a bench player following a 16-game absence with a back injury.

Since his return on Feb. 25, the 12-year NBA veteran, a perennial all-star, has played sporadically off the Detroit bench behind Michael Curry.

After playing only 18 minutes in Tuesday's 79-73 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he openly voiced his frustration.

"Eighteen minutes, c'mon, man," the volatile Iverson said. "I can play 18 minutes with my eyes closed, with a 100-pound truck on my back. That's a bad feeling. I'm wondering what the rush was to get me back. I mean, for that? It's a bad time for me mentally (but) I'm looking at the big picture."

The 2001 NBA MVP has a career per-game scoring average of 27.1 points, but in 54 games this season, Iverson has averaged 17.5 points per contest.

He was acquired from Denver last season for the popular Chauncey Billups.