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**Coatesvillain** · 11-19-2004, 08:46 AM

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PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Korver played 38 minutes Thursday, behind only Allen Iverson, who played 39.

Coach Jim O'Brien said you might as well get used to it. Korver could find himself starting Sunday when the 76ers play the Miami Heat for his first career start.

"He is going to play a lot of minutes for us," O'Brien said. "It is very difficult for me to have Kyle on the bench. It just doesn't seem like it's the best way to win unless he's out there on the court."

Korver said it doesn't matter to him if he's starting or coming off the bench, as long as he's playing. He scored 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting Thursday.

His strong effort gave the Sixers a chance against the Spurs. That's why he kept playing at the expense of Willie Green, who started but played 15 minutes - three in the second half. The same was true of Corliss Williamson, who played 31 minutes off the bench, much more than starter Kenny Thomas, who played 16 minutes.

"Right now, Corliss is our best power forward and Kyle is our best wing player," O'Brien said. "That's why we went with them."

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**Coatesvillain** · 11-20-2004, 01:14 AM

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The brightest light among the shooters is Korver, who is first on the team in accuracy from the field (49.3 percent) and second in scoring (12.4 points per game). He is averaging 27.3 minutes off the bench. He played a career-high 38 against the Spurs, scoring 17 points and perhaps earning himself a promotion.

Asked if Korver would start against the Heat tomorrow, O'Brien said he and his staff would consider it.

"I know he was a second-round draft pick," O'Brien said Thursday night, "but Kyle was the MVP of his league [the Missouri Valley Conference] for two straight years because he can do a lot other than shoot the basketball. He can make plays. He defends. He is one of our leaders in deflections, with aggressive hands.

"He is going to play a lot of minutes for us. It's very difficult to have Kyle on the bench. It's not the best way to win - to keep him on the bench."

If Korver, who was drafted 51st overall out of Creighton last year, does start for the first time in his NBA career tomorrow, it is likely that he will replace Willie Green, with small forward Andre Iguodala moving to Green's shooting-guard spot. O'Brien likes the length of the 6-foot-6 Iguodala, the 6-7 Korver, and the 6-7 John Salmons defensively on the wings.

"I am fine with either role," Korver said when asked if he would like to start. "I like coming off the bench. You always want to play as many minutes as possible and be starting, but I really kind of relish this role of coming off and providing a spark and kind of seeing the way things are going. I am ready to help the team in whatever way."

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**Kunlun** · 11-20-2004, 03:30 AM

YES!!! Start the man! He's earned it this season. I've been saying start either Korver or Salmons all season (all two weeks of it). Take Willie out of the starting five and put Iggy at shooting guard.

**Coatesvillain** · 11-20-2004, 09:25 AM

I have to say, sliccat was the one calling for it since the before the start of the season. I didn't expect Korver to play this well at all.

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