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**Coatesvillain** · 12-24-2004, 01:40 AM

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Kevin Ollie is one of the NBA’s true journeymen and he’s learned a lot of things along the way. One, after stints with 10 different teams, is always rent. Another is always be prepared, which is sometimes easier said than done when you’re dying to get on the court.

Still, the 76ers’ backup point guard did what he could to be ready if called upon, and he finally was Wednesday night against Indianapolis.

With the 76ers trailing at halftime and through most of the third quarter, Jim O’Brien went for calm in his backcourt, tapping Ollie to play for 18 minutes against the Indiana Pacers.

It was Ollie’s most extended playing time this season, and his most productive as he put up eight key points, grabbed two rebounds, and had four assists and two steals.

"I feel good just to come in and contribute any way I can," he said. "Playing a tough team like Indiana with guys that’s hurt and suspended and they just came out and played tough. We just tried to do a collective effort out there on defense and we did that the second half. We played aggressive, we played strong and we came up with a tough victory."

If Ollie won’t claim his share of the credit, others were ready to do it for him.

"A lot of guys did a lot of things to help us win, especially down the stretch," Allen Iverson said after putting up 40 points himself. "I thought Kevin Ollie honestly won this game for us. Everybody talks about when I go out and score points or whatever. If y’all don’t understand dealing with Kevin Ollie every day in practice, he prepared me to get ready for anybody I go up against.

"I honestly in these last couple days I haven’t been talking about him as much as I should, but he prepared me to go out and do the things I can do on the court and get me ready to compete night in and night out. I’m just happy to see him contribute the way he contributed in the fourth quarter. He played outstanding."

With the 76ers trailing by as much as 11 points with just under 16 minutes to go, Ollie hit a couple of big jump shots and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

He didn’t hesitate to take the shots that were there.

"You’ve got to step up and be aggressive, especially when you’re out there playing with Allen," he said. "They’re going to load up on the guys and when I got it I tried to get in the seam and try to make something happen."

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John · 12-24-2004, 01:45 AM

Yeah, Allen Iverson has some huge underrated sportmanship. He wants to win, and he doesnt blame teammates that much when in games. Infact, I always see him smiling and cheering his teammate when they made a mistake.

Examples can be found in the series he played against the Raptors 3 years ago. Go ask Tyone Hill, he could give you tons of examples. lol.