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**Coatesvillain** · 08-21-2005, 06:39 AM

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PHILADELPHIA -- As any 76ers fan knows, when Kyle Korver is hot he’ll bring oohs and aahs from any crowd. Saturday afternoon, Korver was sizzling as the Sixers concluded their minicamp with a scrimmage against the Baker League All-Stars at the Community College of Philadelphia.

Korver looked in midseason form as he scored 32 points and hit eight of 11 shots from 3-point range. The two-year veteran also had five rebounds and five assists in the 128-127 loss to the All-Stars.

"He catches the ball and releases it so quick," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "I think that’s what’s so impressive about him. I think if you’re not around Kyle that much, and I’ve been talking defense this whole camp, but any time you see a player with his ability to shoot the ball he’s got to be on the floor."

That’s been Korver’s focus this off season -- keeping the starting job he had under former coach Jim O’Brien.

"He’s gonna fight," Cheeks said. "That’s what training camp is for, to earn spots."

John Salmons, who played for the All-Stars along with Seattle guard Rick Brunson, was also impressive Saturday. He led his team with 32 points, and added four rebounds and four assists.

Brunson, a Temple alum, had 14 points and 14 assists.

With Willie Green out for perhaps the entire season, Cheeks will be looking for Salmons to step up his game. He liked what he saw Saturday.

"I was very impressed with Johnny Salmons, his ability to get to the basket, to penetrate, make baskets and find people," Cheeks said.

Andre Iguodala had 27 points, four rebounds and five assists for the Sixers.

The Sixers open training camp at Duke University Oct. 4. While there, they’ll get a better look at rookie Louis Williams, the 18-year-old guard they drafted in June, as well as Shavlik Randolph and Deng Gai, two undrafted free agents they signed Aug. 5.

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**Sliccat** · 08-21-2005, 09:18 AM

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A typical 76ers minicamp session for Kyle Korver during the last few days looked something like this:

Shoot the three. Run the break. Tear after a loose ball. Stop a drive. Mix it up inside. Hit a jumper on the run. Throw a sweet pass underneath. Offer advice. Run wind sprints hard, as if your contract status depended on it.

Which led to the question: Why is he doing this?

Korver just signed a five-year contract worth more than $20 million, so everyone knows he's going to be around for a while. He's the top three-point shooter on the Sixers, something that coach Maurice Cheeks knows very well.

Korver could have sat around during the week, hanging out at the beach, pitching horseshoes, spending time with his family, instead of going full-speed against free agents trying to make an impression.

Certainly, he doesn't need to impress anyone. And what about injuries, like the one that may have knocked out his good friend, Willie Green, for the season?

Hey, this is basketball. And playing basketball is what Korver loves to do.

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Korver played in all 82 games last season, starting 57, and averaged 32.5 minutes. Because he is such an explosive shooter, there have been suggestions that he'd be more valuable coming off the bench to provide some instant offense, or that playing fewer minutes would keep his legs fresh, thus helping his shot.

Those suggestions, made to Korver, turn his smile into an expression of pain.

"I want to start," he said. "I want to play the whole game. That's what every basketball player wants to do. I'm a team player, though. Whatever Coach decides is best for the team, that's what I want to do. But for me personally, I want to play."

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Really great to see from Korver, I've always liked him as a player, but hopefully this year, he can continue to develop.

Ras · 08-21-2005, 10:44 AM

Anyone here think that he could ever develop into a Peja Stojakovic level player?

It's a bit of a long shot, but I personally think that, with his work ethic, it could be possible.

**Kunlun** · 08-21-2005, 07:53 PM

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Originally Posted by Ras

Anyone here think that he could ever develop into a Peja Stojakovic level player?

It's a bit of a long shot, but I personally think that, with his work ethic, it could be possible.

He might become a Peja Stojakovic type player, but I doubt he ever gets that good. Peja is bigger, stronger and has some moves to get to the basket. If Korver can ever become that deadly on offense then we got an awesome bargain with the contract we signed him to this summer.

Sixerfanforlife · 09-04-2005, 05:40 PM

He's not Peja, He's beyond it.

No question his speed, and quickness with both his hands and his feet is amazing, the Pistons' had to debate long and hard before deciding Prince was the one to guard Korver.

If Kyle Korver can get the post moves together attack the post, and not be afraid of bodies, then I think K-square can be a very nice player, and has an all0star game in his future.

**Kunlun** · 09-05-2005, 12:40 AM

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Originally Posted by Sixerfanforlife

He's not Peja, He's beyond it.

No question his speed, and quickness with both his hands and his feet is amazing, the Pistons' had to debate long and hard before deciding Prince was the one to guard Korver.

I think that might be a little too extreme to say about Korver. He's a nice player, but he's not an awesome player that you make him out to be. The one thing he excels at is shooting and he is ****ing great at it.

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