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**Coatesvillain** · 06-08-2004, 02:28 AM

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Jim O'Brien is confident Allen Iverson is capable of getting the point.

In other words, O'Brien has no problem playing Iverson at point guard.

"I feel very comfortable with Allen at the point," O'Brien said.

That's important because it gives O'Brien and the Sixers options.

Iverson's skills make him more of a natural shooting guard, but his size (5-11) indicates he's better suited to the point.

Iverson played point guard alongside Jerry Stackhouse for his first 11/2 NBA seasons. In addition to directing the offense, Iverson averaged 20-plus points a game in a role similar to what Stephon Marbury, who was drafted two spots behind Iverson in 1996, has done for four teams.

Soon after acquiring Eric Snow and trading Stackhouse, Larry Brown liked the results when he moved Iverson over to shooting guard and paired him with Snow. That has been the Sixers' starting backcourt for six years, including last season after Brown's departure to Detroit.

Iverson can handle the ball well enough to handle the point. He played a great deal of point for the U.S. Olympic qualifying team and might be used there more this summer with Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby expected to opt out due to injuries. Practice for the 2004 Athens Games begins July 26 in Jacksonville, Fla.

O'Brien doesn't expect Iverson to emulate Snow and essentially run the offense and get out of the way. There could be times when Iverson would be the only Sixer touching the ball because he'll shoot it after dribbling upcourt, which is OK.

"I have a package of plays where Allen would be at the 1 (point guard) and a package of plays where Allen would be at the 2 [shooting guard]," O'Brien said. "Other than Eric and a few other guys in the NBA, I don't think there are many traditional setup point guards who you would use to initiate your offense."

Whether Snow stays or is traded, Iverson needs to play more point guard to allow the Sixers to become more athletic, get Willie Green and Aaron McKie on the court and give the Sixers better size matchups.

Snow is more effective in a controlled, half-court offense, which O'Brien isn't interested in playing. O'Brien wants good, fast shots and can't stand having to chuck something in the direction of the basket to avoid a 24-second violation, which the Sixers did far too many times in 2003-04.

Iverson can help the Sixers get quick ones and another 3-point shooter would go a long way toward ending up with quality attempts.

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This is an idea that we're all familiar with, and everyone knows Iverson is going to have to make this move to make the most of the rest of his career. It's good to see that O'Brien wants to run more, something we tried doing last year, but as of right now we don't have the personnel and we have to make moves.

What we do have, is something most teams don't have, and that's a Center who can run the court like a gazelle. If Iverson is capable to run point guard, I wouldn't mind letting Snow go, but outside of Snow we don't have a real PG. McKie can't realistically run point anymore, Willie Green's a two guard, and Salmons is a SF. So we need to, somewhere get a guy in here who can help handle the ball, if we are moving Snow.

I think we'll be seeing a season from AI that resembles more of 2002-03 than 03-04, because there's a coach the team will respect, and there's no question whether or not he has authority. With Chris Ford, by the time Billy King backed him, it was absolutely too late, and all he had were the young guys playing hard for him because he gave them minutes they didn't see prior.

**BEEZ** · 06-08-2004, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by <b>PhillyPhanatic</b>!

LINK

This is an idea that we're all familiar with, and everyone knows Iverson is going to have to make this move to make the most of the rest of his career. It's good to see that O'Brien wants to run more, something we tried doing last year, but as of right now we don't have the personnel and we have to make moves.

What we do have, is something most teams don't have, and that's a Center who can run the court like a gazelle. If Iverson is capable to run point guard, I wouldn't mind letting Snow go, but outside of Snow we don't have a real PG. McKie can't realistically run point anymore, Willie Green's a two guard, and Salmons is a SF. So we need to, somewhere get a guy in here who can help handle the ball, if we are moving Snow.

I think we'll be seeing a season from AI that resembles more of 2002-03 than 03-04, because there's a coach the team will respect, and there's no question whether or not he has authority. With Chris Ford, by the time Billy King backed him, it was absolutely too late, and all he had were the young guys playing hard for him because he gave them minutes they didn't see prior.

Honestly I would love to see what he was the last 18 games plus the playoffs last season. Where he avg 28 and 9 on 45% shooting. I honestly think that, that was his best stretch of basketball in his career. That being said we need a backup PG. We need to get rid of Snow if we want to run but at the same time it wouldnt hurt me to see him stay because I think the best luxury in basketball is to have 2 PG's that can run your team in 2 different styles and get results for instance. If they running, AI is at the 1. When they are setting in and grinding and they need a basket. Eric Snow is your man. We need more athletes badly and if we dont get any of the core Iggy, Biedrins or Josh Smith. Trade down and get Dorrell Wright. Philly Phanatic you definitley have shown me the light on JR Smith even though I watched him while he was in high school, I think that Dorrell Wright has a bigger upside all around. I did realize JR hates passing the rock.

**Coatesvillain** · 06-08-2004, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by <b>BEEZ</b>!
Honestly I would love to see what he was the last 18 games plus the playoffs last season. Where he avg 28 and 9 on 45% shooting. I honestly think that, that was his best stretch of basketball in his career.

Agreed, 2000-01 was his best year as a whole, but the end of that season there he was on another level. I voiced worries the offseason following last season about him playing 94+ Olympics, and it was bound to take a toll on his body. If he can play in the Olympics, but be in quality condition this season, I'll be happy. Also, I really think they need to think about dropping him to under 40 minutes a game, he can probably play as long as he used to be with what's invested in him, is it really worth it?

Quote:

That being said we need a backup PG. We need to get rid of Snow if we want to run but at the same time it wouldnt hurt me to see him stay because I think the best luxury in basketball is to have 2 PG's that can run your team in 2 different styles and get results for instance. If they running, AI is at the 1. When they are setting in and grinding and they need a basket. Eric Snow is your man.

I'm a big Snow fan, and have a hard time thinking about the team without him, but it might be best for both parties. Bad thing is, there's not much in the form of quality free agent PGs this upcoming offseason, maybe someone is left exposed and we can work a deal with Charlotte?

One guy who could be a possibility is Sarunas Jasikevicius from the Euroleague champs Maccabi Tel Aviv. I only saw him in two games (Euroleague semi-finals, and finals on NBATV), and I read a little on him, he's going to try coming over to the states this season. He can push tempo, and score, but he's not much of a defender. He brings energy, and with the fact Billy King was over there to watch the Finals, he might be ahead of the game on this. It's possible.

Another possibility, I would like is for the team to go after Chris Duhon. He's not exactly the best scorer, but he can run an offense, and when needed he can hit the big shot. In a lot of ways he's a lot like Eric Snow in his style of play. Also, he'd obviously come a lot cheaper. To get him, we'd have to get an early second round pick somehow.

Quote:

We need more athletes badly and if we dont get any of the core Iggy, Biedrins or Josh Smith. Trade down and get Dorrell Wright. Philly Phanatic you definitley have shown me the light on JR Smith even though I watched him while he was in high school, I think that Dorrell Wright has a bigger upside all around. I did realize JR hates passing the rock.

I haven't seen Dorell Wright play at all, I've only had a chance to read about him. And what I hear is that he's got the potential to become a T-Mac, but also he has maturity problems. That's understandable for him as a youngster, I read in an article in Slam magazine that it's not as bad now as it used to be.

And no problem on JR Smith,

, I think he can still be a player, but I think he's a long way from contributing. The fact that people put this much weight on High School All-Star games is amazing, he still should've kept his options open, North Carolina would've been the best case scenario for him. If he falls into the second round, hopefully he lands on a team with patience who will let him develop (much like Seattle did with Rashard Lewis). He's still a few years away from anything.

stevemc · 06-08-2004, 09:57 AM

It would be great to see AI play PG again. I was actually a big AI fan back when he was in Georgetown and his 1st couple years in the leauge. The bandwagon started to get crowded so I got off a few years back. Anyways, AI could be the best PG in the leauge if he simply wanted to. His rebel attitude would have to be left behind him if he's to actually be a PG for a whole season.

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