<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kyle Korver knew he was more than a one-trick pony. But it's taken the departure of Allen Iverson, the arrival of Andre Miller, and Chris Webber missing the last five games of the 76ers' Western Conference trip for Korver to be able to show he can contribute more than 3-pointers. In the past five outings, Korver scored at least 19 points four times, including a season-high 29 against the Lakers on Dec. 31, to push his seasonal average to 14.4 points. He averaged 21.8 points during that span, hitting 40 of 78 field goal attempts (51.3 percent) and 11 of 23 3-pointers (47.8 percent). While Korver's biggest strength is still 3-pointers ? he's ranked 10th in the league at 44.0 percent beyond the arc ? Korver is also scoring by posting up smaller guards, hitting 17-footers and getting easy buckets, thanks mainly to the observant Miller, who has a knack for firing the ball inside when a defender turns his head. ?I like that people are starting to notice that,? Korver said following yesterday's practice. ?I feel like I'm getting more opportunities to do more things. It's up to me to show that I can do more than just come off a screen and shoot. ?Before, I didn't feel like I was really hard to guard. If (defenders) got close, it was really hard for me to score. I used to get really frustrated because I felt like I couldn't really do anything about it. I had to rely on them messing up or fast-break 3s or something like that. It's all changed for me.? ?Kyle has become more than a 3-point shooter ? he's become a guy who can get some 2-point shots,? Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. ?That's what we've been trying to talk to him about for a long time. Now you have a guy on the floor (Miller) that can help him get those shots. It makes him even more of a dangerous threat.? Korver credits self-preservation as the biggest reason he's been the recipient of so many lasers from Miller for easy buckets. ?I've gotten more layups the last four or five games than I did probably the last four years,? he said with a laugh. ?I'm really worried one of these times I'm not going to be looking and that thing's just going to come and break my nose. I've already had it broken a couple times; I don't know if it can take another shot like that.? After going 2-5 on the trip, which ended a stretch of 22 of their first 33 games on the road, Korver and the 9-24 Sixers are looking forward to playing 20 of their next 29 at the Wachovia Center, starting with tomorrow's game against the Pistons. ?You're not guaranteed wins when you're playing at home, but it is easier to play at home than on the road,? Korver said. ?It was a long couple months, (dating) back to training camp in Europe. We have a stretch here at home where hopefully we can get into a little rhythm and get some wins.? </div> Link
