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News
Sixers lost on Monday night and Kyle didn't play so hot, but
it's ok because I still love him.
Korver Knocking 'Em Down
There was a lot of talk prior
to the 2004-05 season about how Head Coach Jim O’Brien’s run-and-gun, shooting-oriented offense would be a benefit to Allen Iverson, and that has certainly been the case.
But perhaps no
player has benefited more from O’Brien’s offensive style than second-year forward Kyle Korver, who has become the Sixers’ three-point specialist. Korver’s
proficiency in the long-distance shot has been no secret - he hit 371 three-pointers in a four-year career at Creighton University,
which is a school and Missouri Valley Conference record and ranks sixth all-time in the NCAA record books. Korver also owns
the Creighton records for three-pointers attempted and three-point shooting percentage. Last year, he became the first rookie
to ever participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout.
But this year, Korver’s three-point abilities
have come to the forefront under O’Brien’s system. Through 30 games, Korver has already made 82 three-pointers
- one more than he did in the entire 2003-04 season. If he were to continue that pace, Korver would sink 224 three-pointers
this year, which would shatter the franchise record of 197 set by Dana Barros in the 1994-95 season.
Several of Korver’s
three-pointers have either changed the momentum of a game or been crucial in winning the game itself, like the one he hit
on November 12 vs. Indiana that forced overtime in a game the Sixers eventually won. On that night, Korver hit a career-high
seven three-pointers to pace the Sixers, becoming just the seventh player in franchise history to make seven or more treys
in a single game.
“I know he shoots the ball with confidence, and I think he’s one of the best shooters
in the league,” Iverson said after the Indiana contest. “He has the quickest release in the league by far. The
only person I think is close to him as far as releases is somebody like Dell Curry. It just does a lot for his confidence, and I’m happy for
him because he’s a good guy.”
Through January 4, Korver ranked third in the NBA in three-pointers made,
tied with Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic and trailing only Phoenix's Quentin Richardson (88) and Miami's Damon Jones (96).
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