News, Notes and Quotes - Jan. 28, 2004

Each Wednesday, Sixers.com will compile news, notes and quotes from Sixers players and coaches from the week and games to give a mid week report on the happenings on the court.

posted Jan. 28, 2004

Iverson Update

Iverson injured his right index finger and will be out until at least Friday. Jesse D Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images

Before the game against the Nets, Head Coach Randy Ayers gave the media an update on the status of Allen Iverson’s injured finger.

"Right now it’s a two game deal," Ayers said. "He and I just talked (before the New Jersey game), and were going to try Thursday at practice and put a little more padding on it… and see what he can do. He told me (Monday) as he shot around he was hurting when he even caught the ball."

On Monday, the Sixers announced that Iverson would miss at least the next two games with a sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament in his right index finger. Iverson had both his hands X-rayed on Friday after the loss to Orlando and played 39 minutes against Cleveland on Saturday where he scored 32 points in the loss. The X-rays showed no breaks, but an MRI on Monday showed that all was not well.

Iverson was 11 games into his return from a right knee contusion, which had sidelined him for 10 games. The Sixers have already used 19 different lineups this season.

Green drives to the hole during Tuesdays game against the Nets Jesse D Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images

Red Light, Green Light
While the Sixers were stopped by New Jersey on Tuesday, rookie Willie Green looked as if he never missed a beat.

The 6-4 guard scored 20 points in the 94-67 defeat. He played 20 minutes, shooting 6-11 from the field to go with two assists and a steal.

"...The only bright spot in the game was Willie Green. I thought he gave us some energy off the bench in his first extended minutes back," Randy Ayers said.

Green had been sidelined since Dec. 5 with an injured right thumb. He missed a total of 24 games recovering from the injury, and was activated on Jan. 23 after the Orlando game.

Before getting hurt, Green, a second round draft pick who was acquired by the Sixers in a draft-day trade with Seattle for the draft rights to Paccelis Morlende and cash, had been averaging 1.9 points per game in 15 games.


Injury Woes
Don’t adjust your eyes, the Sixers have had enough injuries in the first 45 games of the season than in what some teams have all season. Iverson's finger was the latest in a string of hurts that has affected all but three players

Eric Snow, one of the only Sixers to start in every game this season, is averaging 10.9 points per game, fourth overall for the Sixers. Snow joins Salmons and Dalembert as the only three Sixers to have played in every game

Player	Games Missed
Buckner	14
Coleman	14
Green	24
Hamilton	3
Iverson	13
Jackson	25
MacCulloch	44
McKie	7
Robinson	15
Thomas	7
Williams	28