--Encouraged by Allen Iverson's performance at point guard against Houston, Michael Curry plans on pairing Iverson with Richard Hamilton for longer stretches.
"When Rip and Allen play well together, it allows us to bring in Arron Afflalo and that makes us better defensively," Curry said. "We kind of miss Arron out on the court because he does a lot of things for us defensively." Curry will use Iverson more often at point guard, with Hamilton at shooting guard and Afflalo replacing Tayshaun Prince at small forward. That leaves 6-foot Will Bynum out of the rotation again. Bynum did not play at Minnesota.
"We are trying to put more things in so that Rip and Allen can play together," Curry said. "They played well together (Sunday) and if they continue to play well together, that could be the turning point of our season. We need to have those two guys on the court."
Hamilton is certain he and Iverson can coexist on the court.
"People make a big deal about that," he said. "I thought we always played OK. I mean, the first couple of games were rocky because we were trying to figure out where each other likes the ball and things like that. But I thought after that we started to get a little cushion playing together until I got hurt (in December)."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was just getting in the car with Sheed and letting him drive. He put us on his back and carried us." -- G Allen Iverson, on Rasheed Wallace's 25-point outing in Minnesota.
