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'I can feel it'

Iverson vows that a championship is next

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Posted: Monday October 04, 1999 08:53 PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson was back in the First Union Center on Monday, five months after winning his first scoring title and leading the Philadelphia 76ers to their first playoff appearance in eight years.

Not surprisingly, Iverson wants more.

"For Philly fans to go eight years and not even have their team go to the playoffs, I can't imagine what that's like," Iverson said at the team's annual media gathering before leaving for training camp in Chapel Hill, N.C. "Now all of a sudden to have it right there for you, that's good for the fans.

"Walking around the city I can feel it. It makes me feel excited, because I'm a part of it. They want a winner so bad. I can't settle for anything less now."

The challenge for the Sixers this season is to not only maintain the success they tapped into last year, but exceed it. Asked what the next goal for this team should be, Iverson said without hesitation, "Winning a championship."

Coach Larry Brown left the roster virtually intact from the club that went 28-22 and upset Orlando in the first round of the playoffs. The Sixers were swept by the experienced Indiana Pacers in the second round, but generated the kind of excitement that hasn't surrounded the team since the days Julius Erving was dunking at the Spectrum.

"We talked about keeping the roster intact after the season," Brown said. "They're all relatively young guys who are going to play better."

The only key additions were Billy Owens, acquired in a trade with the Magic, and draft picks Jumaine Jones and Todd MacCulloch.

"I think the guys coming back have a chance to be better," Brown said. "My main concern is that they don't get satisfied with where they are."

On offense, even Iverson has come to realize he can't do it alone.

"The most important thing is for me to bring my field goal percentage up," Iverson said. "I can do that by taking better shots. Last year I took bad shots, especially in the playoffs. I tried to do too much."

Iverson averaged 26.8 points, but shot only a 41 percent. The Sixers as a whole shot only 43 percent and were the worst 3-point shooting team in the league at 33.7 percent during the lockout-shortened 50-game season.

One change could come in the form of increased playing time for second-year guard Larry Hughes. Brown said he will ask Iverson to move back to his old position, point guard, for 16-18 minutes a game so the "Flight Brothers" can be on the court at the same time.

Hughes, skinny and frail as a rookie, showed up for the start of training camp with what looked like a new body. Though he claimed only to have gained a couple of pounds, the 20-year-old was rippling with muscle.

Perhaps preparing for more time in the backcourt with Iverson, Hughes also had his hair braided in corn rows -- just like his mentor.

"It's a new look," Hughes said. "I'm always making changes."

The Sixers begin training camp Tuesday morning at the University of North Carolina, Brown's alma mater. They host the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in an exhibition game Sunday night at the First Union Center.

 

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