Green likes starting role, but says he is happy doing whatever is asked

Willie Green has done it all for the 76ers this season – and hasn't complained about any of it. With guard Allen Iverson tending to his sick daughter, and missing the last three games, Green is back in the starting rotation.

And the team has won all three games.

His numbers when Green is among the starting five show that he plays his best basketball in that role – close to 16 points on 53 percent shooting from the floor in 12 games. And right now, the Sixers are playing their finest ball of the season. They'll be going for their fifth straight win tonight when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Wachovia Center.

"You know what it is, it's just the consistency of the minutes," Green said after yesterday's practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "Normally when I start, I'm in a position to play 30-plus minutes. You get some more flow in the offense, you can work your way in the game, come out and play more into the flow. Sometimes when you come off the bench and if you're only playing 20 minutes or so, you have to force the action a little bit more. That's the only big difference, but it's just being more comfortable and getting into the flow."

His role might change yet again when Iverson returns, and Green is fine with that. But should it? On a team that is still 12 games under .500 (19-31), shouldn't riding a hot hand be a priority? If it is or isn't, Green won't be bothered.

"We'll welcome Allen back," Green said. "He's added to our team chemistry. He's added to the swagger of this team, helping guys to believe that we can go out and do it. When he comes back, I'll go right back to playing my role. If it's coming off the bench, it's doing whatever the team needs me to do. I think that's what is helping us become a better team."

Having Green alongside rookie Jrue Holiday in the backcourt at the beginning of the game also has been a help, as the two are big, good on-the-ball defenders. Opponents don't often get the ball where they want it or have to start their offense a little farther out than they want because of the pressure created by Holiday and Green.

"I think it's been our defense, it has picked up tremendously," Green said. "Guys are communicating a little bit better on the floor. We've been holding opponents to low 40s, high 30s [shooting percentage] and we can win basketball games when we hold teams to shooting that low."

And when Green is shooting at such a high percentage.

"It's a comfort area for him," coach Eddie Jordan said of Green's starting role. "He's done it before, he doesn't mind to start. He's aggressive, he's playing with other front-line guys on our team, so maybe it comes a little easier for him where as coming off the bench he's playing with bench guys and it probably doesn't come as easy for him. He's not playing with Elton [Brand] so much [when coming off the bench] and Elton can open up things for everybody else. It's mainly his comfort level, though.

Speaking of comfort, few have seemed as comfortable on the floor lately as sub swingman Rodney Carney. Given some quality minutes, Carney has produced very well on both ends of the floor.

"I'd say getting out there and getting more minutes, you can produce, you get comfortable out there," Carney said of his recent expanded time. "Once you stay out there and get comfortable, your game starts to show a little bit more. Especially if we're running, that brings out the best in me. Defensively I'm helping there, too. But it's the whole bench. 'J-bone' [Jason Smith] came off the bench and gave us great minutes [during Saturday's win in Houston]. Minutes or not, I'll still be professional no matter what.

"When my number is called, it's my job to get out there and give energy. As soon as I get called, it's like 'Rod, bring some energy.' I try to bring it on the defensive end, the offensive end, whatever it takes. That's my mentality through the whole season. Whenever my name gets called, get out there and try to wreak havoc defensively, make shots, get dunks and help the team in any kind of way."

Guard Lou Williams missed yesterday's practice with a sinus infection. The team will not have a shootaround this morning, so Williams' status will be known at game time . . . Eddie Jordan wouldn't commit that Allen Iverson will get right back into the starting lineup when he returns. On Iverson, he said: "He came in and did wonderful things for us. I mean, we were still struggling, but he added another dimension to us that was positive. We hope to continue to see that when he comes back. We just hope that his state of mind is solid. He's going through some tough times and we want him to have a clear head when he comes back on the court." . . . The team will fly to Toronto following tonight's game for its last contest before the All-Star break.