The Sixers' luck may be changing sooner than later. There is a chance that Allen Iverson, Aaron McKie, Derrick Coleman, Speedy Claxton and Eric Snow will all be available for tuesday's game against Atlanta. Ashley McGeachy of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Iverson was asked if he would play tomorrow night against the Atlanta Hawks.

"I'm going to play," he said defiantly.

The rest of the injured will wait until game time to make the decision.

The defending Eastern Conference Champion Sixers are now at 8-12 after losing to such "middle of the road" teams as Memphis (twice) Washington (twice) and Golden State. Iverson has missed the last 2 games with a sprained thumb. Derrick Coleman has missed games with a hyper-extended knee. Aaron McKie missed time with an irregular heartbeat and then with a sprained back. Snow has been out since training camp with a broken thumb. Reserve guard Speedy Claxton may miss time with a recently-sprained ankle.

The injuries forced the Sixers to dress only 10 players for Saturday's game against Memphis. McKie never made it out of the locker room while receiving treatment for his back. After Claxton left in the first half with the sprained ankle, they were left with 8 players.

The return of Iverson, McKie, Snow and Claxton will go a long way in reversing the weak defensive play on the perimeter while Coleman's return will help the low-post offense and rebounding. The Sixers are currently in the middle of a five-game losing streak, but remain only 4 1/2 games behind the Division-leading Nets.