It took long enough -- six years -- but Allen Iverson and Larry Brown are suddenly strong allies, if not pals, and comrades with a common goal. The wonder is that it even happened with men hailing from such different backgrounds. They are two guys who support each other and whose goals are, well, similar if not the same.

Who'd a thunk it?

	Allen Iverson, left, can talk about practice and team basketball with Larry Brown these days.

Here we are within a few weeks of the end of another season and Iverson and Brown are still speaking to each other. Brown is still saying nice things about Allen, and Allen is playing at perhaps the best level of his career and playing the way Larry wants him to play.

Who'd a thunk that?

"This is his best season," Brown said. "The way Allen is playing the game and interacting with his teammates has been phenomenal."

"He's become the leader of this team in every way," Brown added. "(The way he's played some nights) is as good as it gets."

Iverson has played all but 25 minutes in the last seven games, including 50 of 53 minutes in an overtime victory at Orlando. In his last 11 games, Iverson has had 93 assists and 41 steals. In the last four games, he's scored 132 points.

When Brown wanted to go after referee Mike Callahan following a loss to Golden State, it was Iverson who walked the coach away.

Against Orlando, Iverson led a 13-3 rally in the final 3:31 to knock off the Magic. Iverson called his shot that night, telling his teammates they were going to win the game. "I was hoping he was right," Brown said later. "And then when we got closer, I kind of laughed about it." Iverson went for 42 points in 50 minutes. Take that Tracy McGrady.

And let's face it, none of this would mean very much if the Sixers weren't winning. They entered Friday night's schedule having won 20 of 25 games since the All-Star break, 8-2 at home and 12 of 15 on the road (including the last five).

So, how can Larry Brown not love Iverson?

With eight games to play, the Sixers are two games behind Detroit and a half-game behind New Jersey in the race for first place in the East. "He got us here," Brown said of Iverson, who can take matters into his own hands Tuesday when the Sixers close out a four-game homestand against the Pistons. "Allen's drive has been phenomenal."

Brown reiterated that he has not seen Iverson play better basketball, but he has seen him perform in the same vein, only not as consistently. He has seen Iverson playing with as much passion but not in the same calculated style with his team's interests first.

	“	I have said it before: He is sharing the ball, trying to defend. And he has been so professional. ”
		— Larry Brown on Allen Iverson

"I have said it before: He is sharing the ball, trying to defend," Brown said. "And he has been so professional."

Iverson added that he was pleased with how well the Sixers played in March. He could not help but attempt to perpetuate the flow of the team's game.

"I really dreaded March because I knew it was a hard schedule," Iverson said. "We were on the road, but it is a good feeling now knowing that we closed the month out so good and clinched a playoff spot we could play relaxed. Now we can look ahead."

Not only the Sixers have noticed the change in Iverson. Isiah Thomas, who sees AI playing in his own image, has a great appreciation for the change. Thomas said that, during the All-Star Game in February, he fell in love with Iverson's desire, his game and his hunger to win. He said he could identify with Iverson. They even share an Olympic moment. Thomas was passed over in 1992; Iverson, with help from his coach, is waging his own PR campaign to be selected but has so far been unsuccessful. Thomas played for Chuck Daly; Iverson for Brown. There's more than a little Philadelphia mixed in here.

"I think, yeah, I can definitely relate to (Iverson and Larry Brown)," Thomas said. "After hearing Chuck, and listening to Chuck after all was said and done, I think Allen's in a tough spot, but I think Larry's in a tougher spot, because with the (USA Basketball) committee and the selection and everything else."

Iverson apparently is more in touch with what Brown has done for him than what he's done to get invited to play in the next Olympics. Besides, he has not yet been rejected by USA Basketball.

"He always tells me, 'Don't settle, don't settle for shots,' " Iverson said of Brown. "He doesn't feel like anybody can stop me from getting a short jumper, so take the short jumper instead of just facing up and taking a long one. A lot of times I kind of get to the point where if a guy plays off me and I can get the shot wherever I'm at on the floor, then I'll take it. But, most of the time, it always works his way."

Right now, everything is working very well.

Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.