Andre Iguodala is looking for his role this year.

If the Sixers want to be the relevant team a lot of fans and observers believed they would before the season started, they need to somehow find a consistent outside shooter and define everyone’s role on the team, especially on offense.

After the Sixers traded Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz last season, coach Maurice Cheeks has had no real gunner he can turn to who can spread defenses like Korver could during his four-plus seasons in Philadelphia.

At times Willie Green and Thaddeus Young have filled that role but neither will put a scare into defenders when they line up a three like Korver and some of the other top three-point shooters around the league do.

One game the Sixers will shoot 2-for-10 from three-point land (against Utah), then shock you going 6-for-11 (against Toronto).

They need to find consistency and they need to find Kareem Rush some minutes and some shots. The six-year veteran was brought here to fill the role of the long-distance sharpshooter left open after Korver left.

Shooting from beyond the arc is not the only element of their offense the Sixers need to see improve if they are serious about a playoff run.

In their half court offense, the Sixers don’t seem to know who to go to.

High-priced free agent forward Elton Brand was brought in give the Sixers a real presence on the post.

Although Brand has played well and seems in great health, he has not had as big an impact as many had hoped.

In the first few games Brand and his teammates seem unsure of their individual roles.

Andre Iguodala more than anyone, has looked lost in several games this year.

He moved from forward to shooting guard to accommodate Brand and the transition has been awkward.

He is accustomed to a main-man role and now must redefine his role with the team.

“I think they’d like to be a running team, but they also want to establish Elton down low,” said Korver after the Jazz defeated the Sixers, 93-80 at the Wachovia Center. “It’s kind of hard to find the balance between that right away. It’s probably going to take them a couple more games…they don’t want to take too long because you can drop in the standings real quick.”

The Sixers went on to run off three straight wins including a memorable two-point win over the Indiana Pacers where the Sixers came back from 26 points down to claim the win.

It is a good sign, but have the Sixers turned the corner?

“Even the years I was there, we always started off a little slow trying to figure things out. But they’ve got a good team, a lot of guys that are very talented and have a good coach.”

Korver said it is just a matter of knowing each other and finding their respective spots on the floor.

“They’re still working on spacing,” Korver said. “It takes a little time.”

Al Thompson can be reached at al.thompson@footballstories.com.