PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson's left hand is in a splint and soft cast, and the 76ers' postseason hopes suddenly are looking grim.

The league's most valuable player is through for the rest of the regular season. Doctors said he is out for four to six weeks, and coach Larry Brown said fans shouldn't expect him back sooner.

"He's a great player. He's what this team is about. ... We have to get his hand healed," Brown said after practice Saturday. "I think if it were up to him, he'd be back tomorrow."

Iverson, who led the NBA in minutes, steals and scoring, with 31.5 points a game, was not available Saturday.

He broke a bone in his nonshooting hand during the victory Friday night over Boston. He was to have the splint replaced with a hard cast this weekend.

The team expects Iverson back for the playoffs. But Brown said a layoff of about five weeks will mean his star guard might not be in top form when he comes back.

And there's no guarantee the 76ers will still be around when he is finally ready to play. Philadelphia started the season 0-5 when Iverson was recovering from elbow surgery and are 0-8 in games when he has not played. He has led team scoring in all but six games this season.

At 36-32, Philadelphia is sixth in the East, with 14 games left and a 4½-game lead on Washington. The Wizards are in ninth place in the race for the Eastern Conference's eight playoff spots.

The 76ers' other main scoring threat, Derrick Coleman, has torn ligaments in his knee that will need surgery after the season. He has played in five of the past nine games, but his status is day to day.

The team is also without Aaron McKie, the top sixth man last season in the NBA. He has a sprained ankle that has caused him to miss most of the season.

"If those three guys don't play ... it will be difficult," Brown said.

McKie is thinking about a comeback, but Brown said he wouldn't try to rush a return.

Speedy Claxton, who will start in Iverson's absence, said the team's comeback victory over the Celtics showed the 76ers can get the job done without their star.

Iverson played all 24 minutes of the first half against the Celtics, scoring 22 points before coaches pulled him. The 76ers trailed at halftime 50-45 and won 96-91.

"If anything, it's going to make us tougher," guard Eric Snow said.

He said the 76ers are a better team than they were when they went 0-5 without Iverson to start the season.

"Guys have gotten a little more feel," he said. "We do have plays that go to people other than Allen Iverson, if you haven't noticed."