Meeks takes center stage down stretch
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Meeks takes center stage down stretch
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
If Jodie Meeks is ever going to earn some respect from fans of the 76ers, tonight, in Toronto, with the 76ers in a must-win position, would be the perfect time to start.
Meeks and Nik Vucevic are back in the starting lineup in favor of Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes after coach Doug Collins made the switch before the Sixers’ 107-88 victory over New Jersey ended their four-game losing streak.
If the Sixers are going to reap any benefit from this, Meeks is going to have to find some consistency in his jump shot starting tonight. Meeks was reinserted as the starter after going 0-for-7 from the floor against Boston. Meeks went 2-for-8 against New Jersey and is 9-for-30 from the floor in his last five games.
Meeks has shot the basketball significantly better at home (.449) than he has on the road (.380). This is crucial indicator now because of the Sixers’ remaining nine games just two – against New Jersey Friday and Indiana next Tuesday – are at Wells Fargo Center.
NOTES
The Sixers started the season 7-4 on the road but have gone 4-11 since (11-15 mark overall; 15-26 in each of the past two seasons)… Philly hasn’t posted a winning road mark since going 23-18 in 2002-03… The Sixers close out the season the way they started, with five straight road games…. This is the second part of a back-to-back for the Sixers who played at New Jersey last night… Philly is 8-7 in the second games of back-to-backs this season after going 8-14 in 2010-11.
Who needs Meeks? They could have done better keeping Korver.
— Taxes- When The Sixers' season depends on Meeks, God help us! Meeks as a starter is all about Collins and his peculiar, completely unreasonable faith in him, and unexplainable appreciation of what ET actually is -- a point guard who, not Jrue, should run the team.— Sixersorever
- I mean unexplainable lack of appreciation of ET — Sixersorever
- Toronto is terrible and we lost by 21 at home to them last time they visited the Wells Fargo Center. New starting 5 should be: Turner-PG, Iggy-SG, Thad Young-SF, Brand-PF, Vucevic-C.— Bobby V
- Korver.. damn.. a 3 point shot for Korver was like a layup. He is still one of the most natural best shooters I have ever seen. When Stefanski traded him I thought he was an idiot. If Collins had Korver, Turner would never see the floor.— Zeru
The Sixers had a 5 game losing streak and lost 9 of 15 in the month of February and guess what????? Jodie Meeks was in the starting lineup that Doug Collins didn't want to mess with. Doug Collins may or may not have lost the team, but he's lost the fan base.— scmona- DDC has lost this team becaue he start out nitpicking and doesn't let up. I just hope this team win and play well inspite of him. There is a reason he doesn't last longer that 3yrs at any coaching stop— eric300
- Note to the John Mitchell: Doug Collins is either crazy or stupid or a bit of both and you are irresponsible as a journalist for not pointing out that Meeks is terrible. If (and thats a huge IF) you watch the games you would know that the majority of Meeks' shots are wide open. Its excusable that he should go 0-7 in a game taking uncontested jumpers, especially when that's ALL HE DOES! I wonder if the Sixers tell you lames what to say. They might as well send out an official team statement and print in your section you are so loathe to criticize this emotional, nutty professor.— ericthered1
- I'm just hoping that one way or another DC is not coaching this team next year. Maybe he'll step down do to his health/age? Let Curry step in and coach the squad, don't resign Hawes, trade Iggy and amnesty Brand. Put ET at the PG and Holiday at the SG...and get rid of that ridiculous motion offense that totally lacks creativity.— ajcash
- Meeks is what he is - a back up SG. He will have one quality game a week it seems, and then klunk the rest of the games. Turner leads all guards in the NBA in rebounds per game, and he can't get minutes, esp for a team that is dreadful on the boards. This team has too many PGs and therefore NONE.— pzales
- When does football start? This team is past boring. Meeks being back as a starter at sg is laughable. I don't understand anything Collins is doing. Why isn't Young starting? Why is Holliday at the point? Why isn't Turner running the team? Yaaaaaaaawn.— gametime64
- Meeks should be in the D League. Gerald Green should have been a Sixer at the All Star break. 20 ppg sitting there. I would take him over every Sixer guard right now. He killed the Sixers tonight.— Bush Destroyed America
- The entire team stinks anyone paying to go watch them live are nuts...what a waste of good money. Go see a movie instead— mbutley
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
