Archive: January, 2012
Bob Cooney
The 76ers entered the season already a little thin at the center position, and things have gotten even skinnier.
After a very encouraging start to the season, starting center Spencer Hawes has been hindered by back and Achilles’ problems. He missed his third straight game on Saturday in Miami, where the Sixers lost, 113-92, to the Heat. In that game, his replacement, rookie Nikola Vucevic, suffered a left knee quad strain. Sunday the team reported that he is doubtful for Monday's home game against the Washington Wizards. Hawes was reported to be a game time decision.
When Vucevic went out in the third quarter, the game was still very much in doubt, with Miami holding just a six-point lead. Shortly after, the Heat blew out to a big lead and the Sixers’ ultimately fell to 11-5.
Bob Cooney
The Sixers lost their first home game on Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets and tonight they'll look to rebound against the Atlanta Hawks, winners of four-straight.
Starting center Spencer Hawes will miss his second straight game due to a strained Achilles'. His spot in the lineup will be taken by rookie Nikola Vucevic.
"Atlanta's pretty good," said coach Doug Collins at this morning's shootaround. "They pose a lot of problems, they're a good defensive team, they have size. They've got a star in Joe Johnson who can throw up big numbers. Josh Smith is playing very well for them. Jeff Teague is doing a very good job at the point guard position. They've done a nice job of picking up some veteran guys - Tracy McGrady, Willie Green."
Bob Cooney
The Sixers were scheduled to practice at 11 a.m. this morning at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, but the gym was quiet until about noon.
That's because they team met for that amount of time to talk about the problems that happened during Wednesday's 108-104 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. It was the first home loss of the season for the Sixers and dropped them to 10-4 overall.
"We had a meeting of the minds, a little pow-wow just to make sure everybody’s on the same page and to avoid slippage," said guard Lou Williams. "Just to make sure everybody is on the same page. When you lose a game I think it’s important for everybody to sit down and say “OK, are we all right?” just make sure everybody’s on the same page. That was basically it. We had a players’ only meeting just to make sure everybody was happy. Make sure we continue to push forward."
How impressive has the Sixers' bench been during their 10-4 start?
A few facts, courtesy of the league's media newsletter that came out today:
* The Sixers are the only team in the league to have their leading scorer come off the bench -- Lou Williams at 15.7 points per game.
Bob Cooney
In his pre game meeting with the media, Sixers coach Doug Collins said that starting center Spencer Hawes would "probably not" play tonight when the team hosts the Denver Nuggets.
Hawes had been battling a back problem, but that seemed to get much better earlier in the week. Then on Tuesday he showed up at practice with a strained Achilles'. Collins hinted at the time that the new injury could be due to Hawes overcompensating for his back.
In his place tonight, Collins said that rookie Nikola Vucevic would get his first start. Collins called the game an "up-and-down" contest and that having the younger Vucevic start over veteran Tony Battie seemed to be the better idea.
Bob Cooney
As the Sixers finished their shootaround this morning at the Wells Fargo Center, most players made their way to the locker room, got dressed and headed home to prepare for tonight's game against the Denver Nuggets.
Evan Turner was not one of them, however. Turner, who missed Monday's win due to a bruised thigh, stayed on the court to get some extra work in, playing in a competitive two-on-two game with teammates Craig Brackins, Lavoy Allen and assistant coach Aaron McKie.
Afterwards, Turner said he is ready to roll.
Bob Cooney
The injuries are starting to pile up a little bit for the 76ers.
Today at the team’s practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, coach Doug Collins brought in a yoga expert so his club could work out some of the kinks it has collected during the blitz of an early season that has had them play nine games in 13 days.
Gimping around the practice facility were Evan Turner (thigh contusion) and Spencer Hawes (Achilles’ strain). Hawes has also been struggling with a strained back recently. Collins said he was grateful there was no game today as he thought neither one of those players would have been able to play. For tomorrow, when the team hosts the Denver Nuggets, the coach said both would be a game-time decision.
Bob Cooney
Sixers guard Evan Turner is hoping to return to the lineup for tomorrow night's game against Denver.
Turner was a late scratch for Monday's game against Milwaukee with a right thigh bruise.
He was injured in the second quarter Saturday against Washington, left the game but later returned.
As bench play continues to propel the Sixers, Tony Battie and Andres Nocioni stepped up in a 94-82 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in a Martin Luther King Day matinee at the Wells Fargo Center. John Smallwood of the Daily News reports.
Bob Cooney
About an hour and a half before today's game with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sixers forward Evan Turner made his way to the court for pregame warmups. I asked him how his thigh was, as he took a knee to it on Saturday in Washington. "Gonna find out now," he said.
Apparently it wasn't good as Turner was a last-minute scratch. It's probably nothing more than soreness, but bad enough that the swingman and training staff decided not to risk it. The bet is that he'll be back for Wednesday's home game against Denver.
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
