Lavoy Allen to start at center for Sixers in playoff opener
Temple product Lavoy Allen will get the starting nod Saturday when the Sixers play the Chicago Bulls in the playoff opener.
Lavoy Allen to start at center for Sixers in playoff opener
Bob Cooney
Sixers coach Doug Collins has stated endlessly that in order for his team to have any chance of upsetting the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, his big men will have to rebound.
Because of that, Collins has decided to start Temple product Lavoy Allen on Saturday when the team's open the series at the United Center in Chicago.
"That's what I'm looking at, putting Lavoy out there," said Collins after the team's practice Friday at the United Center. "We need some strength against (Carolos) Boozer and we'll let (Elton Brand) play against (Joakim) Noah. And then we'll have Spencer (Hawes) and Thad (Young) come in.
"A big part of that Bulls team, which sometimes gets overlooked is how good their big guys are. They have four big guys who are very, very active."
Collins hasn't been pleased with the play of fellow rookie center Nik Vucevic of late and has been piling up the minutes on Allen. He likes the way Hawes, who started most of the season, plays with sub Young down low so Collins didn't want to disrupt that. Thus, Allen will be the starter.
Game Two will be Tuesday night in Chicago at 8 p.m. Eastern.
I was hoping he'd do this. Won't have even a puncher's chance against the top rebounding team with finesse centers camped out in the high post. Now put Jodie on the bench and make it 2-for-2- Agreed. Lavoy is his best option. Glad to see Collins wise up.— Northcountry
100 will beat the bulls. Everybody else 110. 110 per game + THE BIG STOPS AND REBOUNDS ( not every stop THE BIG STOPS!) we will go to the Finals. visualize the pace AND TEAMWORK thats needed for 110 points believe it. IT WILL HAPPEN! its on the sideline and the block. Get a lead 5 or more at any point during the game. GO FOR THE KNOCKOUT!!!! if we can end it in the 1st DO IT! DONT STOP UNTIL WE REACH 110! NO!! MERCY!!— combocancer1975- Bulls in 5.— rockinrob
- 4 — Ssteve115
- That's a great photo on the front page of Lavoy fumbling a rebound.— Gameraxxx
- 6ERS In 6 YA DIG?!!!!! WHO'S NEXT?— Darryl Cofield
- It makes sense for a lot of reasons. Lavoy can bang and use some fouls. If his jumper is working, he can draw their bigs away from the glass as a bonus.. Just as important,Lavoy will be a Sixer next year. The experience will help. But,why is DC announcing his plans a day before the game? Sixers will win.— philsix6
- I don't think anyone can fault him for going with LaVoy. Now Meeks on the other hand....— joecooler2u
- He is the best option? Quick exit coming— Ssteve115
- If collins finally realized today that he needs a physical player(at least 2 for that matter) to play in the paint after having a slow footed weakling for the last 2 seasons he needs to give up coaching.— only 9
- I think Lavoy is a going to be a good starting big man someday...but deciding to unleash him in a playoff series against the team with the best record in the league probably isn't the best idea. Meanwhile, I'm sure Turner will start off on the bench and get maybe 15 minutes a game while the position that is the most important to have a good scorer at will have a certain player that can't score at it— CBent1
- Sixers sweep Bulls. We beat this team last season at their place in the regular season, the Sixers are fighters they won't let the pundits tell them who wins and who doesn't. Nobody thought they would start 20-9, they will do the unthinkable and beat the Bulls. I saw sweep but it might be 5,6,7 games. Sixers will do magical things this postseason. Watch.— DonovanMcNabb
- Donovan, let's say for argument's sake, we get swept. What would you say then when you are called out after making this comment??— CBent1
- Sixer centers are going to take a lot of fouls unless the Bulls guards can be stopped from getting into the paint- so it's a good move with EB. Don't think Meeks will be out there alot- to weak defensively. Will see Hawes,Vuc paired together- DC blowing smokescreen on Vuc as rebounder- led Pac 10 soph,jr year in rebounding. Will be very interesting if DC puts the right people on the court at certain times in the game. Hope the Sixer coaching staff not outcoached.
— observer8
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.
