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.
observer, you are giving Doug too much credit thinking Meeks won't be on the floor often. Every single fan seems to understand he doesn't below out there but unfortunately Doug doesn't— CBent1- Doug Collins is a complete jerk off......give me a freakin break people.....Lavoy Allen wtf.....it shows just how poorly put together this team really is.
Bulls in 4 or 5......and a couple of those will be ugly— bbrady25 - So... We will have the shortest starting five in the playoffs. We could have one of the tallest with Hawes and Nik. Which is better? Jodie, this is it. Make threes or go to the rack and draw fouls. Shoot free throws. Do something!— philsix6
- meeks lost jumper is what ruined the second half of the season. When he's hitting those, it opens everything up. When he's not, we can't score. Him and iggy's 3's are the needed ingredient for a win.— superbig
- meeks lost jumper is what ruined the second half of the season. When he's hitting those, it opens everything up. When he's not, we can't score. Him and iggy's 3's are the needed ingredient for a win.— superbig
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.
