Sixers host Miami Heat tonight
The Miami Heat, coming off two straight losses, will look to right their ship against the Sixers tonight, a team they've beaten handily twice this season.
Sixers host Miami Heat tonight
Bob Cooney
The Sixers haven't had a lot of success against the Miami Heat (31-11) this season, losing both meetings by a combined 41 points. They'll be facing a Heat team that won't be in a very good mood either as they've lost their last two games. Spencer Hawes will be available again for the Sixers for the second straight game as he's returned from his strained Achilles' injury.
"They've outrebounded us by 15 a game and that's been a real concern," said coach Doug Collins. "So hopefully Spencer will help us with that. One of the problems about rebounding with Miami is that (Dwyane) Wade and LeBron (James) demand so much attention that a lot of times they'll drag another guy with them and a lot of times it's a big guy. So when they're going to the basket or they're in an isolation you're trying to help or come over then it frees up a lot of offensive rebounding for that team. They've definitely hammered us on the board."
The funny thing about that is that in their last four road games the Heat has been outrebounded by better than 13 a game.
"This is a totally different team than we played in the playoffs (last year), with (Mario) Chalmers starting and Joel Anthony starting, (Udonis) Haslem coming off the bench," said Collins. "Their speed and quickness is much better. They do a great job of trapping."
Hawes will still be limited in his playing time as he is still only able to play in five-minute intervals. Newly acquire guard/forward Sam Young will also be limited tonight, as he drove 13 hours from Memphis to Washington, D.C. after being traded to the Sixers to the Grizzlies yesterday and got his team physical today. Collins said he will suit, but isn't sure how much he'll be able to use him.
"What's really hurt us with this group is when they put LeBron at the four (power forward)," said Collins. "Hopefully we can be a little bit better with that tonight. When they did that last time that's really when they made their push. That was a really tough matchup for us last time."
Miami has won nine-straight regular season games over the Sixers and are looking to avoid a four-game road losing streak, something that hasn't happend in nearly four years.
If the Sixers miss all their uncontested shots in the third quarter and two thirds of them in the fourth quarter, they'll lose to the Heat again like last time. Or maybe ET and Hawes and Iggy will do some glasswork and they'll get out on the break for easy hoops?— Leegles- I was thinking since Hawes can't go back-to-back yet that maybe they'd start him tomorrow night instead. Miami hasn't faced the Sixers yet this season with Hawes in the lineup. If I was Collins I'd keep that ace up my sleeve for later if these teams meet in the playoffs, although it probably won't make a difference
- Let Wade and Bron have their shots and play for the rebounds. If the 6ers out rebound and score at the line they win. They can beat these guys.
— WantToKnow - After watching the Het push around the Sixers last April, I felt the Sixers going after an offensive rebounder and freak athlete in Kenneth Faried would be a good move...I wish the Sixers felt the same way....@stikoboloni-I was thinking the exact same thing from the day they said no back to backs for Spencer.— bearsfriend
- Hawes is out tonight, allegedly playing tomorrow night, but the cynic in me thinks he played his one game, did not get traded, now will be out again.— chuckw
- No they can't. Refund the money those fans paid tonight.What a blow out. Sixers would have trouble beating murray state.— sammydelphia
- This team will be in 7th place by the end of the weekend, and then we will all be wondering why they didn't think they needed a big man who could actually stay on the court.— blaqjaq
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.
