Allen makes a strong impression
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Allen makes a strong impression
Doug Collins often talks about players making the most of their opportunities. He says that a player is a sprained ankle away from getting minutes.
In Lavoy Allen’s case, it was a strained Achilles and strained knee/quad away.
Those were the injuries that kept Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic sidelined. So Allen played a career high 17:26, scored 10 points and hit all five field goal attempts in Monday’s 103-83 win over the Washington Wizards.
“How about Lavoy Allen,” coach Doug Collins said after the game. What a coming out party for Lavoy tonight.”
Collins then made an interesting observation about Allen.
“It’s one of the first times I’ve seen him really smile and really see his personality.”
Even though he’s a rookie, the Temple product wants to get on the court like any other player.
“It’s felt great,” he said. “Any kind of minutes I get I am grateful for, and with Spencer and Nik out I knew I was going to play some good minutes.”
They truly were good minutes.
Collins talked afterwards about the rap on Allen entering the NBA, how he has all the talent, but that everybody said his motor was often stalled.
There was no stalling in his longest appearance as a professional. He had two five-minute cameos and then played nine minutes when Vucevic was hurt during Saturday’s loss at Miami.
Whether his performance earned him minutes when the Sixers are healthy remains to be seen.
Right now, the team is not healthy at center so Allen has a chance to make quite an impresson.
“This really boosted my confidence,” he said.
And maybe his future minutes total as well.
GO OWLS!!!— malco49- Good job by LaVoy in last night's game. He has the same kind of poise on the court like his fellow rookie, Nik Vuc. Maybe this run gives LaVoy the confidence to grab some minutes in the rotation. Could there be some room in The Night Shift for LaVoy?— Seeing Red
- What does this say about Craig Brackins? Is that guy ever going to get any burn?— Dr.Jp
- I'm hoping it is LaVoy's surprising play that is keeping Brackins from getting minutes, and possibly allowed the Sixers to trade Speights, rather than Brackins poor play that is keeping him on the bench. Still, it's not looking good for Brackins.
— BeFrank - I cen definitely see Allen getting more minutes under Collins now... he proved he could step up and take on his role. That's more than Speights was ever able to do in his time here...— llkewlbean
- I was so anticipating and so excited by LaVoy's performance in his first "meaningful" minutes, I totally jumped the gun and posted everything on the other articles...As Seeing Red says, his orientation to the "Night Shift" should be eventually forthcoming...Although LaVoy has that "too nice" tag, he can play and has skills...Confidence wise, I'm hoping DC develops that trust to use Allen as the Sixers' injury status becomes stable...He can add additional frontline quality depth that the good teams need.— bearsfriend
- You know, those of us who've watched Lavoy since he was a sophomore at Pennsbury always had the same impression as mentioned by Collins. He had enormous talent but just seemed too easy-going on the court. The other side of that coin is that he doesn't seem to get rattled no matter how bright the spotlight. Here's to hoping he can find the right balance of intensity and control. Go Lavoy!— r white
- Being Temple's all-time leading rebounder has to count for something. Plus, he plays defense and can hit an open shot - and blocks shots as well. True, he is not the meanest or most physical player on the court, but I think that could come with more minutes. Go Lavoy. Go Owls!!!— pzales
- Don't get excited: He was playing against the Wizzzzards.. He got schooled by Chris Bosh.— Tyrone Biggums
- Comment fail — gopherkiddd
- Ah, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Chris Bosh an All-Star because he schools other teams centers on a nightly basis? — BeFrank
Comment removed.- No one's fooled Tyrone, just excited. I love seeing a local guy making it onto the team and producing. Bosh would have schooled Vic, Hawes, or any other center in the NBA.— corporatehuman
- No one's fooled Tyrone, just excited. I love seeing a local guy making it onto the team and producing. Bosh would have schooled Vic, Hawes, or any other center in the NBA.— corporatehuman
- bosh is an experienced nba player most veterans "school rookies" allen as mentioned has nba talent just need to be pushed that will certainly happen the more minutes he gets gives front court more size and quickness,brackens appears to be a perimeter player sixers are deep at those positions would not mind seeing him play.— only 9
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.
