Minus Bynum, Collins saw encouraging preseason signs
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Minus Bynum, Collins saw encouraging preseason signs
What else was coach Doug Collins supposed to say?
Of course he is disappointed that Andrew Bynum isn’t available to practice due to right knee discomfort.
But the Sixers had to play the entire preseason schedule without him and who knows when he returns in the regular season?
It likely won’t be opening night on Oct. 31 against Denver at the Wells Fargo Center.
Collins was happy with the way the team played during a 6-1 preseason and said at least the Sixers had time to adjust to not playing with Bynum in the lineup.
While preseason records can be as deceiving, Collins said there was a certain aspect that wasn’t.
“We played two to three games where they put guys in to beat us,” he said. “It wasn’t like they punted.”
So the Sixers looked good without Bynum and Collins clearly expects the same to happen in the regular season.
One of the biggest changes in the Sixers was their improved perimeter game. They shot .413 from beyond the arc in the preseason.
Again, don’t put much into preseason statistics, but it showed that whether Bynum is in the lineup or not, players such as Dorell Wright (12 of 25 from three-point territory this preseason) and Nick Young (11-25 from beyond the arc) make this dangerous perimeter team.
So without Bynum, the Sixers are more of a transition and three-point shooting teams. When Bynum returns, the Sixers add the low post element. That’s three different ways to beat teams.
For now the Sixers look like they will start the season without one of those three ways, but this will still be a dangerous team.
The Sixers won’t win six of every seven regular season games but they should capture their share, regardless of when Bynum is able to contribute.
Comments (17)
The reason Dougie is so matter of fact about this situation is he's known about it for weeks. Unfortunately selling tickets trumps honesty with this Sixer regime.- Gotta say that this isn't a surprise (Captain Obvious, I know)...— Fortaleza
- Bynum said in an interview with ESPN that it's better to "let the knee heal" before returning. Ummm. What's that? HEAL? Thought all these injections were "preventative"? Another bunch of liars in the front office. Must be taking lessons from RAJ.— scootch
- So the big guy has an undisclosed injury during the offseason or has a rapidly deteriorating knee due to genetics. If there was an injury I wonder if the team was even told or really knows how it happened now? I doubt it. Either way at best AB will be hit and miss the entire season - like the rest of his career to date. Fortunately, we are not stuck. The biggest question for the team is not for this year, but the looming contract situation. We will make the 2013 playoffs if he plays 8 or 80 games and we won't win a title regardless. If it were my money I would not want to risk much on a man who has the knees of a 10 year veteran offensive lineman unless he can come back we we have a doctor examine him every week for evidence of swelling and pain. Al Jefferson is looking better and better with each passing day. A calculating poker or backgammon player would look at the situation and go hard after AJ - low risk, moderately high rewards.— barrywil
- I hope he doesn't become Yao Ming. But he needs time to heal. Let Bynum heal first. Play second.— male
- Al Jefferson? Really? Dope. If Bynum can't stay healthy, they have money to sign the best fa in the offseason, or next. Win win. House money!— sore richard
- dope. AJ is the best UFA at center available next year assuming AB's fate is to be perpetually lame. — barrywil
- Maybe I'm forgetting something here, but I'm about 90 percent sure I remember reading, on Philly.com, that Bynum got his injections in Germany and everything went fine. But then he was working out and experienced a bone bruise. Now he's taking his time letting that heal. While this could be covering up for something bigger, it could just as easily be something as simple as a bone bruise. Those can take a few weeks to heal fully. Why push it at this point?— OutofTownPhillyFan
- A bone bruise doesnt usually linger unless its constantly being picked at or touched. And for a young guy a bone bruise shouldnt be something that henders you from playing. You can usually run a bone bruise away. I just dont like the idea of somebody from germany pouring fix-a-flat into a human being's knee. And seeing as how Kobe Bryant gave him advice about it knowing he doesnt like Bynum I'm kind of wondering. Things that make you say hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.— Zeru
- Bynum------another Jeff Ruland. Let's work out Moses. Young Tom— Young Tom
- I'm beginning to think that something is amiss in Sixerville. Still stop the Jeff Ruland BS. We did not give up a player of Moses caliber to get Bynum and if memory serves me, Ruland still had a few years on his contract where Bynum has one. Ruland was older. Taking a chance on Bynum was the right call regardless of the outcome. Taking a chance on Ruland was ridiculous.— ericthered1
- Everybody needs to chill. Bynum got the injury while working out, the injections he gets are therapy for his knees, but he still has the bone bruise. That does hurt the Sixers in as much as Bynum will be their best player and the one who adds that extra dimension to the team, but it also creates opportunities for a very able roster.
On paper they may have less talent, but the pieces fit together very well. Wright, Richardson and N. Young may not have the one-on-one skills that Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala have, but they are better spot up shooters with greater range. Defensively they are all better than Lou, and the team is clearly committed to Doug's schemes.
Even without Bynum, they are good enough to beat 25 of the thirty teams in the NBA. They certainly looked better than Boston, NY or NJ. Their objective should be to win as many games as they can,work on the things they can control like their turnovers and learn how to win without Andrew. There's no adjustment to make as they haven't played with him. the adjustment will come when he returns, and it's easy to add in a player who does things that the others on the roster can't.
I just hope that Kwame Brown and Moultrie can give us enough Center play in the meantime. Lavoy also does a great job but he too is still learning and developing. It's a good thing we've been competitive rebounding wise. The Sixers are going to have a great season, even if it takes Bynum some more time to get ready.We will need him in the playoffs much more than on opening night!— ricky - Everybody needs to chill. Bynum got the injury while working out, the injections he gets are therapy for his knees, but he still has the bone bruise. That does hurt the Sixers in as much as Bynum will be their best player and the one who adds that extra dimension to the team, but it also creates opportunities for a very able roster.On paper they may have less talent, but the pieces fit together very well. Wright, Richardson and N. Young may not have the one-on-one skills that Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala have, but they are better spot up shooters with greater range. Defensively they are all better than Lou, and the team is clearly committed to Doug's schemes.Even without Bynum, they are good enough to beat 25 of the thirty teams in the NBA. They certainly looked better than Boston, NY or NJ. Their objective should be to win as many games as they can,work on the things they can control like their turnovers and learn how to win without Andrew. There's no adjustment to make as they haven't played with him. the adjustment will come when he returns, and it's easy to add in a player who does things that the others on the roster can't. I just hope that Kwame Brown and Moultrie can give us enough Center play in the meantime. Lavoy also does a great job but he too is still learning and developing. It's a good thing we've been competitive rebounding wise. The Sixers are going to have a great season, even if it takes Bynum some more time to get ready.We will need him in the playoffs much more than on opening night! (HTML deleted)— ricky
- Well done Ricky.— bearsfriend
- The team is built for what Collins historically likes to do. Play extremely good perimeter defense (Jordan, Pippen), 3 point shooters all over the place(Craig Hodges, B.J Armstrong, John Paxson and Defensive intimidators that defensive rebound (Cliff livingston, Stacy King Horace Grant and Bill Cartwright). The Sixers have all the types of players that reflect this recipe for the most part except for the hall of famers that played that type of defense. Yes this team will be good without Bynum and will alot of games without him. But thats not what this is really about. Its more about wondering if the kid is injured more than that is being said from his fix-a-flat knee injections. Once we find that out then then an overview of the team can begin to take shape. But right now that is the talk of the town. Is Bynum more hurt than just a bone bruise. Looking past it isnt going to change the thought just inhance the question as time goes past.
Well done me.— Zeru - Let me guess!! Doug will just tweek the lineup a little and the sixers will start to win???? AND I have a bridge in Alaska I want to sell you!!! Don't the philly fans get it!!! Pro Basketball is a doad sport and they keep kicking the body every season telling you that they can revive it. The Players are poor,interested only in the money and when the get the contract, the QUIT and look like zombies on the court for the rest of the season. What a was of Hard earned Money for the Fans. High School Basketball on saturday would be more interesting.— rduexpress
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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.
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