IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
Eddie Jordan has been openly concerned about the 76ers' ability to rebound.
Before last night's loss to Memphis, the Sixers were being outrebounded in both categories: by 119-111 on the offensive boards and 334-327 on the defensive boards.
Those numbers don't appear overwhelming, but they gradually have been heading south, and they got worse last night.
Through 11 games, Memphis, though 3-8, was dominating opponents on the glass: by 147-116 on the offensive boards and 339-309 on the defensive boards. And last night, the Grizzlies outrebounded the Sixers by 48-28.
Memphis had two players - Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph - in double digits in rebounds, Gasol averaging 11.1 and Randolph 10.2.
The Sixers had only two active players averaging more than 6.0 rebounds: Andre Iguodala with 6.5 and Samuel Dalembert with 6.4.
"Any team that's physical and will go into your body is always a test for us," Jordan said of Memphis. "And somewhere along the line, maybe we'll learn our lesson and start hitting people first. . . . If we can't be physical, be relentless in your athleticism."
Swingman Rodney Carney, who sprained his right wrist in Wednesday's win over the Bobcats, played last night. Carney was limited to noncontact drills at Thursday's practice and wore a black wrap on his wrist last night.
Center Marreese Speights was walking around the locker room before last night's game without a heavy brace on his left knee.
A week ago, Speights partially tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, an injury requiring six to eight weeks of rehabilitation.
Before last night's game, Speights appeared to be walking well. He said he would take his first step back - hitting the weight room - after a week of rest.
With 10 minutes, 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter last night, reserve center Primoz Brezec played his first minutes of the season. Brezec was on the inactive list until Speights was injured.
In the fourth quarter, forward Jason Kapono sprained his right ankle. X-rays were negative. He was listed as questionable for tonight's game at Cleveland.
- Kate Fagan
