76ers need to look inward for fixes

There are plenty of reasons for the 76ers' awful start to the season.

A grueling schedule? That's one of them.

A few injuries producing an inconsistent lineup? That's hurt them as well.

Some tough breaks? There's a little of that, too.

But the truth of the NBA is that almost every team is dealing with the same issues.

The Sixers are 3-12, coming off back-to-back losses to the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors - perhaps two of their easier Eastern Conference opponents - and will play at the Miami Heat on Friday.

If the Sixers are going to put together some victories, they'll need to stop worrying about all the outside factors affecting their game and worry instead about making free crucial throws, producing strong play at the end of quarters, and limiting turnovers.

Things that, to this point, the Sixers haven't done.

"You can't let those kind of games slip away," said Sixers coach Doug Collins, speaking of Tuesday's overtime loss to the Wizards, a game in which the Sixers were ahead by 15 points in the fourth quarter. "Especially not in the NBA when you get punished in a back-to-back."

On Wednesday night, after their subsequent 106-90 loss to the Raptors, the Sixers flew to Miami, where they celebrated Thanksgiving.

Sweet Lou? On Wednesday night, combo guard Lou Williams finished 1 for 11 from the floor. Williams started the season shooting well from both the floor and the three-point line, but since suffering a minor shoulder injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Williams has not shot well.

In the seven games since taking the hit to his right shoulder against the Thunder, Williams is 15 for 61 from the field.

"He's just in one of those ruts," Collins said. "We need him to make shots because he's an integral part of our team coming off our bench."

First minutes. On Wednesday night, rookie Craig Brackins played the first minutes of his NBA career. Brackins finished the game 3 for 7 from the field with six points and one rebound in 10 minutes, 11 seconds of playing time.

At one point during Wednesday's game, Collins called to Brackins on the court, "Rebound!"

"I told him, from my standpoint, when he can start getting some rebounds, then he becomes a factor because he's a very skilled player," Collins said.