Sixers coping with this unusual season

THE CRAZINESS that is this NBA season has reared its ugly head in numerous ways. Consider that recently one of the Washington Wizards' two wins came against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a premier team in this league. Or that the Orlando Magic scored only 56 points in a 31-point loss to the Boston Celtics, who aren't exactly setting the world on fire with a 7-9 record. And of course there are the numerous injuries. The 76ers are feeling that, as centers Spencer Hawes (strained left Achilles') and Nikola Vucevic (strained left quadriceps) sat out practice again yesterday.

Through it all, the 76ers march on. Sure, there have been many soft opponents on the schedule so far and a slew of home-friendly games. Still, the wins keep piling up. Coach Doug Collins and his players often bring up the term "slippage" in referring to their offensive execution. But there hasn't been anything significant enough to keep the team from winning the games they're supposed to, and mostly keeping them in the games they've lost.

Guard Jrue Holiday said simply after a short yoga and shooting session at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine yesterday: "Games that we should win, I think we're winning and showing how good we are."

They are winning them, and they are winning them emphatically, most recently a 103-83 thumping of Washington on Monday that helped seal the fate of Flip Saunders, who was fired as Wizards coach yesterday.

Believe it or not, it was a game that scared Collins. Why? Because that is what this season is about.

"It's not [a normal season]," Collins said. "I talked to our guys about execution and about our offense and all. What we've done this year is to err on the side of rest, and just try to keep our guys as mentally fresh as possible. We've had a lot of slippage in what we like to do offensively. But we have the better chance to win rather than come in here and practice for 40 minutes; we're better off that our guys come in, relax, get a nice session of yoga, be together, get some shooting in and get out and keep their bodies fresh and stuff.

"It is a very tough thing to gauge [the season]. You don't know maybe from night to night who is going to play. You prepare and, all of a sudden, someone's a game-time decision; you don't know if they're playing or not. We're not going to rush anybody back. You rush somebody back and it's going to cost you 2 or 3 weeks. It is a lot different, and I'm still learning, and our coaches are still learning. I think our players are responding very well, though.

"That's the key thing. They've got a good feel. I was so proud [Monday]. I was really worried about that game. They [Washington] were playing harder, they were playing a little bit better, we had two big guys out and I was very, very concerned. I thought 'Dre [Andre Iguodala] started with his defense. I think he got a steal and E.B. [Elton Brand] got a dunk, and it just fed our whole team the entire night. Our team has responded well and I'm very proud of that."

So where is this team with the 12-5 record that it will look to improve upon tonight when the New Jersey Nets (5-13) visit? Can you get a good gauge of any team so far this season?

"I think it's like any other year in that teams play up and down, and you never know what you're going to get," Iguodala said. "A team can win five straight or they can drop five, and they're not playing so well; whether it be injuries, any given time a team can go on a run. In a condensed season, it can definitely happen. Washington beat Oklahoma City, which is arguably one of the best teams in the league.

"I think we know we're a good team. The thing about us is that we've done a good job of coming in focused, because we haven't had much practice time, but some of our games have come after off days. We're a competitive team. I think everybody has something to prove so when we go out there everybody is ready to play."

So far, so good.

It appears that Spencer Hawes is still quite some time away from returning, while Nikola Vucevic may be able to come back tonight.

"There's definitely progress, but it's just one of those things with the way the season is set up," Hawes said. "I've taken these [four] games and if I'm going to invest in getting it better I want to make sure."

The educated guess here is Vucevic, injured in Saturday's loss to Miami, will dress tonight, but gets limited minutes at most. Hawes, who has missed four straight games, could be sidelined until Monday, when the Sixers host the Orlando Magic.