Duo from 2011 draft may give Sixers big boost

It's appropriate that 76ers rookie power forward Lavoy Allen has just gotten his driver's license. After all, it was his "motor," or supposed lack of one, that was likely the reason Temple University's all-time leading rebounder was not selected higher than 50th in last year's draft.

The 76ers (16-6) didn't see it that way. The Sixers thought that both the 6-foot-9 Allen and 7-0 center Nik Vucevic out of USC would both be gone before they picked. Much to their delight, though, both players were there when the Sixers picked - Vucevic at No. 16 overall - and the selections are paying dividends early.

Allen, who until getting his license would sometimes catch the Broad Street subway from Temple to get to Sixers home games, has hit the court with a full head of steam.

In their surprisingly easy 98-82 victory over Central Division leader Chicago on Wednesday, Allen logged 26 minutes, 29 seconds. He shot 7 for 10 from the field for a career-high 15 points. The six rebounds he pulled down were one shy of the career-high seven he snared against Charlotte last week.

Forced into action after Vucevic strained his left knee and quad in the team's first meeting with Friday's opponent, Miami (16-6), Allen has made it difficult for Vucevic to reenter the rotation. Vucevic was given a clean bill of health the last two games after missing four.

Vucevic averaged 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in three starts. When he returns, he and Allen could provide a one-two punch that could have the organization praising last year's draft for the next decade. Allen turns 23 on Saturday, and Vucevic turned 21 in October.

"We knew going into the draft that our weakness was size, and you never know if you are going to be able to address that in the draft," Sixers coach Doug Collins said after practice Thursday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "You can't just draft size if it's not going to be something to help you.

"We got very blessed. I saw Nik at the Chicago draft camp, and I got scared that he was not going to be there when we picked - he was.

"Lavoy we targeted for the first round, but there was a question about his motor. But for us to get two young bigs that we can develop . . .

"[Elton Brand] is our starting power forward, but he's on the back side of his career. At some point in time we are going to have to see how we solidify that position. When EB can no longer play we've got a couple of guys who will be able to jump in and assume that position."

Collins pointed out that Chicago's Carlos Boozer and Orlando's Glen Davis, big men who tip the scales at 260 and 289 pounds, respectively, were both surprised by Allen's strength when they attempted to back him down. They found that Allen, his forearm firmly planted in their backs, wasn't budging.

"You could see the surprise in their faces," Collins said with a smile.

Allen and the Sixers are in for a huge test Friday against a Miami team that features not only LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, who are all healthy, but also active big men like Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem.

"It's really going to be a huge challenge for us," Allen said.