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Sixers open camp with Andrew Bynum on the sideline

Andrew Bynum, the 76ers' new center, spent his first day at training camp Tuesday splitting time among the weight room, an elliptical machine, and stretching.

Andrew Bynum will not participate in training camp for the next three weeks to allow his knees to rest. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)
Andrew Bynum will not participate in training camp for the next three weeks to allow his knees to rest. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)Read more

Andrew Bynum, the 76ers' new center, spent his first day at training camp Tuesday splitting time among the weight room, an elliptical machine, and stretching.

But even before Bynum's new teammates scrimmaged at St. Joseph's Hagan Arena, coach Doug Collins began the process of incorporating the 7-foot, 285-pound player into his team.

Collins and his coaches taught offensive and defensive principles for the better part of two hours to the myriad new faces and five holdovers from last season's team. It was as if Bynum, who will not participate in training camp for the next three weeks to allow his knees to rest, were in the mix from Day 1.

"Without Andrew practicing with us, we are going to try to simulate all the things we are going to do with him," Collins said.

Bynum, a former Los Angeles Lakers star acquired in an August trade, was present during the skull sessions before the scrimmage and was very much a part of what was being taught.

"Anytime we threw the ball into the post, I asked him, 'Is this where you want your guys to be? How do you like them cutting?' " Collins said. "Even if somebody else is out there, we want to continue to play like that so we get into a habit of doing it. We don't want to play an exhibition one way and then try to change, because that would be too much for our guys. Every minute is precious."

It was not an easy adjustment.

"It's not frustrating, but it does complicate things," forward Thaddeus Young said. "Bynum is a big part of our offense and what we're trying to do, so we have to simulate a lot of stuff that we're going to do. It is very hard to prepare because he's not out there on the court for us to figure out how we're going to play around him."

Young is one of the Sixers Collins will be looking to for leadership. Collins said that last season's team, which included Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, and Lou Williams - all since departed, did not have any truly strong leaders.

This season, Collins wants the team's veterans to help the new players understand the culture. He is looking for leadership from the returning players, especially from Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner.

"There are a lot of new faces," said Holiday, who is beginning his fourth season with the Sixers. "Since I'm one of the five that's still here, out of all of us I have to step up and speak up. The point guard is supposed to do that anyway."

Turner, entering his third season, also spoke of the increased need for him to lead.

"The most important thing is guys are looking for us to lead," Turner said. "There are a lot of guys here looking for direction. We've got some ears that are ready to listen, so it's way different."

Asked how he made the adjustment to not having Bynum on the floor with him, Turner joked about the situation.

"I mean, it's the same as my first two years," he said, laughing. "I never had him out there before. But good things come to those who wait. Three more weeks, right? We don't want to rush him back and mess him up more."

Sixers hire scout. The Sixers announced that Jordan Cohn has been named pro personnel scout. Cohn previously worked in scouting for the Knicks and Nets. General manager Tony DiLeo said he expects to make another scouting hire soon. . . . Forward Lavoy Allen missed the morning session for personal reasons. He was at the evening session.

76ers TV Schedule

CSN – Comcast SportsNet

TCN – The Comcast Network

NBA – NBA TV

Home games in CAPITALS

All times Eastern; times are subject to change

 Preseason

OCTOBER

 11    at Orlando, 7 p.m.

13    vs. Brooklyn (Atlantic City), 7 p.m.

15    vs. BOSTON, 7 p.m.       CSN

17    vs. CLEVELAND, 7 p.m.       CSN

19    at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

21    at Boston, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

22    vs. New York, (Syracuse, N.Y.) 7 p.m.

Regular season

OCTOBER

 31    DENVER, 7 CSN

NOVEMBER

4    at New York, noon          CSN

5    NEW YORK, 7             CSN

7    at New Orleans, 8     CSN/ESPN

9    at Boston, 7:30          CSN

10    at Toronto, 7             TCN

12    MILWAUKEE, 7 p.m.       CSN

14    DETROIT, 7 p.m.          CSN

16    UTAH, 7 p.m.         TCN/ESPN

11    L.A. CLIPPERS, 7 p.m.       CSN

18    CLEVELAND, 6 p.m.    CSN/NBA

20    TORONTO, 7 p.m.          CSN

21    at Cleveland, 7 p.m.       TCN

24    OKLAHOMA CITY, 7 p.m.    CSN

25    PHOENIX, 6 p.m.          CSN

27    DALLAS ,7 p.m.          CSN

30    at Charlotte, 7 p.m.          CSN

DECEMBER

1    at Chicago, 8 p.m.         CSN

4    MINNESOTA, 7 p.m.       CSN

7    BOSTON, 7 p.m.     CSN/ESPN

8    at Boston, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

10    DETROIT, 7 p.m.       CSN/NBA

12    CHICAGO, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

14    at Indiana, 7 p.m.          CSN

16    L.A. LAKERS, 6 p.m.       CSN

18    at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.       CSN

19    at Houston, 8 p.m.          CSN

21    ATLANTA, 7 p.m.          CSN

23    at Brooklyn, 3:00 p.m.       TCN

26    at Memphis, 8 p.m.       CSN

28    at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.    CSN

29    at Portland, 10 p.m.       TCN

JANUARY

1    at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.    CSN

2    at Phoenix, 10 p.m.      CSN

4    at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.    CSN

5   at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.    CSN

8    BROOKLYN, 7 p.m.       CSN

9    at Toronto, 7 p.m.          CSN

12   HOUSTON, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

15    NEW ORLEANS, 7 p.m.      CSN

18    TORONTO, 7 p.m.          CSN

21    SAN ANTONIO, 7 p.m.       TNT

22    at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.       CSN

26    NEW YORK, 7 p.m.       CSN

28    MEMPHIS, 7 p.m.          CSN

30    WASHINGTON, 7 p.m.       CSN

FEBRUARY

1    SACRAMENTO, 7:30 p.m.   TCN

4    ORLANDO, 7 p.m.          CSN

6    INDIANA, 7 p.m.          CSN

9    CHARLOTTE, 8 p.m.       CSN

11    L.A. CLIPPERS, 7 p.m.       CSN

13    at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.       CSN

20    at Minnesota, 8 p.m.       CSN

23    MIAMI, 7:30 p.m.          CSN

24    at New York, 7 p.m. CSN/ESPN

26    ORLANDO, 7 p.m.          CSN

28    at Chicago, 8 p.m.          TNT

MARCH

2    GOLDEN STATE ,7 p.m. CSN/NBA

3    at Washington, 6 p.m.       CSN

5   BOSTON, 7 p.m.          TNT

6    at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

8    at Miami, 8 p.m.     CSN/ESPN

10    at Orlando, 6 p.m.          CSN

11    BROOKLYN, 7 p.m.       CSN

13    MIAMI, 7 p.m.             CSN

16    INDIANA, 7:30 p.m.    CSN/NBA

18    PORTLAND, 7 p.m.       CSN

20    at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.    CSN

21    at Denver, 9 p.m.          CSN

24    at Sacramento, 9 p.m.       CSN

25    at Utah, 9 p.m.          CSN

27   MILWAUKEE, 7 p.m.       CSN

29    at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

30    CHARLOTTE, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

APRIL

3    at CHARLOTTE, 7 p.m.       CSN

5    at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.       CSN

6    at Miami, 7:30 p.m.          TCN

9    at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.       TCN

10    ATLANTA, 7 p.m.          CSN

12    at Washington, 7 p.m.       CSN

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