Sixers' MCW can't be passive

AFTER POINT guard Michael Carter-Williams suffered through a 2-for-20 shooting night in Utah last Saturday, coach Brett Brown couldn't have been happier the way his lead guard responded the next day. When the team arrived in San Francisco on Sunday, which was an off day, Carter-Williams pestered his coach and the staff to find a gym where he could put up some shots.

It wasn't an easy task, as the team didn't arrive in San Fran until about 5 p.m. Many calls were made and finally MCW and a small group were able to get to a gym at San Francisco University.

But his response during the next game, a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors, was pretty alarming. MCW was tentative, reluctant to engage in the action. His first-quarter numbers loudly declared his ineffectiveness. In 9 minutes, 12 seconds of play, MCW took no shots, had no rebounds, didn't get to the foul line, had no assists, fouls, turnovers or points.

He finished the game playing 38 minutes and collected four points, six assists and three steals, to go with three turnovers in the 126-86 loss.

"He's always trying to do too much," Brown said.

That is a good and a bad thing. On a team that doesn't have very many go-to players, it's good to see your point guard want to take matters into his own hands. MCW did it in his first game as a pro against the Miami Heat last season. Sure, there will be some failure and there will be some success. But if Carter-Williams shies away from a game while he is battling a slump, the organization won't be able to improve the way it wants.

Tonight is another very tough game against a terrific Phoenix Suns backcourt. Seeing Carter-Williams try to do too much probably would be a good thing.

Forward Luc Mbah a Moute (strained calf) returned to practice for the first time in almost a week yesterday. He is officially listed as probable for tonight's game against Phoenix.

Hollis Thompson hasn't played since Dec. 19 because of an upper-respiratory infection. He was sent back to Philadelphia at the beginning of this road trip.

Brett Brown said Thompson is getting better and the team is eager to get him back.

Watching Golden State's Marreese Speights go off on the Sixers the other night for 23 points in 24 minutes and Andre Iguodala still being a productive player off the bench started the emails coming to me about what could have been.

What if the Sixers had kept the core pretty much together from the past few years? What if the Andrew Bynum trade was never made? Of course, money would have been a huge factor in keeping players together, but just for fun, in a season that hasn't had a lot of it, let's have some. With the Eastern Conference so mediocre, it kind of lets the mind wander a bit.

Here's a look at what some former Sixers are doing:

* Jrue Holiday: The one-time All-Star is averaging 15.6 points and 7.4 assists for the New Orleans Pelicans. He has dealt 232 assists and turned the ball over only 75 times.

* Marreese Speights: As Warriors coach Steve Kerr said: "He's a big man who can shoot from the outside. Who doesn't want that?" Speights, 27, is in the starting lineup for the 25-5 Warriors and averaging a career-best 12.2 points, to go with 5.1 rebounds and is shooting 53.2 percent from the floor.

* Thaddeus Young: He is still only 26 years old and is coming off his best season as a pro, when he averaged 17.9 points last season. This season for Minnesota, he is averaging 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds and is shooting 44.6 percent.

* Evan Turner: He is still trying to find a true spot in the league, but is having a decent season with the Celtics, averaging 8.7 points in 23.6 minutes. Let's take it a step further. Imagine if the Sixers had drafted DeMarcus Cousins instead of Turner at No. 2 in 2010. Cousins' 24 points and 12.2 rebounds would be a pretty good fit.

* Spencer Hawes: I know there aren't many fans of the 7-footer in this area, but having him playing 20 to 25 minutes off the bench isn't bad. He is one of the best passers and shooters of any big man out there. He's averaging 6.3 points in 17.1 minutes with the Clippers.

* Andre Iguodala: His aching knees are starting to limit him a bit, but he is still a very valuable player for any team. He is one of the top subs for the best team in the league right now.

* Nikola Vucevic: Still only 24, Vucevic is turning into one of the premier big men in the league. He is averaging a career-best 18.1 points, to go along with 11.3 rebounds and is shooting 52.6 percent from the floor.

* Of course, there are others, too. Lou Williams is the spark plug off the bench for the Toronto Raptors, getting 14.7 points in 23.6 minutes. Lavoy Allen was told by general manager Larry Bird to go get every rebound, and he pretty much is, grabbing 7.3 boards in 22.3 minutes for Indiana.

Being mired in mediocrity for as long as the Sixers were wasn't the plan for new ownership and general manager Sam Hinkie, so the strip-down began. Just wonder how a roster similar to the above group would do in today's Eastern Conference.

Sixers at Phoenix Suns

When: Tonight, 9 o'clock

Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix

TV/Radio: The Comcast Network/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: Another Western Conference team that is not a good matchup for the Sixers, as the explosive Suns boast a heavy arsenal of scorers. They have six players who average double figures in scoring, led by guards Goran Dragic (16.9) and Eric Bledsoe (16.6).

Sixers at Los Angeles Clippers

When: Tomorrow, 10:30 p.m.

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

TV/Radio: The Comcast Network/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: The Clippers held the lowly Knicks to a season low in points in Wednesday's 99-78 win. They are in the middle of a nine-game homestand, which is the longest in the league this season and the longest in team history. They beat the Sixers by 45 in Staples last season.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Sixers

When: Monday, 7 o'clock

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: This one took a strange twist when it was announced yesterday that LeBron James will be out for the next 2 weeks with back and knee problems. Kevin Love also has been battling an injury of late (back spasms). Cleveland has lost four of its last five games.

Milwaukee Bucks at Sixers

When: Wednesday, 7 o'clock

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: The Bucks are one of the surprise teams in the NBA early this season. Remember, they had fewer wins than the Sixers last season. They also have been hit with some injuries, but are getting fine play from guard Brandon Knight and reserve O.J. Mayo.

BY THE NUMBERS

55: That's the number of points by former Sixer Marreese Speights against the Sixers his past two games.

50: That's the amount of minutes played by Speights in those two games.

11.1: That's the shooting percentage (3-for-27) of Michael Carter Williams the past two games.

Blog: ph.ly/Sixerville