(Associated Press)

Before Tuesday's game, Sixers coach Doug Collins was asked what he'd alter about the team that had lost eight of nine. He said he'd want “a healthy team.”

Collins' comment seemed timely, considering as his players were suiting up for a game against visiting Boston, his all-star center was in New York City, getting yet-another opinion on his bad knees. Andrew Bynum was not at Wells Fargo Center. Instead, he was visiting personal physician David Altchek for a look-see at his bad appendages.

The Sixers have gone the entire season without Bynum, which is a different scenario than that which the Celtics have faced. They've been sans Rajon Rondo since January, with a torn ACL. The Celtics are entrenched in the playoff race, while the Sixers are – well – not.

“I think the big difference is their star player won a championship with them,” Collins said of Rondo. “Our star player has never played, so our guys have never been around him.”

It's looking more and more like Bynum may never play for the Sixers. (Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo said in pregame that surgery has not been taken off the table.) That's left a bitter taste in Collins' mouth, but it'll be a cold day in hell before Collins waves a white flag.

Collins hopes the feeling of missing the postseason resonates with his guys.

“Anytime you miss the playoffs, it should hurt. Anytime your season is over and you go home without playoff games and you're not a part of that, it should be very painful,” he said.

“The plans we had this year, for this season, we really haven't been able to see. There's no excuses. Nobody's going to make any excuses. We just haven't had a chance to see that. I think the guys have done a nice job fighting through it. I'm proud of them. They've given all they can give.”