(AP)

Upon arriving in Philadelphia, Nick Young had two items on his agenda.

He had to undergo an MRI on his left knee, which turned up news that the Los Angeles Lakers guard stands to miss at least the next two weeks. Then, Young went to the King of Prussia Mall. Since Young, who played for the 76ers last season, cannot play against his old team Friday, he opted for the next best thing.

“I want to go out there and play against them, talk some trash to Spencer (Hawes) and Evan (Turner) and Thad (Young) and have some fun. That’s the downside,” Young said. “But I went and got a suit jacket because I still want to be out there and talk some trash. I’m looking forward to it.”

Young came to Philly under the auspices of a season that never came to fruition. He, Dorell Wright and Jason Richardson were brought aboard as shooters with which the Sixers would surround Andrew Bynum. But Bynum, beset by knee injuries, never played. And Young, who was given a one-year, $5.6 million deal, never lived up to the expectations created by his financially bulky contract.

The Los Angeles native, Young took a one-year contract worth $1.1 million from the Lakers. He has a player option for next season that he’s likely to pick up.

“Being able to play at home and for the Lakers is great,” said Young, who’s out for at least two weeks with a non-displaced fracture of his left knee cap. “I was seeing my options, but I was looking at the Lakers and the opportunity that was going to be there for me. Playing for them and being home, I couldn’t ask for better.”

Young has experienced a career renaissance with the Lakers, for whom he’s averaging 16.9 points (second behind Pau Gasol) on 41.9 percent shooting.

With the Sixers, under Doug Collins, he was an on-again, off-again personality. He was Swaggy P, an affable, congenial player who was always smiling. Some days, he was liked. Others, he was not. Some days, he was playing in crunch time and contributing. Others, he was coming off the bench only when the game was out of reach.

“Philly was good. It had its ups and downs,” Young said. “Obviously I wish I played more. But the city and how they embraced the Swaggy P Movement, I didn’t know they were going to be big on it, but they enjoyed it.”

Young played only eight of his final 25 games last season with the Sixers. The other 17 were DNP-CDs.

“Just sitting there and watching it, it’s hard. It was hard for me,” Young said. “I didn’t know why I wasn’t playing. (The Sixers) were bringing in players from the D-League and they were playing over me. It ain’t like I cussed (Collins) out or nothing. I was just sitting and waiting. But Doug hits me up from time to time. He texts me. He says he’s proud of me and stuff.”

In Young’s words, last season “is what it is.” And, Young said, it could have been different.

“Drew never got a chance to play. I know the fans were going crazy over that,” he said. “But what shocked me was this year. I had no idea they were going to trade Jrue Holiday, but obviously they’ve seen something in Carter that no one else did.”

That would be Michael Carter-Williams, Holiday’s successor as the Sixers’ point guard. Young will get a good look at the rookie. Only, it’ll have to come from the Lakers’ bench.

(AP)

The Portland Trail Blazers brought to Philly a familiar face, in Dorell Wright.

Wright, who spent last season with the 76ers, got a two-year, $6 million deal in the summer from Portland. That’s a pay cut for the 10^th-year swingman, who made more than $4 million for his work with the 2012-13 Sixers.

Still, it’s more than the Sixers were willing to offer Wright, who averaged 9.2 points and shot 39.6 percent last season.

“There was nothing,” Wright said.

That being said, the grass in the Rose City isn’t always greener. Wright, who’s playing with an unspecified bench role for the Western Conference-leading Blazers, is averaging fewer minutes (14.2) than all but one season in his career. He’s averaging 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 23 appearances, with zero starts. Also, he’s shooting 34.9 percent from 3-point range – his lowest total from beyond the arc since 2006-07.

“But we’re winning,” Wright said. “I don’t give a damn how many minutes (I’m playing) as long as we’re winning. I could care less if I was playing 40 minutes a night on a losing team. That don’t make no sense. The ultimate goal at the end of the day is to win. That’s what we’re doing, and I’m happy with my role, I’m happy with this team.”

Wright said he’s stayed in touch with current Sixers Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Arnett Moultrie, as well as deposed coach Doug Collins. Wright has no regrets from his one season with the Sixers, a team of shooters assembled around anticipated centerpiece Andrew Bynum.

“When that put the team in, as far as the different pieces, it didn’t work out with all the different injuries,” Wright said. “I still looked at it as me going out there each and every night and leaving it out there on the court. I’m not looking at it just as, ‘I’m here for a year,’ or whatever it was. I wanted to be back. You always want to be in a city as long as you can. They had other plans, as far as going young and rebuilding. I had other plans, as far as going to a different team and getting to the playoffs. I haven’t been the last couple years.”

(AP)

Every way you slice Dorell Wright’s season, it was a downer.

 

His scoring average – down. His shooting percentage – down. His rebounds – down. 

 

With Wright, confidence bred success. So when the swingman actually knew his role, toward the end of a playoff-free campaign with the 76ers, he played better. His averages went up. A jumpshooter by trade, Wright even became proficient at driving the lane. And for a team that had the second fewest free-throw attempts in the NBA, that wasn’t such a bad thing.

 

Wright was a $4 million hit to the salary cap, but a worthwhile one. He played defense, something his counterpart Nick Young did not. He stayed healthy, unlike his other wing-mate Jason Richardson. And believe it or not, his 3-point shooting percentage (37.4) was above his career average.

 

Quick assessment: All of that manifests in this fashion: It would be in the Sixers’ best interests to re-sign Wright, a free agent.

 

Wright, when asked toward the end of the season whether he’d be back in Philly, said, “I'm the type of dude who thought I'd be in Miami my whole career, so it's always good to be somewhere you're comfortable with and familiar with and happy with. I've had a good year here. I definitely wouldn't mind. I wouldn't mind hanging with new guys, a new staff, a great group of guys and in an organization that cares and with passionate fans.”

 

Wright has said it took a while to feel comfortable, but when he did, he thrived. The Sixers, assuming they free up some cap space via trade or are willing to sign Wright at or near his salary from this past season, will undoubtedly offer Wright. And that’s not necessarily such a bad thing.

(Associated Press)

NEW YORK – The calls aren't coming. The whistles have been in one team's favor, and that team hasn't been the 76ers.

They understand what's going on – sort of. They have a roster of bigs who prefer mid-range jumpers and guards who like testing themselves from the 3-point line. They get that. What they're struggling to comprehend is the difference between creating contact and initiating contact, which could what's separating them from getting to the line.

“As a referee,” Jrue Holiday said, “when you look at that – or even a regular person when you look at that – every time we play a game, is it that we just don't initiate contact? Or is it that it's not a foul? Why is it different? Why is that margin so bad? I can't really say anything. The only thing I can do is go out there and play.”

In losing, 95-92, to Brooklyn, the Sixers went 8-for-10 at the foul line, compared to 21-for-30 by the Nets. The Sixers have been outscored by 110 points at the free-throw line this season, more than any other team in the NBA.

The Sixers, who continue their roadtrip Wednesday in Memphis, are at a crossroads. They rank 29th in the NBA in free throw attempts, leading only Orlando in opportunities from the line. Without Andrew Bynum, a post player who has a propensity for drawing fouls, or a slashing shooting guard (Jason Richardson, at this stage of his career, just doesn't fit that bill), the Sixers are kind of out of options.

So what are they to do – have Evan Turner sacrifice his burgeoning mid-range game to drive and draw contact? Have Holiday drop the selfless act by passing less and shooting more? Have Dorell Wright take on some of that responsibility?

“You've got to do what you've got to do,” Wright said. “There are a lot of games that we play that are close games. If we lose by six or seven and the other team is beating us at the free-throw line. If fewer of those shots are in the paint, or we're getting to the free-throw line, we can take some games and beat some teams.”

Doing what the Sixers have to do does not involve technical fouls or fines from the league office, though.

“I have to be real careful because I don't want to give away my holiday money,” Sixers coach Doug Collins said. “I have to be real careful. We have to continue to get in there and find a way.”

Added Wright: “I only think I have three techs in my career, and the reason why is I know they're not going to change the call. The only thing you can do is go up to them nicely and say, 'Hey, you missed that,' or 'Hey, what was that?' You've just got to deal with it and do what you can to sell that you got fouled without flopping so you don't get fined – because I'm not trying to get fined.”

*      *      *      *      *      *      *

EDITORIAL NOTE: Gang, I took some time off -- in conjunction with the holidays and the Sixers' West Coast roadtrip. I'll next be blogging (barring breaking news) from Oklahoma City for the tail-end of the eight-game stay away from Philly. So enjoy the holidays, be safe and check back with the blog in the near future. Cheers!

(Associated Press)

DALLAS – Jrue Holiday sat on the 76ers' bench Tuesday morning, following the team's shootaround. He had a bag of ice on his bum left foot, and struggled to remember the last time he had a foot injury.

Ultimately, the Sixers' point guard said he had a right foot stress fracture, affecting the fifth metatarsal. (Kudos to the kid for remembering the medical jargon.) That was his freshman year of high school, and it happened while playing football.

“I never played football again,” Holiday said.

Holiday felt good enough following the Sixers' shootaround Monday at PCOM to board a flight to Texas, for the first of two games in two days. He said he felt more pain than he had expected in that left foot of his, which he initially injured Dec. 12 against Chicago.

Because of the nagging pain, because of how valuable Holiday has been to the Sixers, and because of the cramped nature of their upcoming schedule of games … Holiday probably shouldn't consider playing Tuesday in Dallas, or even Wednesday in Houston.

The 22-year-old is turning heads in the league, and among voters for the All-Star Game, with his 18.4 points and 8.9 assists per-game averages. He's been a rock for the Sixers, who have yet to get Andrew Bynum on the floor.

So why risk further injury, right?

“What am I going to do – put him out there and have him tear up his knee because he's playing on one foot?” Sixers coach Doug Collins said Tuesday, at American Airlines Center. “That would be really silly (to do) to win a game in December. Do we want to win? Absolutely. But that's why you have 13 guys on your team. Now it's up to somebody else getting an opportunity. Evan (Turner's) got the ball. We've got Dorell (Wright) handling the ball a little bit. Now is not the time to panic. Can't do it.”

Holiday's a gamer. He's not averaging 38 minutes per game accidentally. He wants to win, and he wants to be there for his teammates. But even he understands why it'd be in the Sixers' best interests if he watched Tuesday's game from the bench, as opposed to from the hardwood.

“It is tricky. I feel like we can win a lot of games. I feel like I can help my team. That's a lot of pressure to put on me to come back,” Holiday said. “At the same time, your foot is probably one of the most important parts of just playing basketball, being able to walk, run, jump, all that stuff you have to do to be on your feet. I'm going to try to get back as soon as possible.”

Following these games in Texas, the Sixers host Atlanta Friday then head to Brooklyn for an afternoon tip Sunday. Then, after two days off, they don't play again until Dec. 26 in Memphis.

It's not ridiculous to think the Sixers are considering keeping Holiday on the shelf until then. Getting through six games without him is slightly more manageable than getting through 20.

“We can't make this a residual thing. We can't take an acute injury and make it chronic,” Collins said.

Which is probably why Holiday will be in a suit Tuesday instead of a uniform.

(Associated Press)

Sunday night, the Sixers blamed their 111-98 loss to the Lakers on 3-point shooting and their inability to defend the line. Nick Young said the Lakers made “unbelievable shots.” Evan Turner said they “hit crazy shots.”

No matter the adjective, the Lakers hit shots – 14 of them from 3-point range. That was far too many, and Doug Collins knew it.

“They spread you, they shoot the 3s. That's what (Lakers coach) Mike D'Antoni has always done,” the Sixers coach said Sunday. “Unfortunately, right now, we are struggling mightily to defend the 3.”

However, it wasn't the Lakers' on-the-mark shooting from beyond the arc that single-handedly sank the Sixers. Despite hitting 10 3-pointers against Los Angeles, the Sixers haven't been the most-adroit team in that category of late.

Consider this: The Sixers, in eight games this month, are shooting 27 percent (33-for-122) from 3-point range. Not coincidentally, the Sixers have a 2-6 record in December. They're also a 7-3 ballclub when they shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point distance.

It's not like one guy's production has tailed off, either. Like an epidemic, the Sixers collectively have been unable to dial in from long distance. Jason Richardson, the team leader in 3-pointers is shooting 26 percent (10-for-38) this month. Dorell Wright, a one-time season leader in 3-pointers made, is shooting 18.7 percent (3-for-16) in December. Turner, an on-the-rise perimeter shooter who's already made more 3-pointers this season than all of last, has only eight makes this month. And Jrue Holiday, who has missed the last two games, is hitting 16.7 percent (3-for-18) of his looks from 3-point range.

The Sixers (12-12), who begin a two-game Texas roadtrip Tuesday in Dallas, were supposed to be a 3-point-shooting team, especially in transition. At least that's how Collins envisioned them in the preseasons. Since then, they've had to rely on a shaky half-court offense that has left their 3-point shooters at a loss. The Sixers are in the middle or toward the back of the NBA stat pack when it comes to 3-pointers: 14th in percentage, 19th in makes, 22nd in attempts. The Mavericks, by the way, rank ninth in the NBA in defending the 3.

Following the loss to the Lakers, plenty of focus by the Sixers – and rightfully so – was placed on their need to defend the 3-point line. Perhaps just as much attention should be placed on scoring from there.

(Associated Press)

BOSTON --- The 76ers need a shooter. They need a guy who can consistently knock down shots.

In the offseason, they brought in three of those gun-shy guys, players who not only have a track record of pulling the trigger from long range but also those who have shown a proficiency for hitting them, too.

Without Jason Richardson, who might be able to return from a sprained left ankle Monday, the Sixers have entrusted Dorell Wright with that responsibility.

Wright got the start Wednesday in New Orleans. He's also more than likely going to start tonight at TD Garden against the Celtics in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal series.

While no one seems to be hitting shots with regularity (considering they rank dead last in the NBA in field-goal percentage), Wright can be that guy.

"Getting confidence," Wright said in an interview posted today to the team's Web site, is the key to getting on track. Wright, who owns a .298 field-goal percentage, would rank last in the NBA if he had taken enough shots to qualify ... which makes it an interesting decision on Sixers coach Doug Collins' part to continue starting Wright.

But here's the deal: Shooters are streaky. Wright's still the same guy who hit a league-best 194 3-pointers in the 2010-11 season. And this might only be a mere bump in the season for Wright, who's 7-for-27 from 3-point range and 14-for-47 overall this season.

The Sixers need Wright to right his shot. Tonight could represent the start of that.

* * * *

On a non-Sixers note, the Los Angeles Lakers today did something kind of unprecedented: They fired their coach five games into the season.

Los Angeles canned Mike Brown, who directed the Lakers -- who carry a payroll exceeding $100 million -- to a 1-4 record. (For the record, ESPN Stats reports that no team has every won the NBA Finals after starting with a 1-4 mark.)

It's a safe bet that Brown suffered the repercussions of putting so much faith in former 76ers coach Eddie Jordan and his not-so-vaunted version of the Princeton offense. See, the thing about the Princeton is you need constant player movement, cuts, picks and communication to pull it off. Not even the most star-laden roster can play the Princeton without chemistry. And it's difficult to develop chemistry when your point guard (Steve Nash) and center (Dwight Howard) have either missed time due to injury or are playing through pain.

That's not to make any excuses, because Jordan's numbers speak for themselves. I'm not sure why you'd put a guy whose teams own a .428 winning percentage in charge of installing an offensive system for the team expected by everyone to win the title, but -- hey -- that's just me.

(Associated Press)

Three games into their season, the 76ers have fallen on hard times offensively.

They rank last in the league with a .372 field-goal percentage, next-to-last with 85.3 points per game and 28th with 1.02 points per shot attempted.

Those stats undoubtedly will receive a lift when Andrew Bynum, who has a proclivity for taking high-percentage shots like lay-ups and dunks, returns to the court.

Here's a look at where the Sixers' offense is (or isn't) coming from:

Dorell Wright

Key 2012 stat: Ranks 130th of 132 qualifying players in field-goal percentage.

Career: 9.4 ppg, .437 FG%, .363 3FG%

Season: 13.0 ppg, .324 FG%, .250 3FG%

Nick Young

Key 2012 stat: Has scored 26 points on 34 field-goal attempts.

Career: 11.5 ppg, .428 FG%, .377 FG%

Season: 8.7 ppg, .265 FG%, .308 3FG%

Evan Turner

Key 2012 stat: Has shot 3-for-12 outside the paint

Career: 8.2 ppg, .433 FG%

Season: 9.0 ppg, .280 FG%

Jrue Holiday

Key 2012 stat: Somehow averaging 8.7 apg for league’s worst-shooting team

Career: 12.0 ppg, .440 FG%, .381 3FG%

Season: 19.3 ppg, .435 FG%, .533 3FG%

As the 76ers get underway with the back end of their home-and-home with the Knicks, here's what you need to know:

• Kwame Brown started in place of Lavoy Allen. It’s Brown’s debut with the Sixers, and his first regular-season action since Jan. 10, 2012.
• Dorell Wright, and not Nick Young, started at shooting guard. Coach Doug Collins said he prefers Wright in the starting five and Young off the bench until Jason Richardson (left ankle sprain) returns. Collins didn’t give a timetable.
• Andrew Bynum is progressing, but Sixers GM Tony DiLeo said there’s no timetable for his return from a right knee bone bruise.
• Spencer Hawes thinks either Romney wins in a rout or Obama wins re-election in a close race. Hawes’ words, not mine.

(AP)

The questions surrounding the 76ers are innumerable. Who Evan Turner would play in “The Legend of Bagger Vance” isn’t one of them.

 

More on that later.

 

Sixers coach Doug Collins needs Turner to play the three. The problem with that plan is Turner’s size. The third-year guard (6-7, 205) is likely going to be undersize to defend against guys at the small forward position, compared to those he saw last season as the team’s primary option at shooting guard.

 

Monday against Boston, Turner was tasked with defending Paul Pierce (6-7, 235). Saturday, he was paired with Brooklyn’s Gerald Wallace (6-7, 220). Later this preseason, he’ll match up with New York’s Carmelo Anthony (6-8, 230).

 

“We’re going to have to give him situations where he can use his ball skills and all to be able to do that,” Collins said of Turner, who had 10 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes Monday. “I still think he has a huge advantage anytime he rebounds the ball and pushes in the open court. That’s really when Evan’s at his best.”

 

Turner did well to contain Pierce in the Sixers’ 107-75 victory over the Boston Celtics. Granted, Pierce only played 21 minutes, with most of Boston’s stars playing tempered roles, but it’s the kind of opportunity in which the Sixers need to Turner to thrive.

 

As for that Bagger Vance thing…

 

“I talked to Evan the other night before the game in Atlantic City and I thought against Orlando he was really putting so much pressure on himself. All I said is, ‘Play with a peaceful spirit. Cut the noise and all the stuff that’s clanking around.’ I spoke with him. It’s funny.

 

“You guys know I’m a karma guy or whatever. I went back to my room and the Legend of Bagger Vance was on. I said Evan was Juna (Matt Damon’s character) and I was Will Smith – Bagger. Just how Will Smith was talking about the game, and something would happen. Some little tidbit and, all of a sudden, the guy is unlocked. We’ve just got to get Evan unlocked. That’s all.

 

“He’s one of our best all-around players. Another thing for Evan is – I said ‘When you’re not a balls-out shooter and all of a sudden J-Rich (Jason Richardson) is on your team and Dorell Wright and Nick Young and all these guys, I don’t want him to think that’s what I’m looking for with him. I told him the other day I’ve never taken a guy out for missing shots, nor will I ever. I just don’t do that. I want him to concentrate on all those great things he brings to our team, focus on his role and what he does for us. Again, it’s all the little dynamics we’re trying to put together.”

 

In further breaking down Turner’s night against Boston, he had three assists to two turnovers – one was on a sloppy pass on the first possession of the game, the other was a lost ball in the third quarter. Neither had to happen, as both were unforced errors. He shot 5-for-10, which was on par with what the Sixers did as a team (43-for-88, 49 percent), and he pulled down four defensive rebounds.

 

Not bad, eh Bagger?

 

“I haven’t watched the movie yet. I’ll have to check it out,” Turner said. “If it’s anything crazy, I’ll have to beat up that bobblehead (of Collins in his locker). (Collins) would be the good-looking guy who makes all the money, right? What a coinky-dink, right?”

(AP)

It's the first Tuesday in October, the first day of training camp ... and we're already talking about rotations?

The topic came up following the 76ers' morning session at Saint Joseph's University, where coach Doug Collins offered his preliminary take on how his team shakes out.

First, Collins said, his rotation always stays around nine players with a 10th being "a specialist." (More on that in a moment.) Here's Collins' take:

Five on the perimeter

• Jrue Holiday 
• Evan Turner (pictured)
• Jason Richardson 
• Dorell Wright 
• Nick Young 

Four bigs, when healthy:

• Andrew Bynum 
• Spencer Hawes
• Thad Young
• Lavoy Allen

The wild-cards in all this, or the guys vying for that 10th spot in the rotation, would be: Maalik Wayns, Royal Ivey and Kwame Brown. More on that from Collins:

“Your 10th guy becomes a specialist," Collins said. "It might be Kwame one night for post defense. It might be Royal Ivey one night because we need to put him out on a point guard for six or eight minutes and guard the heck out of the ball. It might be Maalik where we say, ‘Maalik, the game is stagnant. Get the tempo going.’

Collins continued, saying a guy like Nick Young might play in that capacity at some point, too:

"Against the Knicks, I might let (Young) play a quarter against Carmelo Anthony or against the Celtics let’s see what he does on Paul Pierce. Now I have to find out what we can do."

So that's where everything stands after one session of training camp. And there's no possible way that could possibly change between now and Oct. 31, right?