(AP)

Part of James Anderson’s matriculation into the 76ers has been adjustment. Namely, evolving into a shooting guard who doesn’t shoot all that much.

Anderson has attempted only 46 shots through the Sixers’ first seven games, an average of 6.5 shots per game. And while he’s hitting at a 41-percent clip, Anderson has become more of a defense-first option for coach Brett Brown.

That doesn’t come as a surprise to Anderson’s former coach.

“(Anderson) is pretty good at a lot of areas. Hopefully, at some point, he’ll get really good at something,” said Gregg Popovich, whose San Antonio team was in town for Monday’s date with the Sixers. “He does many different things, and this is a chance for him to gain some confidence and find his way. He really enjoys Brett and has a relationship with him. Brett is a great confidence-builder. He knows how to make people feel like the greatest player that ever lived at that position, so he’ll be good for someone like James Anderson, who needs that confidence.”

Anderson, who played for the Spurs for two seasons, from 2010-12, is averaging 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per game, a total that demonstrates his penchant for putting the ball in teammates’ hands. He’s shooting 41 percent overall (19-for-46) and 32 percent from 3-point range (8-for-25).

There’s a chance Anderson, the 20^th pick in the 2010 draft, would’ve latched on with San Antonio if not for depth on Popovich’s roster.

“The only reason he didn’t stick was we didn’t have space. We had bodies,” Popovich said. “There was no place else to put him. What I remember about his most is what you’ve seen – coaches love him. He does whatever you ask him to do.”

And Anderson is OK with that.

“It’s been a big challenge for me, going out and trying to defend the top shooting guards in the league,” he said following the Sixers’ shootaround Monday. “I’ve been aggressive at the other end, too. I’m just doing anything I can to help this team.”

(Christopher A. Vito)

Andrew Bynum updated his status Monday, before the Sixers hosted the San Antonio Spurs.

The big man said he's feeling better, he's pain-free and he'd like to step up his rehab, but doesn't want to do anything stupid.

Also he's still targeting the All-Star break for a return. Here's the whole interview:

What's the latest?
“It's going pretty good. I shot around at shootaround today with the guys, so getting to be better on the court. If the treadmill would stop breaking down, I might be able to do a little bit more. So I'm doing well.”

The anti-gravity treadmill?
“Yeah, it's like every three days it needs service. I don't know.”

First time shot around?
“Yeah, it's the first time I've shot around at shootaround. I've been involved in a little bit in practice. Just shootaround with the guys. The knees feel good. I don't know. I'm not feeling any pain. It's just all good. I want to keep going.”

Still hoping for a return at the All-Star break?
“Yeah, that's my hope. Obviously, again, I still haven't done lateral movement. That'll be the biggest test. Cutting is the last thing to do, and I'm building up to that slowly but surely.”

Have you done any starting or stopping?
“Very minimal.”

What's the shooting like?
“Just like catch-and-shoot stuff.”

Dr. Jack McPhilemy, Sixers team doctor, was at practice Sunday. What'd he say?
“He just wants to make sure I’m not noticeably limping. Everything’s picking up. I’m getting into jump hooks and things like that.”

And your conditioning?
“Obviously, it’s going to be bad. I’m going to continue to run. I’m also running with less weight (on anti-gravity machine). Once that gets to 100 and gets to the court, that’s when it’ll really improve.”

What feels comfortable?
“Not jumping. Just post moves. Left- and right-shoulder stuff. Turnaround jumpshots at the right shoulder. Regular jumpshots. Shooting spots -- moving baseline, elbow to elbow, all that stuff.”

Is your touch there?
“That’s all I’ve been able to work on, so I’ve been working on it.”

What can you show this team or other teams about what you are?
“I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest. I just want to get back. That’s all I’m thinking about. Once my first game comes, I’m going to play really hard, and just play like it could be gone tomorrow.”

Lateral is next – when?
“I don’t know when. If the target’s the All-Star break, it’s got to be in the next couple weeks. It’s going to be defensive slides, cutting, running full speed and stopping, backpedaling, jumping – just explosive stuff.”

Do you want to do more?
“I want it to go smoothly. I don’t want any setbacks, so I want to run on the court and do all those things, but I’m going to let the team and the doctors tell me exactly when to take the next step, because if I go out there, I’ll do something stupid.”

What step is next on the six-step plan?
“I don’t know what step it is. It’s dynamic. It changes every day.”

(Associated Press)

OKLAHOMA CITY – In one facial expression, Evan Turner summed up the 76ers' night. He raced up-court to play defense, clutching the wrist on his right hand with the thumb and index finger of his left, signaling to an official that he expected a call that he didn't get.

These days, the Sixers aren't getting too many calls. And coach Doug Collins doesn't blame the officials for that.

In a 109-85 thumping handed out by Oklahoma City, the Sixers attempted eight free throws Friday. All eight were taken by Nick Young. No one else. Collins was asked afterward if he informed his team of the foul shot disparity.

“What am I going to say? I've been saying it for three years,” Collins said. “We've got to be stronger, take that ball to the basket and make them foul us. For one guy to shoot a free throw tonight, and I'm not saying that has anything to do with the whistle, so I don't want that to be miscalculated at all.”

The Sixers are not a physically tough team. They're a team that's content to rely on jumpshots. That's partly opinion, partly rooted in fact. Consider these numbers: The Sixers rank 28th in free-throw attempts (600) and 28th in free-throw makes (436). And because they rank 26th in free-throw percentage (.726), they're not even making the shots they're earning.

“In certain situations, we rely on pull-ups and getting cleaner shots,” Turner said. “That's not the first day where people are like, 'We don't get foul calls.' That's what happens. I'm not about to waste my time relying on someone else giving me a call.

“Sometimes you go to the rack, get drilled and it's a no-call and it messes up the transition (game) the other way and it adds to the frustration. Certain people on our team would much-rather rely on their jumpshot than going to the rack to get the call.”

One could argue that Jrue Holiday, the Sixers' primary ballhandler, could jump-start the foul-shooting spree by driving. After all, Holiday ranks 63rd in the league in attempts from the line. But because Holiday is at his best driving and kicking for a team loaded with 3-point threats, the task of drawing contact and, subsequently, fouls has to fall on someone else. Maybe that someone else is Spencer Hawes, a big with only 62 free-throw attempts. Maybe that someone else is Lavoy Allen, another big who is severely underperforming when it comes to drawing fouls (34 FTA).

“Sometimes we're getting fouled and sometimes you settle for jumpshots,” Young said. “Just one of those games. We've got some very talented offensive players here and any given night, it could be an attack night or it could be a night where they could feel good going up with their jumpshots.”

There have been plenty of those nights for the Sixers. For their sake, and for the sake of finishing an eight-game roadtrip with a win Saturday at San Antonio, maybe they should drive the lane instead of shooting jumpers.