Collins relying on Meeks to improve scoring

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Quick, who is the all-time leader for points scored in a game at the University of Kentucky?

Dan Issel, Rick Robey, Rex Chapman, Sam Bowie, Antoine Walker, Jamal Mashburn, Pat Riley and Cliff Hagan are all the wrong answer.

The correct answer is Jodie Meeks.

Meeks, the Sixers starting two-guard, scored 54 points in a game for Kentucky during the 2008-09 season to break the school record held by Issel. Of those 54 points, 30 came on three-pointers. The 54-point game was the best in the nation during that collegiate season and his 46 and 45-point efforts were the second and third highest scoring games of that year, too.

Still, Jodie Meeks?

Im a shooter, Meeks said after practice at Saint Joseph Universitys Hagan Arena. I am a spot-up shooter.

Indeed, Meeks is a shooter, and a pretty good one at that. Better yet, Meeks fits the profile of the quiet schoolyard assassin who until he starts burying shot after shot, no one knows if he can play. Meeks is listed at 6-foot-4 and a shade over 200 pounds, but that might be cheating an inch or two. Just 24-years old, Meeks looks younger with a face and attitude not yet hardened by years on the road and lots of late-night room service.

Truth is, Meeks looks like a lot of shooters he followed when he was a kid in Norcross, Ga.

Reggie Miller, Rip Hamilton, Michael Jordan, Meeks answered when asked which shooters he followed. Id go outside with my dad and work on my shooting and hed kind of tell me how to play.

In his second NBA season and first full year with the Sixers last year, Meeks made 138 three-pointers and took over a spot in Doug Collins starting lineup on Dec. 3. This came after Meeks began the season in street clothes on the bench as a healthy scratch.

That wont be the case this season, though. Collins has gone out of his way to laud Meeks play and hasnt given any indication that he was about to replace Meeks in the starting five with last years top draft pick Evan Turner. Though Collins remains non-committal, Meeks hasnt done anything to lose the starting job.

Theres so much emphasis on who starts and two of our five best players come off the bench. We are the ultimate believe in your role, stay in your role, star in your role team, Collins said. If you are a starter that doesnt mean youre one of the five best guys, what it means is you might be the best fit of the guys out there on the floor. I know there is a lot of emphasis on starting, but what matters is who is out there at the end. Well probably have five perimeter guys all get 20 or more minutes a game.

Meeks is valuable because of his ability to extend the defense and make shots. Hes not going to drive to the basket too much, nor is he going to be set up in any pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll plays. Meeks has the simple task of hitting the open shot.

Its as easy as that.

Jodie gives you great spacing and has great speed. He plays well off penetration with Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala or Evan Turnerhes the spacer, Collins said. He runs the floor well and one of the things that was consistent with all playoff teams last year is they all had one guy with more than 100 three-pointers. Were hoping this year Lou, Jrue, Dre and Jodie will be better three-point shooters this year. One of our goals is to be a better shooting team this year.

Meeks should spearhead that for Collins, but dont think that shooting is all Meeks is out there to do. Collins will lean on Meeks on the defensive end, too. He also has plans to run Meeks off screens so he can spot up or pass to the big man rolling low.

As a result, Meeks said he spent the summer working on his dribbling, footwork and his quickness for the occasion when he will have to guard players like Dwyane Wade. Collins is hoping the improved fundamentals will be a difference on both ends of the floor.

The one thing with Jodie is I want him to be a mistake-free player, Collins said. For instance, last year there was a game in Boston where we were within four late in the game and he was guarding Ray Allen and went off on a switch to guard a non-shooter and Ray Allen hit a three-pointer. I want him to be able to stunt and get back, just little things like that.

Regardless, dont look for Meeks to be in street clothes on the bench to start the season like last year. Instead, Meeks name likely will be called when the players are introduced before the tip.

E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com

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