The Sixers continue their seven-game homestand Monday night with a game against the Orlando Magic. The Magic (12-8) are a team in disarray. Star center Dwight Howard has asked to be traded, and more recently, called out his teammates for a lack of effort in a loss to the Hornets, where Orlando scored just 67 points.
Howard's attitude toward the franchise that drafted him eight years ago with the No. 1 overall pick, has not prevented him from averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds this season.
"Everybody knows what Dwight wants to do, the question is can you keep him out of that paint with lobs and dunks and all those easy baskets that trigger what they want to do," Doug Collins explained.
"If you play him one-on-one, he is pretty unstoppable," said Tony Battie, who will start at center for the injured Spencer Hawes. "They have a lot of three-point shooters out there so it is a tough cover. You have to decide which poison you are going to die by. You just try to push him out, which is somewhat impossible at times."
Battie speaks from experience, having played for the Magic during Howard's first four years in the league, which made for very physical practices.
Howard continues to shoot a horrific percentage from the foul line. He is making a career low 44 percent from the line.
When Orlando is at its best, they have Howard dominating the post and shooters on the perimeter, as Battie mentioned, knocking down three-pointers.
NBA
Ryan Anderson is one of the Magic's best long range shooters at 43 percent. He leads the NBA in makes (58) and attempts (135) from behind the arc.
In three games against the Sixers last season, Anderson shot 19 for 32 from the floor including 11 for 21 from three.
"You have to guard the three-point shooters," Lou Williams said. "I think sometimes we might get a little overzealous with trying to help on Howard, that we leave guys that can hit three-pointers, and obviously, they can do that with the personnel that they have."
Hawes will miss his eighth straight game with a strained Achilles. Rookie Nikola Vucevic will dress though it was unclear if Collins was committed to playing him. Vucevic is dealing with a left kneequad strain.
"I want him to get game-day preparation again," Collins said. "I don't want him getting used to him coming to the game wearing a suit. I want him to get his thoughts together, especially as a young player."
The Magic will be without starting point guard Jameer Nelson for a second straight game. He is out with concussion-like symptoms. In his absence against the Pacers on Sunday, Orlando committed 11 first quarter turnovers and 19 for the game in a 106-85 loss.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com