Sixers mull adjustments after loss to Nets

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Injured Sixers Spencer Hawes and Nik Vucevic were working with assistant coach Jeff Capel at the end of what Doug Collins called a meeting, not a practice. There is improvement, but it is unlikely either will play Friday when the 3-16 Bobcats come to town.

Meanwhile, the next time the Sixers practice where they actually get on the court and work on basketball plays will be March 11. The NBAs lockout-shortened schedule is just that grueling.

We put a couple things in at shoot around that we tried to run in games, but because we havent practiced our guys dont have any timing yet, Collins said.

Hawes last played in a game 10 days ago. In the five games the starting center has missed, the Sixers offense has suffered without his passing and ability to get the ball to the weak side frequently. Without Hawes, the Sixers dribble the ball more and play more one-on-one.

It is not reflected in the number of assists as the Sixers average 23 per game for the season and that number has been consistent during their last five contests. Their field goal percentage is down slightly, though they still shoot 47 percent on the season, fourth-highest in the NBA.

I thought last night we went more east to west than north-south, Collins said. We started going this way like a windshield wiper instead of penetrating.

I have two gauges I look at for our team. How do we start a game turnover wise? We had five quickly last night. And how many shots does Jodie Meeks get in the course of a game? When he gets four that says to me the ball is not moving.

There have been five games this season where Meeks has attempted four or fewer shotsthe Sixers have lost four of them. The Nets dictated Wednesday become a half-court game and Collins is the first to admit his team is not very good in that regard right now.

We played defense well enough last night to win that game, Collins said. I didnt give our guys enough help offensively. I could not find anything, especially with our smaller lineup, that we could get any kind of rhythm with. I have to be better.

The Sixers were forced to play extreme small-ball because Thaddeus Young, who has been battling a bad cold, fell hard on his back in the fourth quarter. Elton Brand also fouled out early in overtime, leaving Collins at one point playing Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner at the four and five positions.

There is no substitute for size, just having big bodies, Collins said. And we need some big bodies. When we have to play small, I mean at one point I had Evan guarding (Mehmet) Okur and Dre guarding (Kris) Humphries. Thad had fallen and Elton had foul trouble.

Young received treatment on his back after the game and again on Thursday. He should be fine for Fridays contest and Brand has six new fouls to work with against the Bobcats.

Similar to Mondays game against the Wizards, the Sixers need to stifle Charlottes offense from the opening tip to help fuel their own offense with their defense.

The Bobcats average just 89 points and that is with D.J. Augustins 13.6 points per game, though the point guard will be out Friday because of an injured right toe.

Kemba Walker is a terrific young player and Gerald Henderson is playing well, but that is a game regardless who we are playing Friday night it is a little like Washington on Monday. We have to come in with a sense of urgency that we have to win that game.

E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.

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