If there is one thing Sixers head coach Doug Collins learned about watching his team allow 100 points in three out of the last four games and at least 89 points in the last 11 straight, its that his team needs a little more help on defense.
Collins said his team needed a defensive identity after it beat the Houston Rockets 107-100 last Saturday night. He got that identity during the fourth quarter when the coach went with veteran Damien Wilkins instead of instant offense from Nick Young, who took his first healthy DNP of the season.
The result: the Rockets missed eight straight field goal attempts in the final three minutes of the game.
The carryover from the Sixers defensive stand against the Rockets will mean more playing time for Wilkins and less for Young, according to Collins, who said the move could be temporary.
It wasnt anything Nick did or didnt do, Collins said. Im going to go this way for a while.
But, Collins added, Im not going to etch anything in stone.
Young is out of the rotation despite averaging 10.1 points per game and shooting 41 for 108 (38 percent) from three-point range. Collins turned to Young for offense early in the season and got it with four 20-plus points games and a 30-point effort against the Lakers on Dec. 16.
However, Young missed four games with a hyperextended big toe and quickly found his stride before Collins decided to go with more defense.
When asked about Collins decision, Young was philosophical and said he was willing to do whatever to help the team. Nevertheless, Young seems to understand his shortcomings.
I can play defense, Young said. But I like offense.
Considering that Young averages 14 shots per 36 minutes -- the second-highest total on the team -- its obvious that he likes offense very much.
Young and Wilkins both signed with the Sixers for one year with Young taking a 5.6 million deal and Wilkins getting 1.2 million.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com.