Sixers coach Collins suffering from concussion symptoms

CINCINNATI - Athletes are some of the most competitive people in the world, whether the foe is someone else or their own body. Convincing themselves that they are not hurt is often a way of life.

It's a trait that probably doesn't ever leave the makeup of that person, even if he's no longer a player. Perhaps that's why it took so long for head coach Doug Collins to give in to the headaches and dizziness he has been suffering since he fell in a coffee shop on Memorial Day and sustained a concussion.

Yesterday morning, after a meeting with his assistant coaches in preparation for last night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Collins revealed that he needed to return to Philadelphia to get checked out. He flew out early yesterday afternoon and had a neurological appointment yesterday at Lankenau Hospital.

In his absence, associate coach Michael Curry ran the team in its next-to-last preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Arena, a 111-95 Sixers loss.

"He told us this morning, he hadn't said anything before," said Curry after the team's morning shootaround. "Hopefully they'll run the tests and hopefully he'll be good. I haven't noticed any difference. We've been meeting a lot and going over a lot of things in preparation for these next two games and for the start of the season. We've been together a lot and spent a lot of hours together. I haven't seen anything different."

Collins' availability for tonight's final preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center against the New York Knicks hasn't been determined. Most likely he will sit out. The team has an off day tomorrow before resuming practice Friday in preparation for the regular-season opener against the visiting Miami Heat on Oct. 27.

"Mo Speights actually noticed something, he's very observant," said forward Elton Brand. "When we saw coach [yesterday] morning, he kept saying 'What's wrong with coach? He looks sick or something.' "

Whether this is a long-term problem or one that can be treated quickly is anyone's guess. It's a lot to handle for an organization that knew nothing about the original injury.

"I found out about it [yesterday]," said president Rod Thorn before last night's game. "I had no idea that he had had a concussion. I'm just glad that it's something that he felt strongly enough about that he needed to get checked. We're hopeful that it will be a temporary thing and he'll be back with us soon.