DOUG COLLINS can sleep easier now.
The 76ers coach acknowledged he was awake at 4 a.m. yesterday morning, worrying about whether his club would have a representative at the NBA All-Star Game this year, which will take place in Orlando on Feb. 26.
He can rest easy; forward Andre Iguodala was named a reserve for the Eastern Conference last night on TNT. It is the first All-Star appearance for Iguodala, now in his eighth season in the league and with the team.
Upon hearing the news, Iguodala tweeted, "The phone is blowing up . . . Thanks to for the love . . . Truly a blessing." He also thanked the coaches who voted him onto the team.
"I could not be more proud of Andre Iguodala for being recognized as an All-Star," Collins said in a statement. "Andre has meant so much to the success of our team this season, and he is one of the most talented, unselfish players I have ever had the opportunity to coach - the entire 76ers organization, our coaching staff, his teammates and I are thrilled he will be representing us in this year's All-Star Game."
Iguodala acknowledged he thought he could have made the team "maybe twice, definitely one other time." This season, he is averaging 13 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals. Although this is the fourth straight season in which his scoring has diminished, Iguodala is one of the main cogs in Collins' offensive system, which preaches ball-sharing and has helped the team to an 18-8 start. The 6-7 University of Arizona product also has been dubbed by Collins as a first-team, all-league defender.
Iguodala said at the Sixers' practice yesterday morning at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine that it would be nice to make the All-Star team, but that it wouldn't devastate him if he didn't. He didn't even plan to watch the announcement.
"I'm going to be at Bible study with Jodie [Meeks]," he said. Asked whether he was going to watch the reserve picks on television, Iguodala said: "Probably not. I got a lot of stuff to do. I've got a lot of errands to run. And then I've got to pack for the week [the Sixers play three straight road games beginning tomorrow].
"I think it would be a good experience, but it won't be a heartbreaker or like a bomb got dropped on me. Hopefully, there will be good news, but there won't be any bad news."
There certainly was good news.
