Subscriber Services |

Sixers Notes: Suddenly, Sixers making a living at the line

The Sixers' Evan Turner is driving more to the hoop. (STEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer)

By John N. Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: May 09, 2012

After going to the free-throw line a league-low 18.2 times per game - just shy of the league-low record of 18 by the 2005-06 Phoenix Suns - the Sixers have lived on the line in this series.

The Sixers have gone to the line 30 times or more in three of their four playoff games against Chicago.

So what gives?

Coach Doug Collins said part of the reason for the difference has been the insertion of Evan Turner into the starting lineup.

"We're playing a different team," Collins said. "Jodie Meeks was the starter and he would stand out beyond the three-point line and give us spacing. Now all of a sudden we've got three guys out there that are all driving - and you throw Lou [Williams] out there, four. So now we're a different team.

"When you take Jodie out you lose three-point shooting and you have to make it up at the free-throw line," Collins said. "So that's what we have to do. We have to drive the ball in strong and we have to manufacture points, and our guys have been good at doing that."

Talking about practice

Monday marked the 10th anniversary of Allen Iverson's "we talkin' about practice" news conference.

Starting point guard Jrue Holiday was just 11 years old at the time. But he recalled the infamous moment after practice Monday.

"For sure," Holiday when asked if he had seen the news conference. "Who hasn't? I think that's legendary. The pedestal he was on, the kind of person he was. Everything about it is legendary."

Still bullish

While they sit at the brink of elimination, the Bulls still sound as if winning the series is not out of the question. Only eight NBA teams have ever come back from a three-games-to-one deficit.

"One game," Bulls guard Richard Hamilton said "One game at a time. We've got to get the game at home, because if we do they are going to feel like their game here [Game 6] is going to be their Game 7. If we can get it there, then I still think we can win it."