Spencer Hawes

MIAMI - In the old movie Cool Hand Luke, there's a famous line that goes: "What we've got here is failure to communicate. " It appears the 76ers have just that problem between coach Doug Collins and forward Thaddeus Young. Collins has been speaking for the last couple of weeks about how worn down Young has appeared. In Saturday's win over the Atlanta Hawks, Young played just 20 minutes, 39 seconds, scoring just four points and not getting a rebound. Tuesday, after the team's shootaround at American Airlines Arena, Young laughed when asked about his health and about his coach's assessment of his health.

Following Friday's 90-79 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the 76ers were given the day off Saturday. Sixers center Spencer Hawes had a full day of activity, however, and he couldn't have been happier. Hawes hosted, at the Cherry Hill Armory, members of the National Guard who will soon be deployed to Afghanistan. The guardsmen will likely leave by the end of the year for 30 days of training at Fort Lewis in Washington state before going to Afghanistan. Their total tour of duty will last about a year.

  Not long after 76ers president Rod Thorn watched helplessly from the stands as Minnesota's Kevin Love hit a pair of free throws with a tenth of a second remaining to give the Timberwolves a one-point victory and drop the 76ers to their third loss in a row, he could be seen pacing back and forth in front of the team bus, clearly dismayed by the loss. Three days later in Houston, Thorn watched the Rockets' Kevin Martin score 14 points in the fourth quarter of yet another Sixers loss to bring their losing streak to a season-high five heading into this weekend's all-star break.

WASHINGTON - Not surprisingly, 76ers president Rod Thorn has been impressed by his team during its quick start. The Sixers took an 8-3 record into Saturday's game at the Verizon Center against the Washington Wizards. Thorn said everybody in the main rotation has played well, giving special mention to center Spencer Hawes and guard Evan Turner. "Those two guys have improved more than anybody else," Thorn said before Saturday's game. Hawes entered the game averaging 11.0 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Players to watch 76ERS: Evan Turner It looks like Turner will be in the starting lineup. And it seems that he will be assigned to shadow point guard C.J. Watson. If he can do a good job, play well offensively, and lend some rebounding help, it could go a long way in helping the Sixers entertain thoughts of an upset. BULLS: Rip Hamilton Hamilton scored 19 points on just seven shots in Game 1 by running around and through a myriad of picks.

The 76ers, about to play three games in a row for the first time since a lockout shortened the 1999 season to 50 games, will most likely have center Spencer Hawes with them for the stretch, according to the team. Perhaps the biggest surprise on the surprising Sixers roster, Hawes left the team's 97-62 Saturday win over the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter when he experienced a mid-back strain. Hawes underwent treatment shortly after the game and said he would do the same again on Sunday.

THE 76ERS SAID after the season was over that they were looking to get bigger and more athletic in the middle, whether it be via draft, trade or free agency. They might have addressed that area a little bit when they got 6-11 Arnett Moultrie, of Mississippi State, in a draft-day trade with Miami last week, but Wednesday, they decided to go back to a comfort zone. According to sources, the team has agreed to a 2-year contract to keep last season's starting center, Spencer Hawes.

Spencer Hawes one day will consider following a certain right-wing right tackle into elected office. In 2010, Jon Runyan parlayed his fame as an Eagle into a congressional seat in New Jersey -- a tack Hawes can see taking: "If the opportunity presents itself ... " For now, Hawes, 24, will just play center for the Sixers as they seek their first title in almost 30 years. He said he has a hard time finding informed debates with his less civic-minded peers in the NBA. "They don't last very long.