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.

Spencer Hawes missed a good part of this season with his Achilles tendon injury. The biggest byproduct of his absence from 27 games is that he won't be able to command the money in free agency that he would have had he remained healthy and had the season he could have had. But Hawes has the potential to make back a good percentage of that money against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, which begin in Boston on Saturday night....

IN THE END, none of it really made much sense. The fear of 76ers coach Doug Collins at the beginning of this best-of-seven opening round series against the Chicago Bulls was that they would torture his team on the backboards. Even after Derrick Rose (torn ACL) was felled in the first game and Joakim Noah was sent to the sidelines after a twisted ankle stopped him in Game 4, it was still what kept Collins tossing and turning at night. So Thursday in Game 6, with the eighth-seeded Sixers trying to become the fifth last-entered team to beat a top-seed, the Bulls went out and crushed the Sixers on the boards to the tune of 56-33.

IN THE END, none of it really made much sense. The fear of 76ers coach Doug Collins at the beginning of this best-of-seven opening round series against the Chicago Bulls was that they would torture his team on the backboards. Even after Derrick Rose (torn ACL) was felled in the first game and Joakim Noah was sent to the sidelines after a twisted ankle stopped him in Game 4, it was still what kept Collins tossing and turning at night. So Thursday in Game 6, with the eighth-seeded Sixers trying to become the fifth last-entered team to beat a top-seed, the Bulls went out and crushed the Sixers on the boards to the tune of 56-33.

Players to watch 76ERS: Center Spencer Hawes Can he make it three games in a row with more than 20 points? The 7-foot-1 Hawes picked up the scoring slack Sunday when the other Sixers were throwing up bricks, and coach Doug Collins wants him to keep it up for this game. An unlikely scoring threat from the perimeter, Hawes hit the go-ahead 20-footer late in Game 3 and nailed seven of his first eight shots in Sunday's Game 4. Is he the answer to the Sixers' big-man woes?

It is the enduring curse to bear for Spencer Hawes, currently the starting center for the 76ers, that his game, even when he does good things, doesn't look all that good while he's doing them. And when he misfires or stumbles or plays poorly, well, he mostly looks like a tall guy who happens to be on a basketball court through no fault of his own. This is unfair because Hawes has talent and works hard and probably has more strengths than weaknesses. Nevertheless, it is true. It is the reason Hawes doesn't get the benefit of the doubt from NBA officials, who are unconsciously wired to reward smooth, pleasing play.

It isn't every season the 76ers win three straight playoff games. It isn't even every decade it happens. The last time, in fact, was the first round of the 2001 playoffs, which turned out to be a pretty successful postseason. All it took to complete that three-game streak was 33 points from Allen Iverson against the Indiana Pacers, and a rimmed-out three-pointer by Jalen Rose that would have tied the game. Yeah, it's been a while. Rose is now a television guy, clucking his tongue at players who miss big shots at the end, and Allen is showing up for exhibition games in Mongolia or someplace for cab fare.

  Two quarters, 24 minutes. Third quarter Tuesday, fourth quarter Friday. That right there is the difference in the first-round playoff series between the Chicago Bulls and the 76ers. Tuesday in Chicago, the Sixers jolted to a series-evening win by throwing a 36-14 scoring advantage at the Bulls. Friday, it was the 28-14 comback that suddenly produced an improbable, had-to-be-seen 79-74 win that gave the Sixers a lead of two games to one in the best-of-seven series.

  CHICAGO - With 4 minutes, 9 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Game 2 in Chicago's United Center, 76ers coach Doug Collins was leaping off the bench and onto the court to pull center Spencer Hawes away from an official after getting whistled for his third personal foul. Not long after Hawes' foul, the Bulls were heading to the locker room with an eight-point lead and seemingly a stranglehold on a lead of two games to none in their best-of-seven series. After allowing continuous wide-open shots to end that second quarter, in which Chicago scored on each of its last 11 possessions, adjustments were made in the locker room, and a new attitude arose.

WITH 4 MINUTES, 9 seconds left in the second quarter of Game 2 in Chicago's United Center, 76ers coach Doug Collins was leaping off the bench and out unto the court to pull center Spencer Hawes away from an official after he was whistled for his third personal foul. Not long after Hawes' foul, the Bulls were heading to the locker room with an eight-point halftime lead and seemingly a stranglehold on a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. After allowing continuous wide-open shots to end that second quarter, in which Chicago scored on each of its last 11 possessions, the Sixers made adjustments in the locker room, and a new attitude arose.