Meeks takes center stage down stretch

If Jodie Meeks is ever going to earn some respect from fans of the 76ers, tonight, in Toronto, with the 76ers in a must-win position, would be the perfect time to start.

Meeks and Nik Vucevic are back in the starting lineup in favor of Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes after coach Doug Collins made the switch before the Sixers' 107-88 victory over New Jersey ended their four-game losing streak.

If the Sixers are going to reap any benefit from this, Meeks is going to have to find some consistency in his jump shot starting tonight. Meeks was reinserted as the starter after going 0-for-7 from the floor against Boston. Meeks went 2-for-8 against New Jersey and is 9-for-30 from the floor in his last five games.

Meeks has shot the basketball significantly better at home (.449) than he has on the road (.380). This is crucial indicator now because of the Sixers' remaining nine games just two – against New Jersey Friday and Indiana next Tuesday – are at Wells Fargo Center.

NOTES

The Sixers started the season 7-4 on the road but have gone 4-11 since (11-15 mark overall; 15-26 in each of the past two seasons)… Philly hasn't posted a winning road mark since going 23-18 in 2002-03… The Sixers close out the season the way they started, with five straight road games…. This is the second part of a back-to-back for the Sixers who played at New Jersey last night… Philly is 8-7 in the second games of back-to-backs this season after going 8-14 in 2010-11.