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Speights to play

    by Kate Fagan
    Published 

Video: Check out the video of LeBron James in the Deep Sixer player below on the right. James spoke before tonight's game about Allen Iverson, Shaq, and his movement to get Michael Jordan's No. 23 retired from the entire NBA. Also, if you want any of this info right away, follow on Twitter. I'm about 5 tweeps short of my 1k goal: Deep Sixer.

Just spoke to 76ers coach Eddie Jordan in advance of tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jordan will start the same lineup as Wednesday: Allen Iverson, Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and Samuel Dalembert. Both AI and AI2 did not practice yesterday, but, obviously, both are a go. Also of note, of course, is that Elton Brand will continue to come off the bench. There's no surprise to this: Jordan is moving towards a faster lineup. And Brand does not fit those plans.

Also, center Marreese Speights will play tonight. He's been out since tearing the MCL in his left knee against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 14. Speights has practiced the previous 4 days. The Sixers repeatedly said there was no change to his return timetable -- he was listed as out 6 to 8 weeks from Nov. 14 -- but now he's playing tonight. Jordan said he expects Speights to be good for the few couple of minutes, but then probably get very tired. Speights said his wind was the major concern. I'd look for Speights to play about 10-15 minutes.

Point guard Lou Williams had the wires taken off his jaw today. Jordan said Williams might practice tomorrow. If Williams does practice tomorrow, he will likely return to game action much earlier than the 8-week timetable. Earlier this week, Williams Tweeted he projected his return to be Dec. 26 at the Utah Jazz. He had surgery Thanksgiving Day, so his timetable is 8 weeks from then. The Sixers have not changed his timetable, but they didn't change it with Speights, either. Common sense says if Williams practices some tomorrow, he'll be back much, much earlier than 8 weeks. At which point, Jordan will be coaching with a full deck.

The Sixers are 6-18.

--Kate