76ers: Schedule has been tough

Despite their numbers since the all-star break - three losses and shooting percentages of 38.5, 32.6 and 37.1 percent - the 76ers say the problem lies not with their game but in the toughness of their opponents.

Since returning from a six-day layoff, the Sixers have lost at Indiana, at home to Denver, and at Miami.

"It's who you're playing, too," said Sixers coach Tony DiLeo after Saturday's loss to the Heat. "Denver is the second-best team in the West, then you're playing a Miami team down here. They're tough games - Indiana, away. So it's not like these were easy games."

Point guard Andre Miller agreed.

"Nothing is wrong," Miller said. "We're just playing some tough teams. They're all fighting for spots just like we are."

All except the Pacers, who are 23-34 but known to play significantly better at home.

At 27-27, the Sixers are tied for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with slumping Detroit. Milwaukee is in eighth place at 28-31.

If last week was a grueling stretch, this week, despite a trio of away games, will keep them within a three-hour radius, all against sub-.500 teams: Tonight against the New Jersey Nets, Wednesday against the Washington Wizards, and Friday against the New York Knicks.

"One thing in the NBA - it's always hard to win on the road," DiLeo said. "We're going to come out and regroup; this group is resilient. So I know they're going to come back and regroup."

The Sixers collapsed against the Nets in their most recent meeting, going 2 for 22 and missing their final 18 shots in an 85-83 loss Jan. 31.

"All we know is we've lost three in a row and we have to win one - so, being that it's Jersey, we're going to try to go in there and get a win," said guard Lou Williams.

As for that epic scoreless streak, Williams, smiling, said the team does not remember it.

"Amnesia," Williams explained. "Like I said, we've played good basketball past that and we don't dwell on those types of things."

Of concern since the break has been the Sixers' fastbreak game, which leads the league in points but has been slowed considerably. On Saturday, the Heat limited the Sixers to four points in transition - about 14 below their average.

Miller, who scored 30 points against Miami, said unleashing the transition game would prove to be difficult as teams will focus on sending a player or two back, knowing it is the Sixers' go-to style.

"We have to play a little bit better, I guess," Miller said. "We're playing some decent ball, we're just getting beat."

Added Miller: "Maybe it's the opponents, maybe we're not in the rhythm yet, I don't know. But we'll get there eventually."