Bob Cooney: What Sixers need this holiday season

YESTERDAY OFFICIALLY began the holiday season for many. Although it should be a time of giving thanks and time spent with family, gift-giving is also a big part of this time of year. If we were so inclined, here are the gifts that we would give to members of the 76ers, a team that has won just three of 15 games so far this season.

To head coach Doug Collins, we would deliver not one, but several stockings full of patience. He has said over and over again that he is a strong man of faith and that these trying times will not break him. But the man is not made of rubber. How his team continues to find ways to lose games is incomprehensible. It certainly could/would break just about anyone.

For swingman Andre Iguodala, who has been the epitome of health in all of his six seasons before this one, we give good health, which would lead to him putting up good all-around numbers, which would lead to teams wanting him on their roster, which could lead to someone offering what the Sixers want in a trade for him. He is the best trade commodity they have, and though many teams have undoubtedly already inquired about him, president Rod Thorn and general manager Ed Stefanski need to hit a home run, or grand slam, when/if they deal him.

If forward Elton Brand would accept it, we would bestow on him continued good health. The label of 20-10 that accompanied him to Philadelphia when he was signed in the summer of 2008 can no longer be reasonably expected. But now that he is the healthiest he's been since arriving here, Brand is leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Contract aside, you have to be happy with that.

Spencer Hawes might not be too happy with the workout machine that we are offering to him. The center, who came over from Sacramento in the Sam Dalembert trade, seemed quicker with his feet when he was playing out West, when he was a little lighter and the body fat percentage was lower. It's not a surprise that he's playing better with more games under his belt.

For the painfully young starting backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, we would like to provide buckets full of concentration. Great point guards and two guards are given that label because they are focused in on every play, every situation in every game. Lazy passes and lapses in focus are rare with the greats, but way too common right now with the Sixers' inexperienced backcourt.

We are not going to give anything to forward Andres Nocioni. Instead, we are going to ask him to give some of his intensity and inner fire to his teammates. Once he hits the court, the man is as mean as an angry pit bull, which is surely something this team could use more of.

While he might not appreciate it, Marreese Speights will be given a thick, detailed book on how to defend in the lane. Speights has struggled mightily this season with what he does best, and that's score. But his scoring would no doubt come back if he was on the floor for more amounts of time. But it's hard for Collins to keep him out there when he's giving up offensive rebounds and not being where he should be on defense. He's got the taking-a-charge thing down, now he needs to expand his defensive abilities.

Thaddeus Young is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, so he might give back any gift presented to him. But we'll try anyway and give him a coat of armor. Perhaps his niceness plays into him being a little sensitive. If he can get out on the court and play to his strengths, not worry about his faults being pointed out or put his head down after mistakes, he would prosper.

We give to Lou Williams a permanent on switch. If you watch him out on the court against some of the quickest guards in the league, he is right there with them. However, when he doesn't have his motor going at full speed on both ends of the court, it really hurts his game and the team. He is in the perfect role for him as the scoring guard off the bench. He should embrace it and try to become one of the best in the league at doing it.

To Jodie Meeks and Craig Brackins, accept our telescope to help you look into the future and realize that all the suffering you are enduring now will be washed away in a few years with more playing time. Just remember, things can't get any worse.

Tony Battie, Darius Songaila and Jason Kapono are three of the most professional guys in the league. We present them with thank-you notes for their professionalism and wish them well wherever they might be in the future.

For Sixers fans, if we could, we would give each and every one of you whatever you want. You certainly deserve it after having watched this team, particularly for the past two seasons in which they have compiled a 30-67 record.

DRIBBLES

UPCOMING GAMES:

Tonight at Miami Heat, 7:30

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/WIP (610-AM)

The skinny: Is it possible that there is a little dissension in South Beach? Do the players really want Pat Riley behind the bench instead of Erik Spoelstra? Did the Heat really lose to the Indiana Pacers this week? Were people really wondering if this team could win 72 games before the season? Is this a team with more questions than the Sixers?

Saturday vs. New Jersey Nets, 7:30

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/WIP (610-AM)

The skinny: If Nets center Brook Lopez could play each of his games against the Sixers, he might be mentioned in the same breath as Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At 5-10, the Nets need just seven more wins to match last season's total.

Tuesday vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7 o'clock

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/WIP (610-AM)

The skinny: Many think that the direct reason why the Sixers have struggled so badly the past two seasons was because of their decision not to re-sign point guard Andre Miller. The savvy 34-year-old is still getting it done, averaging 13.9 points and 7.7 assists.

BY THE NUMBERS:

1: That's how many NBA players, at the beginning of the week, were leading their team in scoring, rebounding and steals. That player? Elton Brand.

19.5: That's how many points Wizards swingman Nick Young is averaging against the Sixers in two games this season.

8.8: That's Young's average in his other 11 games this season.