Sixers Notes: Sixers likely to shake up starting five for Game 2
CHICAGO - The Chicago Bulls probably aren't the only team that will be throwing out a different starting lineup when they meet the 76ers in Game 2 on Tuesday at the United Center, as Derrick Rose is out with the knee injury he suffered toward the end of Game 1.
CHICAGO - The Chicago Bulls probably aren't the only team that will be throwing out a different starting lineup when they meet the 76ers in Game 2 on Tuesday at the United Center, as Derrick Rose is out with the knee injury he suffered toward the end of Game 1.
It would be hard to imagine that Sixers coach Doug Collins won't adjust his beginning five as he got virtually no production from starter Jodie Meeks in Saturday's 103-91 loss. Evan Turner played 29 minutes, 30 seconds in place of Meeks and scored 12 points and dished five assists.
"I thought [Turner] played very, very well," said Collins. "Evan is going to have to be out there for us, because when you play against the Bulls, you have to have playmakers, you have to have guys out on the floor who will make plays. Evan did a good job of that.
"When you look at it, Evan's one of our better rebounders. He only had three, but a lot of that was we had him out on the floor sometimes guarding Rose, sometimes he was guarding Luol [Deng], so he was away from the basket."
Good buddies
Before the game, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about what he thought about his adversary, Collins.
"He's a good coach and a good person," Thibodeau said. "He's done it a long time. The guy is very, very talented at whatever he's doing, whether he's coaching, he was a great player, great on TV. He's terrific. I have a lot of respect for all of the things that he's done."
Collins returned the love. "Thibs is a great coach. To me he should be the coach of the year again this year with what they've had with their injuries, to be where they are with the best record in the Eastern Conference [50-16]. There's no bells and whistles. They're going to defend, they're going to play tough, they're going to play team ball."
Of note
Lavoy Allen was sporting a huge wrap around his right thumb after the game, but X-rays were negative and he is expected to play Tuesday. . . . Take away Rose's 9-for-23 performance and the rest of the Bulls shot 31 for 55 (56.4 percent). . . . The Sixers went to the foul line 31 times Saturday. It was the fifth time they went there 30 or more times in a game. They are 3-2 in those games. . . . Spencer Hawes played just 15:26, scoring five points and grabbing four rebounds.