The Philadelphia 76ers have spent most of the 2011-12 season on top of the Atlantic Division. A strong start coupled with the struggles of the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks really helped the 76ers build a lead in the division. While Philadelphia continues to play well, their main rivals are starting to kick things into gear. The Celtics and Knicks are suddenly rising and it should shape up to be an exciting race in the division. As a 76ers fan, I hope the team is ready to fight off both teams as they push toward a division title.

The Knicks are suddenly the talk of the NBA thanks to Harvard alum Jeremy Lin. The first Harvard player in the NBA in decades has taken the league by storm. Lin continues to set new standards for himself and is a fixture on ESPN. He put up 38 points to lead his team to a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10. It was the fourth straight win for the Knicks. They are still just 12-15 but are definitely playing better. What is all the more stunning is that they are winning without Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Both of those guys should be back and it will be interesting to see how that gels with the Jeremy Lin craze. Anthony loves to have the basketball but he might have to adapt his game and allow Lin to run the offense. New York has long craved a point guard and they might finally have one.

Meanwhile, the Celtics are 14-12 and have lost two straight games. But they are coming off a stretch that saw them win nine of their last 10 games. No team offers more veteran experience than this one. Boston is the one team that can simply limp into the playoffs and then make a run. The 76ers can’t afford to overlook them. Boston is much better than they were during their rough start to the season. The Atlantic Division is definitely a three team race.

Strangely, the 76ers have only played one game against the Knicks and have yet to face the Celtics. That means there will be plenty of battles between these teams to come. Those games will go a long way in determining the division champion. For now Philadelphia can’t worry about the other teams. They need to focus on their own games and continue to do what they have been doing. Doug Collins will keep the 76ers focused on that task. The time will come to settle things with the division rivals. That will be important because those other teams are only going to get better.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia 76ers have lost consecutive games for the first time all season. The Los Angeles Clippers stole the win at the Wells Fargo Center by beating the 76ers 78-77. Chris Paul proved his superstardom by draining the winning bucket with just seconds remaining. As a 76ers fan this was definitely a tough way to end a huge seven game stretch. Still, Philadelphia played mostly strong basketball over the last couple of weeks so they shouldn’t harp too much on this one. They are back in action on Saturday, February 11 so the time to move on is now.

A packed house was on hand to watch this game. Some fans were there to see Blake Griffin do his thing for the Clippers, but the majority of fans were rooting for the 76ers. Fresh off of a selection to the All-Star Game, Andre Iguodala earned a big ovation. Unfortunately he struggled to find his shot. Iguodala had 12 points after making just five of his 13 shots. e wa He was one of five 76ers players to score in double figures though no one scored more than 12 points. Poor shooting was once again the theme for the 76ers. They shot just 41 percent as a team.

Despite the poor shooting, the 76ers actually outdid the Clippers in that area. Los Angeles shot just 39 percent from the floor. Chris Paul had 24 points on 50 percent shooting but the rest of the team really struggled to find the net. The Clippers made just two of their 19 field goal attempts. The opportunities for the 76ers to pull away were there in this game. Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold a nine point lead after the first quarter.

Neither team particularly outplayed the other in this game. This was a battle between two strong teams and the Clippers got the edge by knocking down the final shot. There is no shame in losing this game. The 76ers went 4-3 in a very difficult stretch and convinced everyone that they are as good as their record indicates. Now they have to keep the ball rolling when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 11. The team will be ready.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia 76ers have not lost consecutive games yet in the 2011-12 season. They aren’t about to start now. Philadelphia will look to rebound from their loss to the San Antonio Spurs when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, February 10. This is the seventh straight game against a team with a winning record. The 76ers are an impressive 4-2 in that stretch. As a fan I believe the 76ers know how to respond to losses as well as any team in the league. They should be able to handle the star power of the Clippers and earn the win.

The Clippers are 15-8 and definitely one of the contenders in the NBA. With Blake Griffin and Chris Paul in the fold there is a new winning culture for the team. The Clippers recently learned that they will be without Chauncey Billups and that changes the style of the team. Still, they have plenty of talent and will still be a strong team.

Meanwhile, the 76ers have injury issues of their own. Spencer Hawes continues to battle back and Achilles issues and will likely be out again. That puts more pressure on Elton Brand, LaVoy Allen, and Tony Battie to get rebounds. It won’t be easy against a strong inside team like the Clippers but they 76ers are strong enough to do it. They were able to outrebound the Spurs despite losing the game.

Philadelphia would love to have Hawes back. They have not had a full lineup in some time. Fortunately, the team has more than enough depth to get the job done. Led by newly minted All-Star Andre Iguodala, the 76ers still have seven or eight players that can score points and get rebounds. The Clippers can’t match that. If Griffin can be contained the 76ers will win this game. Philadelphia is still among the best teams in the league in field goal percentage and scoring defense. The key will be shooting the ball well. They weren’t able to do that against San Antonio. Fortunately we haven’t seen them struggle in that area in back to back games. I don’t think they will start now.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been playing great basketball lately. However, they are going to lose games here and there. An example of that happened on Wednesday, February 8 when the San Antonio Spurs left the Wells Fargo Center with a 100-90 win. The 76ers kept it close throughout but could never quite get over the hump. In the end Tony Parker was just too dominant. As a 76ers fan I won’t read too much into this loss. I have no doubt that that the 76ers will bounce back just as they have all season.

Parker was the dominant player in this game. He took 24 shots and made half of them, ending the game with 37 points to lead all scorers. San Antonio got strong supporting efforts from Tim Duncan and Gary Neal to help them earn the win. The Spurs shot only 44 percent but that was enough in this game. They made shots when it mattered and were able to convert at the free throw line.

Meanwhile, the 76ers really struggled from the floor. They shot just 41 percent as a team. Lou Williams led the 76ers with 22 points but made just eight of his 20 shots. Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young scored 17 and 16 respectively. Elton Brand chipped in with a double-double, leading the 76ers with 13 rebounds. Philadelphia actually outrebounded the Spurs despite playing without Spencer Hawes. However, the team was unable to get the job done because of the shooting. Had the 76ers done just a little better in that area they would have earned the win.

This loss means that the 76ers are 4-2 in their key seven game stretch against winning teams. That stretch will conclude with a visit from the resurgent Los Angeles Clippers. The 76ers have not lost consecutive games this season and I don’t expect them to start now. This team is too talented to let that happen. Doug Collins knows how to make his players forget about a loss and focus on the next game. For the most part the 76ers are a good shooting team. That should help them erase this poor performance and respond in a big way in the next game.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: Louis Williams (G – PHI), Andrew Bynum (C – LAL), Kobe Bryant (G – LAL), Jrue Holiday (G – PHI), Jodie Meeks (G – PHI), Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers

The Philadelphia 76ers took the lead for the last time on a Lou Williams 3-pointer with 2:05 left in the fourth quarter. The previous 46 minutes featured 16 lead changes in what was a nailbiter of a match throughout. Philadelphia took remarkable care of the ball, committing just four total turnovers for the 95-90 win.

The Los Angeles Lakers lack of an effective trigger man has hounded the team throughout the season. That deficiency was especially clear on Monday night, with Jrue Holiday putting up 13 points and six assists (and a game-leading plus-11 rating) to zero turnovers. The Lakers, meanwhile, committed 16 team turnovers, including five each for Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.

The Sixers held LA to just 42 percent shooting from the field, including 29.2 percent on 24 3-point attempts. Philadelphia shot better from beyond the arc than they did overall. Williams and Jodie Meeks went 3-for-6 and 3-for-5, respectively, from long range to pace the team. Williams’ 24 points were behind only Bryant’s 28 for the game, but he needed 13 less field goal attempts to get there.

Philadelphia improved to 18-7 with the win, putting them four games ahead of the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. They came in fifth in Tom Ziller’s latest NBA Power Rankings for SB Nation.

For more 76ers coverage, be sure to check out SB Nation Philly and Liberty Ballers.

Kobe Bryant gets to return home once again. The Los Angeles Lakers star will be looking to get his team going on the road, somewhere that has been brutally unkind to them.

The Lakers (14-10) are 3-8 so far this season away from the Staples Center while the 76ers (17-7) are a stellar 12-3 at home. Philadelphia is coming off of a 98-87 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks which put the Sixers three and a half games ahead of Boston in the Atlantic Division.

It’s been the Kobe show in L.A. without much of a supporting cast so far. Andrew Bynum is having a superb year, averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. Pau Gasol has good stats with 16 points and 10 rebounds on average, but he’s been unhappy with the offense and very inconsistent. The guard play has been bad for the Lakers around Bryant as well and Metta World Peace has been completely non-existent.

For Philadelphia it’s business as usual with its great depth. With a win tonight, the 76ers will have won six of seven before hosting San Antonio on Wednesday.

Philadelphia has shown the ability to beat very good teams this season, so this will just be another notch in the belt if it can pull out the victory. With the Sixers stifling brand of defense, they have a chance every night.

Mr. Bryant will be looking for a huge win Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia has to remind him that while he’s home, his team is still on the road.

TV: COMCAST

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

For more 76ers coverage, be sure to check out SB Nation Philly and Liberty Ballers.

The Philadelphia 76ers host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, February 6. This is a huge game for a team that is coming off of a solid win over the Atlanta Hawks on the road. Kobe Bryant is the latest NBA superstar to make the trip and visit the Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers have seen Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade in the last week. They have handled them with mixed results. I think the team should have no issues taking down Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

The Lakers are 14-10 on the season and have been mostly unspectacular. They especially struggle on the road where they are just 3-8. That should work out well for the 76ers, a team with a 12-3 record at the Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers rank among the top five in field goal percentage and also lead the NBA in opposing points allowed. That should do them some good against the Lakers. This is a team that is prone to bad shooting nights, especially when they lean on Kobe Bryant too much.

For the 76ers to win, they will need to take smart shots. The Lakers are a solid defensive team so that might not be easy. The 76ers did a great job shooting against the Hawks so they should have some momentum. With Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic back in the lineup the team should continue to shoot the ball well. The two players combined for 29 wins in the win over Atlanta and that was huge. The 76ers might still miss Elton Brand against the Lakers but they should still have enough power inside to win this game.

Kobe Bryant won’t get a warm welcome from the Philadelphia faithful. He is one of those NBA stars that is regarded as a villain in town. The crowd will be on the Lakers the entire game and that should work to the advantage of the 76ers. But even without the crowd the Lakers are not quite as strong as the 76ers. As long as the team gets off to a nice start and plays to their strengths they should have another big win.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Miami Heat got back to their winning ways against the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb.3, defeating the Atlantic Division leaders 99-79.

As expected, the game started out competitively, with both teams going back and forth until the final quarter. The Heat took over the game in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 15-0 run lead by LeBron James.

Dwyane Wade had a solid performance against the 76ers, putting up 26 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. LeBron didn’t have his highest scoring game of the season, but he did step up to the plate when the team needed him the most, switching to the point guard position and turning a competitive game into a blowout. By the time the game was over, LeBron had put up a total of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, solid numbers by any standard.

“Tonight was probably the best game from start to finish, as far as playing hard and communicating on both ends, that we had all season,” James told reporters after the game. “So it was a good win… It was no-holds barred, no tongues being held. If we’re going to be held to a championship standard, we need to go out and play like it. No one can take things personal if someone says something to him. We’ve got to take constructive criticism.”

Once again, Mario Chalmers was Miami’s third highest scorer, lighting up the 76ers from long range—converting on three of his four attempts. Chalmers finished the game with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Mike Miller and Norris Cole put up impressive performances coming off the bench. Miller went 2-3 from long range, while Cole made three of his four attempts. Miller added 12 points to the scoreboard, and Cole had 11 points by the end of the game.

The Heat will get a day off before hosting the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 5. The Raptors are currently 5-10 on the road, and the Heat shouldn’t have any problems winning their second straight game.

David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.

Sources:

Associated Press, “LeBron James sparks 15-0 run as Heat put away 76ers”

Player and game information from ESPN.com

More from the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Miami Heat Struggle in Overtime Against Clippers

LeBron James, Miami Heat Show Kobe Bryant Who’s Boss

Milwaukee Bucks Snap Miami Heat’s Winning Streak

Miami Heat Establish Eastern Conference Dominance with Win Over Bulls

Miami Heat Lose Second Straight Game to Bucks

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia 76ers have used a simple formula to win most of their games this season. Sixers fans like myself are used to seeing the team blow an opponent away in the third quarter and win comfortably – even against the likes of the Chicago Bulls. However, there is another common Sixers formula that is much more annoying – their inability to play 48 full minutes against the Miami Heat.

The latest battle between Philadelphia and Miami on Feb. 3 was the best possible chance for the Sixers to prove they were for real. Instead, they did what they always do when they play the Heat – hang around for more than a half and then have nothing left over for the end, as the Heat again pulled away late for a 99-79 victory.

The score was technically pretty misleading, at least for the first 36 minutes. However, the fact that Miami came out ahead wasn’t misleading, as the Heat were up for the vast majority of the game. All that the Sixers could do was stay behind by a few points, with the occasional chance to tie or take the lead.

The tide really turned at the very end of the third quarter, when Andre Iguodala made a shot from well behind half court to cut the Heat lead to one. But a play that would have led Sports Center all night was negated since Iguodala technically shot it after the buzzer. From then on in, nothing else went right for the Sixers in the next 12 minutes.

After LeBron James did virtually nothing for three quarters, it made sense that he would have enough gas for the last period – at least more than Philadelphia had. Once he shifted to point guard, he led a 15-0 run that took all of the life out of the Sixers and the Wells Fargo Center.

As per usual, the Sixers did enough to threaten the Heat for a while but didn’t have enough to actually beat them. It was almost a direct replay of several playoff games last season and of their last meeting this season on Jan. 21, when Miami won by 21 points on the strength of a dominant second half.

Philadelphia is used to winning this season by pulling away late, but this same tactic has been used against it twice in a row when it has faced Miami. Two golden chances to prove that the Sixers can take the next step have now been wasted – since the best way for Philadelphia to go forward is to beat the team that eliminated it last year.

But the Sixers have failed to do that twice in pretty disappointing ways, with this latest example being the most painful of all. No matter how many wins they can get over the likes of the Bulls, this team still feels incomplete as long as the Heat have their number – and as long as they can’t play them for 48 full minutes.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan.

Other stories from this contributor

76ers to play any part in NBA All-Star Game?

76ers can win true validation by finally beating Heat

76ers still find themselves square with Eastern elite

76ers treat Bulls like just another bottom feeder

76ers to finally test themselves against Bulls, Heat

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The NBA All-Star Game is about a month away. The festivities will start on February 23 in Orlando, Florida. As a Philadelphia 76ers fan, there hasn’t been a whole lot of reason to be excited about the actual game. For the most part, 76ers players have not had involvement in the game for a long time. Outside of Allen Iverson, it feels like forever since we have seen a 76ers player appear in the All-Star Game. Could that change this season? I would love to say it would, but I don’t see it happening.

The early returns for the fan voting are void of any 76ers players. We can forget about any 76ers player being voted in as a starter. The center will be Dwight Howard. The guards will be Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade. The forwards will be LeBron James and either Chris Bosh or Carmelo Anthony. That’s about as predictable as saying the summer months will be hot. The only hope that the 76ers have of sending a player to Orlando would be if a reserve is chosen.

There is a possibility that the coach of the All-Star Game could be Doug Collins. The 76ers could push to have the best record in the conference by the time of the deadline, though that is fairly unlikely. I’m going to assume that Collins is not named the coach. That would seemingly hurt the chances of any 76ers player landing an All-Star spot but maybe it shouldn’t. There are a couple of players that could wind up being excellent additions to the roster.

Spencer Hawes seemed like a surprising choice for a backup up center spot after his strong start. But his injuries have likely ended those hopes. Realistically, the two players that have a shot at making the team are Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams. Williams is the leading scorer on the team but he doesn’t start. He is also not the strongest defensive player. I don’t think he will hear his name called. But Iguodala has a shot. Though his numbers aren’t spectacular, he is one of the more complete players in the league. He does everything well even if he doesn’t do anything great. More importantly, he has adopted a great leadership role on a team that looks like a division champion. I think Iguodala will get a real look as a possible reserve on the team.

If I had to bet, I would say that no 76ers player would make the All-Star team. The best hope might be seeing Evan Turner participate in the rookie-sophomore game. That doesn’t generate a whole lot of excitement but it would be something. The NBA All-Star Game is a reward for superstars and the 76ers really don’t have one. But I do think there are future All-Stars on this team. Guys like Turner and Jrue Holiday will hear their names called one day. But for now, fans will just have to cross their fingers and hope Iguodala gets a surprising call.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: Philadelphia 76ers

Defense + teamwork + depth = wins.

It’s a formula that has paid dividends in the win column for the Philadelphia 76ers, winners of 12 of their first 17 games, the surprise No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference if the regular season ended today. But that formula does not necessarily equate to churning out individual stars.

Tom Ziller published his latest NBA MVP Power Rankings on Wednesday morning, naming zero Phladelphia 76ers among his top 10 NBA candidates. That’s no surprise considering that none of the Sixers are among the leading All-Star vote-getters at their positions.

Lebron James led Ziller’s rankings, followed by Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Kevin Love.

The Sixers are balanced — seven different Doug Collins disciples average double figures in points to date — but don’t have a single player who stands out in a crowd. You get the feeling Collins won’t shed tears over his team’s lack of MVP candidates, at least not as long as the Sixers continue to win at an elite pace.

For more Philadelphia 76ers coverage, visit our team page or our blog Liberty Ballers.

The 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers are getting a lot of love for playing solid defense. Under Doug Collins, the team has embraced defense in a huge way. They rank among the best teams in the NBA in most defensive categories and that is why they are off to a strong start. But will any of these players earn recognition on the All-NBA Defensive First Team? A total of five 76ers have earned that honor in the past. This could be the year another joins the list. Here is a look at the five 76ers players to earn All-NBA Defensive First Team honors.

Bobby Jones

Jones earned All-NBA Defensive First Team honors every year between 1979 and 1984. In 1983, he was one of three 76ers players to earn a spot on the team. He reached the first team in the two seasons before he joined the 76ers as well. He was known for his quiet demeanor and respectful play. Jones didn’t draw a lot of attention to himself but the man could grab rebounds and block shots as good as any player in the NA.

Caldwell Jones

Jones was a member of the team in 1981 and 1982. He was a career journeyman that had his two best seasons with the 76ers. Jones was a regular double digit rebounder with the 76ers and also averaged multiple blocks per game. He left the team before the 1982-83 championship season but carried on a solid career until 1990.

Moses Malone

Malone earned honors in 1983, the year he helped the 76ers win the NBA championship. He had earned the MVP award the previous season with the Houston Rockets and did so again with the 76ers. He led the league in rebounding in the 1982-83 season and also contributed two blocks per game.

Maurice Cheeks

Cheeks earned a spot on the team each season between 1983 and 1986. He was another player that didn’t attract a lot of attention yet quietly played amazing defense. Along with Jones and Malone he helped the 1982-83 76ers become one of the greatest defensives teams in NBA history. Cheeks was the all-time NBA leader in steals when he retired.

Dikembe Mutombo

Mutombo earned a spot on the 2001 team. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award, the only 76ers player to ever win that honor. He was a midseason acquisition for the 76ers and helped the team reach the NBA Finals. Mutombo was among the best in the NBA in rebounds and blocks so it should be no surprise that he is on this list.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

It would be great if the Philadelphia 76ers could play the Washington Wizards in every game. For the third time this season, the 76ers faced the Washington Wizards. For the third time this season, the 76ers won the game comfortably. The win moved the 76ers to 12-5 on the season and helped maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division. The win was that much more impressive considering that the 76ers were missing their top two big men. As a 76ers fan, I’m happy the team got the win. It was a great way to kick off an important stretch for the team.

The 76ers raced out of the gate and led 33-14 after the first quarter. The lead was 30 points at halftime. After that the 76ers could call off the dogs. They ended up coming out on top with a 103-83 win. The win was made possible from a nice combination of work from the starters and the bench. Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand led the 76ers with 17 points. Brand, playing with a stomach virus, also added nine rebounds to help make for the absence of Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic. Jodie Meeks had 15 points while Andre Iguodala had seven points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists.

The bench was also stellar. Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams each had 14 points while LaVoy Allen had 10 points and made all five of his field goal attempts. As a team, the 76ers shot 52 percent from the floor. It was a great shooting night for the team when they really needed it. It was clear that the defense would suffer a little without the big men. The 76ers had to shoot the ball well and they did just that.

Overall, this was a big win for the 76ers. The Wizards are a terrible team but no one can be overlooked. Coming off of a tough loss to the Miami Heat and kicking off a huge home stand, the 76ers needed to make a statement in this game. They were able to do that. Now they should have momentum for the upcoming games.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Spencer Hawes once again when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, January 20. This will be the third game that Hawes misses in the second in a row. Hawes is nursing an injured Achilles and is also likely to miss the game against the Miami Heat on Saturday, January 21. Without Hawes, the 76ers will be a major disadvantage in both games. Hawes has had a great season so far and is one reason why the 76ers are off to such a hot start. The team can still win without him but it won’t be anywhere near as easy.

Hawes has been the biggest surprise on the team. From the beginning of the season he has seemed like one of the most improved players in the league. He’s making his shots and he’s grabbing rebounds at a great rate. Right now, Hawes looks like an All-Star player. Unfortunately his health has been an issue. He had to leave a couple of games and missed a full one with a strain in his lower back. Now the Achilles injury is keeping him out for another game. According to Doug Collins, Hawes is not expected to make the trip to Miami. If he does get healthy, it won’t be a big deal. But with lingering injuries that don’t seem to go away, there is going to be a lot of concern over the status of Hawes in the coming days and weeks.

The 76ers will need Elton Brand and Nikola Vucevic to fill the void left by Hawes. Vucevic can step in and start at center for the 76ers against the Hawks. He has been solid at getting rebounds and that will be critical. Meanwhile, Brand is coming off of one of his better games against the Denver Nuggets. He has to be strong inside. Otherwise, the 76ers could wind up in a lot of trouble against both Atlanta and Miami.

You never like to see injuries, especially to top players. But if the 76ers really are on track to being among the elite in the league they need to learn to win despite that. These two games are the toughest so far this season and losing Hawes doesn’t make things any easier. But for this team, the expectations are still going to be the same.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.