If you’ve watched the 76ers over the last couple of months you’ve

probably noticed that they play hard with a passion for the game that sometimes

seems more collegiate than pro.

That’s why these last five games are important for more than just seeding

purposes.

“The type of guys that we have, I think we feed off of energy, feed off

momentum, so if we can create that for ourselves going into the playoffs I think

that would be good,” Sixers guard Lou Williams said. “These last couple of games

have been rocky because of the clinching and then we kind of relaxed. I think

these couple of days of practice will be good for us and give us an opportunity

to refocus.”

They could use that. They went 2-2 last week after losing just twice in their

previous nine games, a sign that there could be some slippage.

If they’re to head into the playoffs on an up note, and with the best seed

possible, they need to rededicate themselves, and Monday’s practice, nearly two hours at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, could help.

“We can try to play our own way, we can try to play a different way, but if we

don’t win that’s affecting us,” center Samuel Dalembert said. “I think everybody

will realize that from the last game. I don’t want to rest.”

After missing the playoffs for three of the last four years, Dalembert knows

what it’s like to sit home. When he arrived in the NBA in 2001, he said he never

envisioned that. The Sixers of that time, fresh off a Finals appearance, were

focused on championships rather than merely making the playoffs.

“For the young guys to be able to experience that the first year is tremendous,”

he said. “…I think they’re gonna be able to know that every year this is what we

expect.”

The one team in the Eastern Conference that has epitomized that attitude over

the last half decade is Detroit, the Sixers’ next opponent and a possible

playoff matchup.

With their experience and their style, the Pistons are formidable.

“They’re a tough team because they try to slow you down but then they try to run on

your misses,” Williams said. “And then they have a veteran group who are

knowledgeable about the game so it’s always a challenge when you play Detroit.”

For a variety of reasons.

“They’re gonna be a challenge for us because our style of play is running and

their style of play is half-court,” Dalembert said.

To force their own style on Detroit will be difficult at best, but it can be

done.

“They don’t have a lot of turnovers,” Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. “If you

don’t create turnovers against Detroit you will not be able to run against

Detroit.”