Since the Bucks don't have the most gifted frontcourt in the world, the Sixers will have rookie Jrue Holiday active and available to make his first NBA appearance. Center Primos Brezec will be in streets.

Asked Eddie Jordan if, since Marreese Speights is clearly not a center and is substandard defensively at every position, he ever would pair Speights and Sam Dalembert. That would seem to be the best frontcourt pairing for Speights, since Dalembert can guard a center and at least has a shot of offering some weakside help if Speights is backed to the rim by a power forward. Jordan said he did have them on the court together a couple of times this preseason (not that I ever recall seeing) and that .... well, he could do that.

That didn't exactly sound like a promise. Which means Speights likely will play more center, and if that continues to happen, it's going to be a long season.

... and by that I mean the Sixers blog with that snazzy name (not my idea ... about to see if I can use my powers to blow up that name).

Just a quick hello post. I'm back on the Sixers beat after a 7 1/2-year exile on the Phillies beat. The first season I was off the Sixers beat they went to the NBA Finals. The first season I was off the Phillies beat, they won the World Series. So, basically, I'm the Grim Reaper. And it makes that Public Enemy song title kind of fitting.

As for the Sixers ... I predicted 48 wins from them. One game in, I am not feeling great about it. I have some major reservations about the leadership on the team that I will detail a little more in columns and on this blog.

First little scoop: Lou Williams is illin'. Missed shootaround this morning, although he insists he'll be OK to start tonight. Have to see if he got his H1N1 shot. You'd think seven figures would buy you some of that.