Coach Doug Collins has seemingly aged with every quarter of every game as the young 76ers struggled to a rough 3-13 start.
The mostly young Sixers just didn't seem to be growing up quick enough.
But then something happened. The Sixers started to win games and compete with good teams like Boston while losing.
Through the early struggles, Collins may have found a fountain of youth -- but unfortunately it was on his bench instead of on the hardwood -- until now.
Enter 23-year-old Jodie Meeks. The second-year player out of Kentucky has played like a seasoned pro the last three games averaging a shade over 20 points a game while getting plenty of playing time.
The Sixers have won two of their last three games. (Although, that may be an understatement.) They weren't just wins -- they were dominations over Charlotte and Cleveland. Meeks was the focal point of the Sixers attack in both games -- scoring 26 and 16 in each game respectively.
Meeks was then pivotal in the near upset of the Celtics. He dropped 19 points, which included a huge 4th quarter.
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When Meeks remains firmly planted on the bench, the Sixers are 1-7. But when Meeks gets on the court, the Sixers improve to 6-14 -- not great, but more respectable.
The 23-year-old guard gives the Sixers something they have sorely missed for years -- a pure shooter at the two-guard position. In fact, Meeks is the first pure shooter since Kyle Korver left for Utah in 2007.
But, Meeks gives the Sixers so much more than Korver ever did. While Korver often a defensive liability, Meeks has provided a defensive boost for a team desperately needing it.
Furthermore, Meeks has mastered what no other Sixers two guard in recent memory has seemed to learn. Meeks is most effective in moving without the basketball getting open jumpers or penetration inside the paint. This vital portion of Meeks' game is exactly what has hampered rookie Evan Turner's growth.
The Sixers seem to have found themselves a gem out of nowhere in nabbing Meeks during his rookie season, in a trade with Milwaukee last year.
Unfortunately for Sixers fans, 14 games is not enough time to show what a player really is about. It's not too long ago that Sixers' fans thought they had finally found a true star down low during Samuel Dalembert's rookie season.
It's hard to figure where Meeks will fit in long term with the Sixers. Quite frankly, it's hard to figure out what direction the Sixers are going in. Are they a playoff team? If so, for what purpose (in reality)? Are they a lottery team? If not, they should be!
What's the future of Andre Iguodala in Philadelphia? Could Meeks even be trade bate? So many questions.
But in the meantime, Collins can breath a little easier because his frustration has been lifted just a tad.
Jodie Meeks -- a lifesaver? Maybe.
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