"No matter what the Sixers tried last Wednesday, they had no way of stopping the Nets' point guard Deron Williams. Part of the reason for that, says head coach Doug Collins, was because of poor matchups. No matter which combinations he tried, Collins just couldn't find the right mix.

Collins had no such worries during Friday night's 89-72 victory over the lowly Charlotte Bobcats at the Center.

Sporting the worst record in the NBA, the Bobcats were the perfect appetizer for the Sixers. Not only are the Sixers in the midst of a back-to-back with Detroit due in town for a game on Saturday night, but the schedule gets real starting Monday. Next week the Sixers finish the seven-game homestand with games against Orlando, Chicago and Miami. They finish up with a trip to Atlanta on Saturday to face the Southeast Division-leading Hawks.

Headed into Saturday night's action, the Sixers are just one of two teams not to suffer back-to-back losses this season. At 13-6, the first-place Sixers lead the Celtics (9-9) by 3½ games in the Atlantic Division.

At least for now, the Sixers have done a pretty good job of winning games they should."