PHILADELPHIA — One thing coaches use to evaluate a player is to see how he responds to adversity.
For Nick Young, the 76ers' fourth-leading scorer and a key reserve, that adversity came Jan. 12 in the form of a benching in a victory over Houston.
“It hurt,” said Young, who is usually the first player off the Sixers' bench “I have been there before — my rookie years, my second year — and I know that I don't want to go back to that.”
But rather than sulk, Young responded to the challenge the way the Sixers want all of their players to respond: with an attitude adjustment.
“He was the first guy on back-to-back days to get upstairs and get his extra work in,” said associate coach Michael Curry, who ran practice Sunday for Doug Collins (sinus infection). “All of a sudden Nick's preparation was better. And when Nick's preparation is good, his production is better on the court.”
Young will make his fifth start of the season Monday as the Sixers (18-25) host Memphis (28-14). He has scored 20 points in back-to-back games against Milwaukee and New York. Coming off the bench against the Bucks, Young took out his frustrations on NBA blocks leader Larry Sanders, exploding down the middle for a one-handed dunk that had his teammates springing from the bench.
And in Saturday's 97-80 victory over Atlantic Division-leading New York, Young scored 14 of his 20 points in the third quarter, helping the Sixers push their lead from 12 points at the half to 29 late in the third. He is averaging 10.7 points a game.
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