Changes in starting lineup seem to agree with Sixers

Change, big or small, had to be made. Maybe it was a little late in coming, maybe it came just at the right time - at the beginning of the second half of the season.

Coach Eddie Jordan shuffled his starting lineup Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, moving Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams to the bench and promoting Elton Brand and rookie Jrue Holiday into starting roles.

No one benefited more than Young, who posted 22 points in each of his subbing roles. He talked after Saturday's 107-97 win at Indiana of feeling more freedom on the court.

Talk about freedom - with the new lineup in place and Young finding rejuvenation off the bench, the team not only has won both games but also has become more of the team many thought they would be before the season started.

In the two games, the Sixers have jacked up an average of 91.5 shots a game. In the first 41 games, the average was 10 fewer.

It's two games, and maybe the extra shots won't become a constant, but there certainly seem to be good reasons for the trend.

First, the defense has been far better the last couple of games, as has the rebounding, as you would expect with a frontcourt that includes Brand and Sam Dalembert. The team seems to be concentrating on getting out and running more, thus leading to more shots and a faster game.

In Saturday's win over the Pacers, the Sixers shot a paltry 41.2 percent (40-for-97). But they grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and got out on the break again. And when they needed baskets in the halfcourt offense, Brand was beastly, collecting a game-high 23 points.

So what necessitated the move after 41 games? Certainly the 13-28 record played a big part. But the most important element precipitating the change was Brand.

"Elton is playing better," said general manager Ed Stefanski. "No doubt he is getting his legs under him some more and moving better than he was at the beginning of the season. He gives us a bigger presence."

So forceful was Brand against the Pacers that he often was double-teamed in the post when he got the ball. He responded by dealing four assists. What also has been refreshing about Brand is that he has been a big asset in the team's quest to run.

"I do know when we have Elton in there, we can run as much as we want," Stefanski said. "I've never been a proponent that we can't run with Elton. He's a hell of a trailer, who can catch the ball and hit that 15-foot jumper on the [secondary] break. I will also say that we have posted him up quickly. We are still pushing it ahead, and then post him up right away. We have a lot of guys who can rebound and then throw out to, like, Allen Iverson and Andre Iguodala and Lou and Jrue."

Holiday taking over for Williams was more for defensive purposes than anything else. With Williams and Iverson starting games, the Sixers were fielding an awfully small backcourt. Holiday lends size to cover the opponent's two guard, while still providing speed.

"When you're starting two small guards, it's tough defensively," Stefanski said. "We wanted to get Jrue in there with Allen. Although Lou and Allen do cause matchup troubles with other teams due to their speed, it was hurting us a little bit on the defensive end."

So far the change has brought success. And with success comes happiness, even for new subs Williams and Young.

"Both guys were disappointed when they were told that they were being taken out of the starting lineup," Stefanski said. "And I told them that I'd be disappointed if they weren't upset. They are both very young guys, but they both handled it extremely well, very professionally. They both said that if it helps the team win, they'll be OK with it. It's only been two games, but so far, so good."

Six shots

Jrue Holiday missed part of Saturday's game after a cut on his head required 12 stitches. He returned later in the game . . . After tonight's home game against the Pacers, the Sixers will play at Milwaukee on Wednesday . . . Sam Dalembert grabbed 12 rebounds on Saturday, the ninth time in 10 games he has had 10 or more. He is averaging 13.3 in that span . . . The Sixers have won the last four games in which Elton Brand has scored 20 or more points . . . Andre Iguodala has scored fewer than 10 points the past two games . . . The Sixers are 7-4 when Allen Iverson scores 15 or more points.