Collins leaning toward Nocioni over Turner for playoff run

Before Friday night's showdown with the Miami Heat - the Sixers' likely first-round playoff opponent - coach Doug Collins admitted he was leaning toward giving Turner's backup minutes to veteran forward Andres Nocioni.

Turner is averaging 7.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 23.3 minutes a game. He has played a total of 1,606 minutes and is shooting 41.8 percent from the floor and 27.5 percent from the three-point line. Nocioni's statistics, even though he has played only about half the time of Turner, are comparable: 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds a game, shooting 43.0 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Collins said he has discussed the decision with his coaching staff as well as with team president Rod Thorn and general manager Ed Stefanski.

"Evan has done a good job for us; we feel very good about that," Collins said. "We just sort of feel right now with Noc, he played very well for us early and he gives us another three-point shooter, spreader of the floor, gives us good size, and he's experienced. I'm just going to figure it out night-by-night."

After starting 16 games early in the season, the 31-year-old Nocioni fell out of the rotation about midway through the season.

"We sat down and we said, 'We have to go with the team that gives us the best chance right now,' " Collins said. "And right now, Noc needs to be in the mix."