Sizing Up the Sixers (14-26):As they were putting the finishing touches on their first win over the Toronto Raptors in 15 tries, the 76ers were doing so behind the contributions of several key youngsters. There was rookie Joel Embiid, providing pivotal baskets, free throws, and stops in the final three minutes.His fellow first-year Sixer Dario Saric played possessed down the stretch, bringing impassioned, determined energy to the floor.T.J. McConnell, now in his second campaign, came through, too, depositing a tie-breaking lay-up with 70 seconds to go. He supplied some insurance foul shots after that as well.Third-year Sixer Robert Covington was a vital defensive presence throughout the night, specifically on a sequence of back-to-back blocks on Kyle Lowry that enabled the Sixers to make a timely late stand.While members of the franchise's green core might have found themselves in the spotlight at decisive junctures of Wednesday's triumph, the Sixers' seventh victory in nine games, the foundation for this recent turnaround can be attributed to the mentorship being provided by a few elder statesmen.In a contingent that also features Sergio Rodriguez and the injured Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson and Ersan Ilyasova, in their eighth and ninth NBA seasons, respectively, have been especially influential in helping bring along the Sixers' youth.”The veterans, they provide, all over the place, sort of like global leadership,” Brett Brown said Wednesday.The Sixers inked Henderson, a hometown guard, to a free agent pact in July. Bryan Colangelo traded for Ersan Ilyasova, an ideal frontcourt compliment for Joel Embiid, three games into the current season.Despite dealing with nagging hip pain, an issue that forced him out of three games in December and early January, Henderson, in Brown's eyes, is having arguably his most efficient season to-date. Averaging 9.6 points in 24.6 minutes per game, the Episcopal Academy product is shooting 46.2 percent from the field, a career-high. His 40.8 3-point efficiency is a personal-best as well. Ilyasova, meanwhile, has been making the most of his opportunity, as he plays for his fifth team in the last two years. Entering Friday's pairing with Portland, the 29-year old had generated at least 10 points in 21 straight games, the longest double-figure scoring streak of his career. He's served as a steady two-way presence also, with seven double-doubles.Equally as critical as the tangible production of the veterans has been the sense of accountability they've instilled within the team. Take, for example, Monday's game in Milwaukee. During a timeout, Brown peered over his shoulder, and saw what he described as “a disturbance on the bench.” The intentions were sincere and pure, but the Sixers' seasoned players were letting the rest of the group know – in frank, honest terms – the time had come to ramp things up. “When a team can communicate like that, genuinely, and nobody gets their back up or offended, and life moves on, you're making movement, you're making progress,” said Brown. “I think Gerald and Ersan, the veteran influence, is creeping into our guys, and they're very, very important, and played a large role in our recent, albeit brief, success lately.””Without , I don't really think our team would be able to run as smoothly as it does,” T.J. McConnell said Wednesday, adding that the Sixers' old guard isn't afraid to call out teammates when errors arise. “They know the ins and outs of this stuff, and we're just like a sponge, absorbing all the information they're trying to give us.”(“Old guard,” by the way, is still a term that should be applied very loosely in respect to the Sixers' veterans, given that Sergio Rodriguez is the only player on the team in his 30s).”For me, like a young player, for me like a rookie, it means a lot, you know,” said Dario Saric, who backs up Ilyasova at power forward. “You can get advice during the game, during the practice, in locker room, not just in basketball, but advice for more life.”When you have somebody who support you like that, somebody who find you, who always tell you mistakes, and tell you good things, for me it means a lot.”Amidst the Sixers' current spurt, Jahlil Okafor, in his sophomore NBA season, feels the veterans have offered necessary perspective. Bayless, Henderson, Ilyasova, and Rodriguez have all previously in their careers experienced winning at a playoff-caliber level, and are keeping the club grounded. Henderson, for instance, typically imparts to the Sixers the message of “one more, one more,” in an effort to drive the focus forward.”Us being a young team, we need that,” Okafor said. “It's easy for us to get happy, and think we're doing good things.”Over the past few weeks, there have been a handful of new dynamics to emerge around the Sixers that are new to the Brown era. Winning on a semi-sustained basis has been one. That veterans are helping show the way is another, and welcomed one at that.Sizing Up the Trail Blazers (18-26):Based on having made playoff appearances each of the last three seasons, and the amount of money the organization invested in free agency, Portland has experienced a trying first half of the season. Still, in a Western Conference where there is a considerable drop-off between the top seven teams and the rest of the pack, the Blazers sit just one half game out of eighth place. For a second straight game, the Sixers will have a potent backcourt duo to contend with. Friday, the pairing will be Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, who are averaging 26.2 points and 23.5 points per game, respectively.Portland signed Evan Turner in the off-season. The former Sixer, whom the team drafted second overall in 2010, accounts for 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 25.4 minutes per game. Series History:The Sixers and Portland each defended their home court last season. The Sixers rolled past the Blazers, 114-89, for their largest win of the season in the teams' first meeting. Portland prevailed in a 108-105 victory at Moda Center two months later.Follow Along:
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