Lavoy Allen logged 21 minutes in a start at center on Saturday, but was scoreless with zero rebounds and zero blocks.

The Sixers need Allen to play with far more energy, as he did in the playoffs last season, but he shows no signs of shaking his early slump. Spencer Hawes double-doubled off the bench in 23 minutes, and both guys are living on borrowed time until Andrew Bynum returns.

Lavoy Allen started at center again and had 12 points, four rebounds and a block in a win over the Hornets.

Spencer Hawes came off the bench for 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks, and they're the only two healthy centers in Phillly right now. Both will take a big hit when Andrew Bynum returns, but we still have no idea when that's going to happen. Both are worth a look in most leagues, while Hawes would appear to have more upside than Allen.

Lavoy Allen started at center in place of injured Andrew Bynum on Wednesday, but had just three points, four rebounds and a block in 17 minutes.

Spencer Hawes stole the show at center for the Sixers tonight, and might have earned a starting job until Bynum is back in action.

Lavoy Allen put up eight points and 13 rebounds in the Sixers' 98-90 exhibition win over the Knicks on Monday.

Allen hit 3-of-7 shots and also chipped in with three assists and a block in 35 minutes, and will continue to start at center for however long Andrew Bynum (knee) is out. If you somehow manage to wander into a playing time issue to begin the year, give Allen a look.

Lavoy Allen will start at center to begin the season if Andrew Bynum (knee) is not ready to play.

The Sixers are playing it cautious with Bynum's return, and Doug Collins has already said that there is a possibility the new big man won't be ready for the start of the season. If Bynum is ready to begin the season, Allen will serve as a reserve at both power forward and center.

Lavoy Allen (personal) has rejoined the 76ers, but his conditioning "is not where the Sixers want it to be."

Allen will begin the season as a backup big man, supporting Spencer Hawes at PF and Andrew Bynum or Kwame Brown at C. He's talented enough to challenge for the starting PF job, but first he needs to get into game shape.

Lavoy Allen (personal) did not practice on Thursday.

The team did not elaborate on the Allen's personal issues, but he was practicing earlier in the week, so hopefully it's nothing serious.

Lavoy Allen was reportedly overweight during summer league.

Allen has since spent time working with a trainer in Boston as well as in Philadelphia. It's not expected to be a major concern, but Allen will have to keep himself in shape to stay on the good side of Doug Collins.

Doug Collins recently described 76ers assistant Michael Curry as "the best defensive-minded coach in the NBA."

"Last year we were third in the league in defense," said Collins. "We didn't have a rebounder. We didn't have a shot-blocker." The Sixers now have both, with Andrew Bynum, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen capable of playing center. Curry will probably be a head coach candidate in the coming years, but for now he's still burying memories of the 2008-09 season, when he led a fractured Pistons team (which had just traded for Allen Iverson) to a 33-49 record.

Lavoy Allen wouldn't mind coming off the bench behind Kwame Brown to begin the season, and he feels there's a chance he'll end up starting.

"It doesn't bother me," said Allen, referring to Doug Collins' plan to start Brown. "You never know what can happen once training camp rolls around ... Coach says that now, but you never know what he's thinking. He switched the lineup many times last year." In 15 starts as a rookie last year, Allen averaged 4.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.5 blocks in under 19 minutes per game.

Sixers sign power forward Lavoy Allen.

Allen could be an important piece for the Sixers this season after they amnestied Elton Brand, but it remains to be seen whether or not he'll land a starting job.

The Sixers agreed to a two-year, $6 million--plus deal with F/C Lavoy Allen on Sunday.

Allen wasn't a stat accumulator during his rookie season, but played well enough to earn a relatively nice deal as a stop-gap in case Spencer Hawes leaves. He will need a few things to break his way before he garners much fantasy attention.

The Sixers have extended a qualifying contract offer to F/C Lavoy Allen, making him a restricted free agent.

By extending the qualifying offer to Allen, the Sixers will now be able to match any offer on him. Allen emerged as a nice surprise for the Sixers last season, averaging 4.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg and even played over Elton Brand in the fourth quarter in several key games down the stretch. Most think Allen will return to Philly next season.

The Sixers are planning on retaining restricted free agent Lavoy Allen.

Allen emerged as a key contributor in Doug Collins' rotation during his rookie season despite the fact that he was the No. 50 overall pick in the 2011 draft. He averaged 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in the regular season, but Allen saw 20 minutes per game in the postseason and should be back with the team.

Lavoy Allen will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Allen, the 50th overall pick in 2011, was a pleasant surprise for the Sixers as a rookie. In fact, he earned 19.7 minutes per game in the playoffs, often cutting into the fourth quarter playing time of Elton Brand in some situations. The Sixers will bring back Allen, ideally as a backup power forward once again.

Lavoy Allen leads Philly's big men this series with a plus/minus of +36 and has doubled his points per game from the regular season from four to eight.

Out of respect for Elton Brand, head coach Doug Collins is still starting Brand, but with Brand dealing with a sore neck and a shell of his former self Collins is basically playing Allen over him down the stretch in playoff games right now. "He's young, he's strong. I trust him," Collins said of Allen. Allen will continue to get major minutes and will hope to continue his momentum in Game 5 on Monday night.

Lavoy Allen (thumb) confirmed that he will play in Game 2.

"I did it going for a loose ball towards the end of the game," he said. "It was swollen, but it isn't so much now. We'll just put a little bit of tape on it." Allen shouldn't be limited by the injury.

Lavoy Allen (thumb, probable) is expected to start at center once again in Tuesday's Game 2.

Coach Doug Collins likes the way Allen matches up with the motor of Joakim Noah. That means Spencer Hawes will continue to come off the bench, a disappointing turn of events as he enters unrestricted free agency. Allen had four points and six boards in 19 minutes of Game 1 action while Hawes had five points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.

Lavoy Allen sprained his thumb during Game 1, but X-rays were negative and he's expected to play on Tuesday.

Allen had four points and six boards in 20 minutes on Saturday, and we can't reasonably expect much more from the rookie, who is being thrown directly into the fire.

Lavoy Allen will start Game 1 at center for the Sixers on Saturday.

With Allen starting, Spencer Hawes will come off the bench. This is somewhat of a surprise as Allen only averaged 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this year. Allen started the last two games of the season averaging 10.5 rebounds over those two, but playoff basketball is a lot different than two games at the end of the regular season.