Sixers fall to Nets, not in shape they need to be in

The Sixers and Nets are both entering the regular season with great anticipation.

The Sixers hope to unearth Andrew Bynum on the Eastern Conference, while the Nets move into their new home in Brooklyn — after 35 years of playing in New Jersey.

This past weekend, the two teams needed overtime to decide an exhibition game Saturday night in Atlantic City. Brooklyn pulled it out 108-105 in the extra session.

Newcomer Nick Young paced the Sixers with 21 points, with Villanova product Maalik Wayns chipping in with 18. Evan Turner scored 14, as Bynum and his aching knee watched from the bench.

After the loss, head coach Doug Collins admitted that his team needs to get into better shape. It’s something Collins started noticing in training camp last week.

“I’ve been worried about pushing the guys in camp,” Collins told reporters over the weekend. “We’ve got some older guys in camp that you worry about getting injuries. But I told our guys we’re not in the shape we need to be in to play.”

The Sixers are 1-1 in the preseason after beating Orlando 102-95 last Thursday. They have five more exhibition games before opening Oct. 31 against Denver at the Wells Fargo Center. The team is still hopeful that Bynum will be ready to go by the start of the regular season.