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Meeks Stretching Defenses for Sixers

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia 76ers have had several players emerge as the team turned things around here during the 2010-2011 campaign, and one of them is second-year guard Jodie Meeks.

Acquired in a trade last February from Milwaukee, Meeks has come full circle as a Sixer, going from a bit player to a regular starter at shooting guard this season.

The Kentucky product talked with KYW Newsradio about when he started to feel like this Sixers team was coming together.

"I don't know about a specific game, but I think early on in December," he said.  "Everything kind of clicked.  I think we had a close game with Boston that we almost won, and we felt like this team is better than our record shows."

Hear the entire Jodie Meeks interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...

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The Sixers are 25-16 since a 3-13 start, and along the way Meeks has had some big games, including a 20-point first quarter in a December win over Charlotte.   Meeks hit six threes in that first quarter, in a performance which harkened back to his college days with the Wildcats.

Meeks holds the Kentucky record for points in a game, having poured in 54 in a win over Tennessee as a junior.

Needless to say, he is the type of shooter that can take over a game.  But can he tell when he's about to enter the "zone"?

"You know, it happens in different ways.  Sometimes I'll feel like I'm going to have a game like that and I do, and sometimes it just happens during a game, hit a couple shots and start to feel comfortable," Meeks says.

And even though he's only in his second year, Meeks says he's already learned a lot as a professional.

"I think just to stay even-minded, not get too high and not get too low," he notes.  "It's a long season, you're going to have great games, you're going to have bad games.  So stay even-minded, listen to your coaching staff, and work hard at all times."

Meeks is averaging 9.6 points per game this season for the Sixers.  He's shooting 40 percent from three-point land and 89 percent from the free-throw line.

Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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