During their recent losing streak, the Sixers have struggled offensively.

Doug Collins is looking for Jrue Holiday to be the catalyst.

"I want Jrue to always look to be a scorer, especially with that starting group," Collins said. "When we start the games, especially with Spencer [Hawes] hurt and E.B. [Elton Brand] hurt, we need guys out on the floor to score, so I wanted him to do that. Last year when he made that turn and we really started winning, I thought he came off screens and he was looking to score. I want him to be aggressive. I don't want there to be any indecision where when he's getting in there [the lane] thinking he's got to pass and do those kind of things. I want him looking at that rim and getting us off to good starts."

Sixers owner Josh Harris is open to using the amnesty clause, but only if the replacement player is a “game changer.”

“For the right person, yes,” Harris said. “Those are the kinds of things that if you do it and you do it wrong it puts you way back. You’ve got to be very careful but if it was a game changer we would consider that. It’s not something we’re afraid of. We’re a deep-pocketed, committed ownership group. But we’re going to be sensible about it. We’re not going to do that for anyone. It would have to be for someone really good.”

Elton Brand, who has one-year, $18.1 million remaining on his contract after this season, could be a candidate for amnesty.

The Sixers will likely be without center Spencer Hawes for at least two weeks, if not more.

"That determination isn't for sure yet, but the odds are that he probably will," Sixers president Rod Thorn said when asked if Hawes would be out until after the all-star break. "We certainly don't want him going back out there until he's ready to play."

Hawes, who has missed 15 of the last 17 games, is going to see a specialist about his sore left Achilles tendon.

He has already had an MRI exam on the tendon that came back negative.

The NBA announced the reserves for the 2012 All-Star Game on Thursday.

Joining LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony on the Eastern Conference team are Chris Bosh, Luol Deng, Roy Hibbert, Andre Iguodala, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams.

Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Andrew Bynum and Kevin Durant will have LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook on their Western Conference team.

The NBA has announced the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge participants on Wednesday.

Sophomores selected include DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Landry Fields (New York Knicks), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) Paul George (Indiana Pacers), and John Wall (Washington Wizards).

Freshmen selected include Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns), Marshon Brooks (New Jersey Nets), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves).

Spencer Hawes underwent an MRI on his lower back and left Achilles tendon while Elton Brand, who did not play in the Sixers' win over the Lakers on Monday, might miss his second game in a row because of a sprained thumb.

"He's a little sore," Sixers coach Doug Collins said of Hawes on Tuesday during the team's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

"His Achilles is sore again, and that's what I was worried about," Collins said. "I was worried about wear and tear. You knew looking at this season there were going to be a ton of injuries and how you were going to be able to survive them and how much depth you had was going to be important."

Brand said Tuesday that he's aiming to play against the Spurs.

"It's feeling better," said Brand, who did some catch-and-shoot drills. "It's better today, much better today. I'll get treatment again, and we'll see game time."

The Philadelphia 76ers have assigned Craig Brackins to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.

Brackins has appeared in eight games for the Sixers this season.

Brackins (6-10, 230) was assigned to the D-League three times last season with the Sixers old affiliate, the Springfield Armor. In 18 games for the Armor, he averaged 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 37.6 minutes per game while shooting 44.0% from the floor, 24.7% from 3-point range and 72.7% from the line. He was tied for the eighth highest scoring average of any D-League player last season.

Sixers center Spencer Hawes missed his ninth game in a row Wednesday with a strained left Achilles tendon.

"I hope so," Hawes said when asked before Wednesday's game with Chicago if he will be back by the end of the week. "I hope it will be as early as possible, but I said that last week. Right now, I'm done with predictions.

"Right now it feels good. But when I'm running and I get up on my toes I can tell it's not right because of my gait. It's not natural."

The Sixers were 6-4 in games without Hawes this season.