PHILADELPHIA —

coach Nate McMillan, searching for a "spark" and looking to “mix things up,” plans on making a significant change Tuesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

McMillan said he will start Wesley Matthews at small forward in place of Nicolas Batum, a move he hopes will help resuscitate his flat-lining team.

"When you’re dropping games like we are, you just need to shake up some things and we’re limited in how many positions we can shake up," McMillan said Monday evening after Blazers’ practice at Villanova University. “We just need to take a look at something different.”

McMillan experimented with the move during Sunday night’s 98-96 loss at New Jersey, starting Matthews in the second half. He responded by scoring 15 of his team-high 25 points after halftime. After watching film of the game and pondering his options, McMillan decided the switch was a no-brainer, in part because it seems the more Matthews’ plays, the better he plays.

Also, the 6-foot-5 second-year player, who signed a five-year, $34 million free agent contract with the Blazers over the summer, has shown a knack for playing best when he starts.

In 16 games this season, Matthews is averaging 12.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists. But in the three games that he started while filling in at shooting guard for Brandon Roy, Matthews performed at a much higher level, averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals.

He had a career night in a win at Memphis in his first start as a Blazer, scoring a career-high 30 points and making five three-pointers. One game later, during a win against Denver, Matthews had 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

“We need a spark, we need something different,” McMillan said. “Let’s mix things up. Wesley has done some good things when he’s got some minutes. So we’ll put Nic with that second group and see what happens.”

McMillan insisted the move is not an indictment of Batum, saying his small forward didn’t “necessarily do anything wrong.” But the Blazers (8-8) have lost five of seven games and are riding a season-worst three-game losing streak, so something had to give.

Matthews reacted to the news with a shrug, saying he “didn’t see it coming” but had no plans of altering the way he prepares or plays. Batum handled things with grace, saying he viewed the switch as an opportunity rather than a demotion.

McMillan told Batum that he wants him to be an offensive focal point of the second unit, a player who can showcase his burgeoning offensive game with his esteemed defense. Batum is averaging 12.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game and reached double-figures in scoring during one nine-game stretch this season.

But in his last two games, Batum has scored a combined seven points while making just 2 of 11 shots from the field. Against New Jersey, Batum was held without a field goal for the first time this season and finished with two points. The hope is that a move to the second unit restores his offensive mojo.

“(McMillan) wants me to be more involved with offense, so that can be good for me,” Batum said. “What I did my first two years was really focus on defense. I can learn much more about NBA basketball. This is a new thing for me, a new experience. It can be good for me. So I’m happy with that.”

There was a noticeable lack of tension between Matthews and Batum Monday as the two joked after practice at Villanova. When Batum was asked about Matthews taking over his starting role, Matthews cut him off before he could answer.

“Me and Nic are still friends, you know?” Matthews said, prompting Batum to laugh.

But the state of the Blazers is no laughing matter and if takes a starting lineup switch — even if it involves him — Batum is on board.

“We are in bad shape right now,” Batum said. “We’ve lost eight games in four weeks and that’s not good. So we have to change some things. If (McMillan) feels better putting Wesley in the starting lineup and me off the bench so we can win those games, I’m good with that. I’m OK. We’re just looking to win.”

—

; follow him on