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Twin Towers tandem takes a step back

No one said Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor would mesh quickly into the 76ers version of the Twin Towers. Especially not when you consider that they were mostly on opposite teams during last week's training camp.

But the tandem actually took a step back in Thursday's 115-114 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers after playing well together in Tuesday's 129-95 setback to the Washington Wizards.

At times, their spacing was too clogged up against the Cavaliers. That's wasn't the only problem.

"It's really different for Nerlens, because you get Jahlil running to the rim," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. 'Noel ends up taking [the ball] out and is in trail a lot. And really our rules are the first big, nearest big takes it out and Jahlil his whole life has run to the rim.

"So at times we don't get it out of the net quick. Nerlens is looking around and that's just part of growing the two of them. I felt like it wasn't as fluid as it was in the first game when you could point to a few signs"

However, Noel did manage to finish with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds – 10 on the defensive end. The power forward also had three steals and blocked one shot.  But he only took five shots and wasn't an offensive factor due to trailing the play on most occasions.

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixer and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers