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Questions to ponder over All-Star break

State of the Sixers going forward, as they enter the All-Star break.

Brett Brown, left, talks to Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
Brett Brown, left, talks to Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)Read more

NEARLY 66 PERCENT of the season is over for the 76ers. That might draw a cheer from some or a groan from others who know that 28 games still remain.

So what possibly could there be to look forward to in these final games that will take place once the All-Star break is over? Is there anything we could possibly learn about the future of this organization from here on out? Will the roster change at all before the Feb. 20 trading deadline?

What about the coaching staff? Are the players still on board with Brett Brown, despite having lost 39 of their 54 games? Is his style conducive to the type of personnel he has? Is it the style that should be used going forward?

Let's answer some questions the best we can:

Q: What is the most important issue for this team for the rest of the season?

A: That may be the easiest question of the many that surround this organization. The progression of rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams is the biggest key as to how this rebuilding process is going to work. His surprising season thus far has made him the foundation for the future.

But with that comes a heavy burden. There really have been two sides of MCW's game. Most of it has been good, making him the leading candidate for rookie of the year. When he is good, he is producing numbers all over the box score, reflected by his being the top rookie in scoring (17.1), assists (6.5), steals (2.1) and minutes (34.6).

But there has been the bad, too. At times, especially recently, Carter-Williams has foolishly turned the ball over way too many times. His forays to the basket have often ended in his shot being blocked or an ill-advised pass that ends up at the other end of the floor or in the stands.

Perhaps his frail body is worn, and he won't get any rest this weekend as he is part of the All-Star weekend as a participant in the skills competition and the rookie-sophomore game. But his last performance before the break, in a 105-100 loss to the Utah Jazz, had his coach breathing a sigh of relief.

"I thought Michael played with great poise because he could have handled this particular matchup in different ways," Brown said of MCW's 19-point, eight-assist, five-rebound effort. "He grew tonight. I thought that he played with a level of sophistication, and pace and poise. He ran things that needed to be run. He started understanding how to get his shot, how to get others involved and he did it under a real calm flow to the game and it showed. His size showed a lot when he was able to get to the paint and be 6-6. I thought it was one of his best games."

With that Carter-Williams showing up, this organization will get better.

Q: Can this style of play win in the NBA?

A: Brown is convinced that the future of the NBA is fast-paced, with spread offenses and few big men to rule the lane. Gone are the days of Shaquille O'Neal. These are the days of the long-shooting big men who can run the floor like gazelles.

Brown is implementing the system for the future, not so much for the present. Most of this roster probably won't be here next year, but the system will be for those who will return. This roster isn't so much built for the style. They are void of a consistent outside shooter. They don't have many fleet-footed big men and there is no inside presence to even make teams show a hint of wanting to guard the paint.

The system is in place. The players capable of running it probably aren't here. But it certainly seems to be an offense that will benefit Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel, when he gets back on the court.

Q: Are there going to be any trades?

A: The Sixers are in a pretty good place here, and even if they don't trade Evan Turner or Spencer Hawes, they can wash their hands of them at the end of the season if they so choose. Thaddeus Young, who probably has the most on-court value to other teams, is less attractive due to a contract that will pay him close to $19 million the next two seasons combined.

The question is what would Turner or Hawes get them? If you get another player with an expiring contract and a late first-round draft pick, is that really worth anything? General manager Sam Hinkie could be looking to stockpile draft picks, so perhaps moving someone makes sense. The question has to be, how much interest is there around the league in these players? Maybe not enough to get value in a trade this year.

Q: Is Brown the coach that this organization should move forward with?

A: Judging a coach of this team is difficult and unfair. This roster isn't built to win in the NBA, so judging Brown by the record isn't fair. He is ultra-competitive. He leaves no question unanswered, lets no play go without demanding responsibility. Could that be tiring on a player throughout a season? Perhaps, but look at what he has to work with. There is so much that needs to be taught and corrected on a daily basis that it is no wonder his motor is revved as high as it is.

He has a great way of communicating with his players and seems to be on board with them. He was a player development guy for an organization (San Antonio) who developed young players better than anyone.

It will be interesting to see Brown coach a team with some real NBA talent and depth. Until then, whenever that may be, it is simply unfair to judge.

Dribbles

UPCOMING GAME

Cleveland Cavaliers (20-33) at Sixers (15-39)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/WPEN (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: This is the first game back after the All-Star break for both teams. Cleveland is an organization in turmoil, having fired its general manager and trying to prove Anthony Bennett was worth the first overall pick.

BY THE NUMBERS

3: That's how many turnovers Michael Carter-Williams had against the Utah Jazz on Wednseday night. That broke a streak of five games in which he had four or more, including eight against the Clippers.

54: That's how many games James Anderson has appeared in. He is the only Sixer to play in every game this season.