Time is now for Sixers' Moultrie

ORLANDO - The beauty of watching pro Summer League games (and there isn't a lot of beauty) is that so many players are trying to make an impression on a coach or executive that the play is always high-energy. Loose balls always have bodies diving after them. There is rarely an easy basket at the offensive end. Defense is always barbed-wire tough.

Most of the players are trying to get their foot in the door that leads to the NBA. Some have roster spots that are secure, but are still playing to prove they belong.

Up until Thursday, Sixers second-year center Arnett Moultrie was playing as if he had a secure spot on the team and that the hustle and grit shown by other players wasn't something he needed to embrace.

Thursday, he finally embraced the situation and the result was an impressive 23-point, 12-rebound (including eight offensive) effort in a 90-89 loss to the Orlando Magic. Slowed in his rookie season by a severe ankle injury suffered just before the draft, Moultrie is one of the long list of young players the Sixers are eager to see progress. For most of the week, Moultrie showed little to impart confidence about his future. But the flash that came Thursday is what general manager Sam Hinkie is counting on.

"His activity level was high," said Michael Curry, who coached the team during the week of workouts and games. "It's all about getting in great shape, and we're going to push him and run him and do everything we can do to get him in great shape, but he has to have the pride that he won't let an inferior guy outplay him because of conditioning. A couple of times this week, inferior players outplayed him, because he didn't have his legs and he didn't have his wind under him. We told him we're going to push and as the week got later because of the hard practices that guys' conditioning will help them through towards the end. For Arnett, it comes down to being in great condition.

"He hasn't been in shape since we've had him. We've been trying to work him, but whenever we have time away, his conditioning drops off. As long as we have our hands on him, we can continue to push him every day. But he has to want it and want to take pride in being in great shape, because, at that point, he can show the skill set that he has, and he has a really good skill set."

There couldn't be any better opportunity for Moultrie than the one he has with this team right now. With expectations low and a roster that will allow him ample playing time, proving himself this season would go a long way to him earning some serious money.

The Sixers picked up their lone win of the week (1-4) yesterday by defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 87-86, in the last-place game. Temple product Khalif Wyatt scored 27 points and dealt four assists, while Rodney Williams added 13. Michael Carter-Williams (five assists) and Justin Willams (eight rebounds) each scored 11 points. Arnett Moultrie contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.

Remember Jonny Flynn, the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves out of Syracuse? Well, he's trying to catch on with an NBA team after playing last season in Australia. He was on the Indiana Pacers roster and wasn't very impressive during the week . . . Former La Salle star Rodney Green was on the Utah Jazz roster, but saw very limited playing time during the week. He played professionally in Italy this past season . . . Of the first-round picks who were playing, No. 2 selection Victor Oladipo (Indiana), of Orlando, was among the most impressive. He is a very, very good defensive player and has an NBA-ready body. His outside shooting was better than people had expected and he proved to be a real leader. He was barking directions throughout each game, which was impressive, being as the Magic roster was filled with young players who were regulars on the roster last season . . .

Boston's Kelly Olynyk was also very good, showing he has a nose for the ball, can score both inside and out and much more toughness than many thought he had . . . Remember the name Casper Ware. He is a 5-10 guard out of Long Beach State who was on the Houston Rockets squad. He has a tremendous amount of speed and strength and absolutely ate up No. 9 pick Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz. Burke was given the next day off by Utah. You had to wonder whether part of it was due to the struggles he encountered with Ware . . .

Brooklyn's Mason Plumlee, the 22nd pick from Duke, had an impressive week, showing great fundamentals on both ends of the court. He would appear to be a nice get for the Nets as a backup to starter Brook Lopez . . . Speaking of the Nets, though new coach Jason Kidd was on the bench, assistant Lawrence Frank was running the show most of the week. During one game, Frank and Kidd were seated at the scorer's table while an assistant was coaching the game. Frank appeared to be going over different offensive and defensive sets on a portable whiteboard with Kidd . . . Big men Steven Adams (Pitt) and Rudy Gobert (France), two players who were thought to be possible fits for the Sixers, have a long way to go to being ready for the NBA . . . The Oklahoma City Thunder won the Summer League, winning all five games they played. They defeated the Houston Rockets, 85-77, in yesterday's championship game.

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