Sixers' scoring options, step right up

THE LOOK ON coach Brett Brown's face said it all.

In the team's first preseason game against the Boston Celtics, Henry Sims led the team with 15 shots. Asked whether he wanted that to be the case, Brown formed a "what kind of question is that?" smirk.

There is no doubt this Sixers team will struggle mightily in the scoring department this season. Opposing teams no doubt will target Michael Carter-Williams as their main defensive assignment and clog the lane to stop drives to the basket, as the Sixers topped the NBA in that area last season.

Nerlens Noel is a huge project on the defensive end and Sims made only three of those 15 shot attempts in Boston. So who should this team be looking to for some baskets? How about that Hollis Thompson?

"Because he's the best shooter," Brown said of Thompson when asked who should get the most shots on his team. "We encourage opportunity where it comes, and I think that because we are so committed to attacking the rim . . . I'm proud of that stat where we were No. 1 in the NBA on getting to the rim. That's a good number, especially when you have a team that can't shoot. He should experience the benefit of the crowd that we draw. When we attack, we have to give. We talk all the time about good to great. This is a good shot, that's a great shot. Good to great has to govern how we play. [The Spurs] passed. That's the best passing NBA team I've ever seen. To a man. So we need to copycat some things as best we can. Sharing the ball, with that mindset of attack, catch and go, go and catch get to the rim. He will reap the benefit of that."

Thompson made all five of his shots in Boston on Monday, including three triples. He left early in last night's game against Charlotte after suffering a scratched cornea. He has bulked up both in muscle and confidence. His 40 percent shooting from three-point range (67-for-167) was tops among rookies last season and Brown expects/needs much more of it this season.

"Hollis' work ethic and his process are really exciting and he's heading in the direction that we want him to," Brown said.

It was a much more stable team that took the floor last night for the Sixers, as opposed to the helter-skelter one that turned the ball over 28 times and scored only 30 points in the second half in Monday's loss at Boston.

Against the visiting Charlotte Hornets, the Sixers had a balanced offense (six players in double figures), distributed the ball well (29 assists on 38 made baskets) and took care of the ball (11 turnovers) in a 106-92 win.

Tony Wroten totaled 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Casper Ware had 14 points. Brandon Davies (13), Elliot Williams (12) and Alexey Schved (11) also scored in double figures as the Sixers improved to 1-1 on the preseason.

It was a better performance from Nerlens Noel compared with Monday. Playing for the first time in front of the home fans, he was a little more comfortable and seemed to get in the flow a little easier at both ends of the floor, finishing the game with 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in a little more than 31 minutes. He was very good at lending weakside help at the defensive end and made a nice baby hook after a strong spin move in the first half.

"I felt more comfortable tonight, but I'm still not where I want to be," Noel said. "I have to continue working and just get a feel for the offense more."

"I really don't want to overdramatize anything with Nerlens, I really want to go the other way," Brett Brown said. "It's such a long journey for him, but I think we're going to see him blossom before the city's eyes and all of our eyes. He is young, he is athletically gifted and along with those athletic gifts we hope to polish it up into a basketball player. He is a willing learner. He's all in, he's very coachable, but I think we all have to be reminded of what he's done and be a little bit patient with him."

When asked by reporters whether Michael Carter-Williams was free to talk, public relations director Michael Preston said that MCW won't speak until he is a full practice participant. So that's where that stands.

Before last night's game, Carter-Williams was launching jumpers, both standstills and off hard carts. The shoulder that required surgery in the offseason appears to be sound and certainly doesn't appear to hinder him at all.

Against Boston, swingman Elliot Williams was the only healthy player to sit. Last night against Charlotte, there were a few players (Chris Johnson and newcomers Malcolm Lee and Andrew Gordon) who kept the warmups on, while Williams was the first sub. Nothing to read into it, said coach Brett Brown.

"I like giving people real opportunities instead of piece mailing it with 5 minutes here, 6 minutes there," Brown said. "There are some of the young guys that will experience that piecemeal situation, but somebody like Eliot, I'd rather sit him because I know what he is and what he's done and try somebody else."

The team will practice today then fly to Minnesota for a game against the new-look Timberwolves on Friday. The next game after that will be Tuesday in Syracuse against the New York Knicks.

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