Talented Noel set to debut; questions about him remain

INDIANAPOLIS - It has been more than 19 months since Nerlens Noel stepped onto a basketball court for a game that counts.

On Wednesday night, the 76ers rookie will finally make his professional debut in the season-opener against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The 6-foot-11, 217-pound power forward comes into the game with lofty (and, some might argue, unrealistic) expectations at this stage of his career.

In high school, Noel was the No. 1-rated player in the Class of 2012 by ESPN and Scout.com. Rivals.com and Slam Magazine had him ranked second. During his injury-shortened season at Kentucky, he was named Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year, freshman of the year, and first-team all-conference.

The Everett, Mass., native was expected to go first overall in the 2013 NBA draft before he slid to the New Orleans Pelicans at the sixth pick and was traded to the Sixers.

But Noel, 20, is raw and could still be considered a novice to basketball.

His sophomore season at Everett High School was cut to five games when he fractured the growth plate in his left knee. He basically played only three seasons of high school ball.

Then his college career ended after 24 games when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in that knee on Feb. 12, 2013, in a game at Florida. He missed the entire 2013-14 season with the Sixers after surgery.

So what can fans expect in the opener and the rest of the reason?

"Noel is going to have to use his speed," said a longtime NBA executive who asked not to be identified. "I don't think his offensive touch is going to be very good. He's going to be a more impactful defensive player than offensive.

"Some of his shot-blocking instincts, some of his defensive instincts I think on many nights will be helpful. But it's not going to be on all of them."

That's part of the reason Noel no longer plays center, where he might have routinely been overmatched in the post.

For instance, take Pacers center Roy Hibbert. At 7-2 and 275 pounds, the seven-year veteran is 58 pounds heavier than Noel.

Noel would also struggle on the block against players such as Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (7-1, 265 pounds) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (6-11, 295).

Noel, however, does have an advantage over those three - and most of the league's post players - in regard to athleticism, quickness, and the ability to get from rim to rim like a guard.

"He's a deer in the open court," said coach Brett Brown, who compared Noel to a few San Antonio post players. "He's a screen-and-roller. He's got some Boris [Diaw] and Tiago [Splitter], where he can roll and be the quarterback of the gym."

Noel also is quick off the floor and catches and passes the ball like a guard. The Sixers see him as someone who will fill up a stat sheet. They expect him to bring intensity, score on alley-oops, block shots, and be a defensive terror in the passing lanes.

If there's a major concern, it's his durability over an 82-game season.

Noel averaged 8.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 2 assists, and a league-best 2.5 blocked shots in the preseason. However, he was unable to play in all eight exhibitions.

Noel sat out one game with a charley horse in his right quadriceps and missed three others with an upper respiratory infection.

He downplayed talk about his durability. "I'm coming in with no restrictions, just like any other player in this league," Noel said.

He realizes, though, that his game has some flaws. Noel's footwork remains a work in progress, and his shooting needs lots of improvement.

He made just 35 percent of his field-goal attempts and shot 44 percent from the foul line in the preseason. And that came after he worked daily on his shot with Brown and former player-development coach Greg Foster last season.

Part of the problem has to do with Noel's playing a rapid pace and rushing shots.

"I have to definitely work on my body and definitely focus on my shooting," he said. "I think that will open up a lot of lanes, offensively. I have to continue to work on that and continue to stick with the fundamentals, build the confidence, and knock [shots] down in the game."

Noel, who weighed around 206 pounds at Kentucky, is also trying to bulk up. He was 223 pounds heading into the Orlando Pro Summer League in July, but he quickly shed those pounds when he began playing.

The Haitian American has tried everything to pack the weight back on. His mother, Dorcina, even spent time in Philadelphia this summer to cook his favorite Haitian dishes with the hope that would put on weight.

"My metabolism is fast," Noel said. "I once went to sleep and lost three pounds."

But he still has a chance to be a solid pick-and-roll defender in the NBA. Noel just won't be able to defend the pick-and-roll the same way Spurs standout Tim Duncan does.

The future Hall of Fame power forward uses his strength and positioning while outsmarting his opponents. Noel will have to rely on athletic ability.

There will be times when he'll be shoved around. He'll have to deal with opposing players sticking their elbows in his rib cage and taking advantage of his slender frame.

Noel, however, will have his share of highlights on alley-oops, excelling in transition, and getting steals in the passing lanes.

"I think my game is just a little different than a lot of other big men," he said. "I like to try to emulate [20-year veteran Kevin Garnett] . . . and developing that touch will be a work in progress.

"But I'm continuing to work."

For now, Noel is just excited to play in an NBA game that counts.

"This has been a long time coming," he said of the season-opener. "I'm definitely coming out looking to play my game. And, you know, leave it on the court."

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