Sixers' rebuild could have a place for Smith, Robinson

THERE IS A SENSE of satisfaction for Ish Smith and Thomas Robinson, though neither would ever come close to acknowledging it. During their brief time here, they've posted career-best numbers. Both believe that if just given ample opportunity, the type of play they've shown here would be the norm. True or not, they've certainly made their cases for perhaps being a piece of the rebuild come next season.

In only his fifth season in the NBA out of Wake Forest, Smith is on his eighth team. He has benefited during his time here by being the only true point guard on the roster and by developing a nice playing relationship with Nerlens Noel. While the organization wanted Isaiah Canaan to step into the starting slot, it was obvious from Day 1 that Smith was better suited there. Smith might well have secured a spot here as a backup, with his quickness and court vision, provided the team acquires a starting point guard in the offseason.

"I don't know," Smith said with a laugh when asked whether he thinks he's found a home. "I don't ever really think about it. I kind of just play and let the chips fall where they may. For me, it's getting better every quarter, every minute, figuring out what coach wants, and we'll see from there this summer.

"It hasn't been bad, but I can still play a whole lot better. It's still another level I'm trying to reach, and even when I get to that level, there's another level I'm trying to reach. So it has been good. At the same time, I'm still pushing and pressing to get better. This is a good situation. This is the first time I think I've played a lot of minutes. A lot of people ask for opportunities. I'm just glad I'm able to be productive in those minutes."

He has been that, with averages of 12.4 points and six assists, both career highs, by far.

As with Smith, Robinson won't allow himself to get too comfortable, as he is now with his fourth team in 3 years. The former fifth overall pick out of Kansas seems to have the on-court intangibles that would make him a valuable reserve - high energy, a physical presence at both ends of the court and a habit of grabbing rebounds in traffic. He would seem to be a perfect backup next season to Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. Whether teams soured on him in the past for other reasons, he doesn't know. He seems to be close to letting out a big sigh and allowing his feet to get firmly planted here, but, again, he's been down that path in Sacramento, Houston and Portland, only to be shipped out. Comfort is not a luxury Robinson will allow himself to afford. But the Sixers certainly intrigue him.

"I just want to be a part of whatever it is they've got going on as far as rebuilding," Robinson said." Nerlens is a superstar-caliber player in the making. Like I said before, many times, Nerlens will be a go-to scorer in this league at some point. What I do is just to feed off guys like that, and do what I do, and bring it to the table. Hopefully, it correlates to what Nerlens does and what Joel does, too, next year, that it can be a good three-man rotation.

"I got a better opportunity to play here, so more came out, and I showed a little bit more of what I could do, obviously. I never felt that [I couldn't play], that's other people's opinion. I can't really take too much thought on what other people think how I'm playing. I just have to keep working, and that's what I was doing the whole time I was at those other places. I never stopped working, even though I wasn't playing. I knew my chances would come one day. I'm not saying it happened already, but it's a start."

The road would appear to be a bit harder for Canaan, who was acquired in a trade with the Houston Rockets for K.J. McDaniels. It became apparent early that while he has the talent to score, Canaan doesn't possess the other point-guard skills coach Brett Brown is looking for. Canaan is a shoot-first player and doesn't make the best decisions with the ball in his hands.

"Can he grow to a point guard intellect? Can he keep the game in front of him defensively? Because he can shoot," Brown said. "And when you say what's his identifiable NBA skill, what does he do well? He can shoot. And when you start saying that now you have Joel Embiid, you better get some shooters around that post player. Maybe he ends up one of them. Time will tell with the draft and other things that Sam [Hinkie] will figure out. To date, he's come in and been a good teammate, and he's shown that he can shoot."

Sixers (18-61) at Chicago Bulls (47-32)

When: Tomorrow, 8 p.m.

Where: United Center, Chicago

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: The Sixers' last road game of the season could be a little tough, as the Bulls are gearing up for the playoffs and welcomed back point guard Derrick Rose on Wednesday. Plus, Nerlens Noel probably won't make the trip because of a sprained ankle.

Milwaukee Bucks (38-40) at Sixers

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: This is the return of point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who has struggled since being dealt to Milwaukee at the trade deadline but did have 30 points and eight assists in a loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.

Miami Heat (35-44) at Sixers

When: Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM)

Game stuff: The season closes with this one, and there could be some draft pick implications going on. Coach Brett Brown is adamant about having his team enter the summer with an upbeat attitude. He will want to win this one.

62-for-127: Since Jan. 31, that's what Hollis Thompson is shooting from three-point range. That's 48.8 percent.

40.7: That's the Sixers' shooting percentage for the season. That is the worst for a season since 1998-99, when Chicago finished 40.1 and New Jersey was 40.6

17: That's how many times this season Robert Covington has made four or more threes in a game. That's the most since Kyle Korver did it 27 times in 2004-05.

On Twitter: @BobCooney76