Sixers missing the point

IT IS KIND of ironic that when Michael Carter-Williams returns to Philadelphia tonight to face the team that he won the rookie of the year award with last season, the 76ers might not have a point guard available to play.

Ish Smith, the team's only lead guard on the roster due to the season-ending foot injury to Isaiah Canaan, missed Saturday's game against Chicago with a groin strain and is a game-time decision against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Sixers' fans were excitedly watching the play of MCW and dreaming of a future that included him and Nerlens Noel, along with several unknown future high draft picks.

But Carter-Williams was dealt to Milwaukee in a shocking move at the trade deadline that landed the Sixers a first-round pick. In his 111 games with the team, MCW posted 16 averages of points, 6.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds. He also was leading the league in turnovers this season while with the Sixers (4.2) and hadn't improved in the area of his game that needed it the most, his shooting (38 percent from the floor, 25.6 percent from three with Sixers this season).

His move to Milwaukee has been lukewarm for the Bucks. The team has gone just 8-14 in the 22 games MCW has played and his numbers haven't exactly jumped off the stat sheets. He has averaged 13.8 points, 5.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 turnovers for coach Jason Kidd. He also continues to struggle with turnovers (3.4) and his shooting (41.2 percent from the floor, 4-for-26 from threes).

Still, he has moved to a team that is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, just 1 year after posting the worst record in the league (15-67). And the Bucks have done it almost all season without Jabari Parker, the No. 2 overall pick who played just 25 games before tearing the ACL in his left knee.

Whatever the reasoning, since MCW's departure, Noel's game has improved for the Sixers. In the 26 games since Carter-Williams was dealt, the 6-11, 220-pounder has averaged 13.1 points and 10 rebounds, up from the 8.2 points and 7.2 rebounds while MCW was here. He has also been more active at the defensive end and appears to be becoming more of a leader on the floor.

Who will ultimately become MCW's replacement at the point for the Sixers is still to be determined and it may very well be addressed in June's draft. In the meantime, Carter-Williams will be matched against the likes of JaKarr Sampson or Hollis Thompson at the point if Smith is unable to go again.

What a difference a year makes.

Along with Ish Smith, Nerlens Noel (sprained ankle) and Luc Mbah a Moute (shoulder) missed Saturday's 114-107 loss in Chicago. Noel and Mbah a Moute have been ruled out tonight when the Sixers host the Milwaukee Bucks . . . While most of the players, and maybe even some coaches, are eyeing the end of the season, which comes Wednesday, guard Jason Richardson wouldn't mind playing a few more. In 11 games after scoring 29 in Oklahoma City in early March, Richardson shot just 23.1 percent from the floor (21-for-91), including 8-for-47 (17 percent) from three. In his past two games, however, Richardson is 13-for-20 from the floor and has made eight of his last 13 shots from three.

Blog: ph.ly/Sixerville