Sixers' Okafor working to neutralize the double team
CLEVELAND Jahlil Okafor knows life in the NBA is going to get harder. The 76ers rookie center made things look easy on the offensive end, scoring 20.3 points per game through the first four games.
CLEVELAND – Jahlil Okafor knows life in the NBA is going to get harder.
The 76ers rookie center made things look easy on the offensive end, scoring 20.3 points per game through the first four games.
"The more I play, the more teams see me play, the more they start scouting my tendencies," said Okafor, following an early morning shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena for Friday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"So I'm just trying to take into account that I have gotten some pretty good games, but I know the scouting is going to get harder," he added. "That's why I'm trying to get sharper in practice and key in on certain things."
Okafor was double-teamed just about every time he touched the ball in Wednesday's setback in Milwaukee. His main focus now is studying to find teammates on the floor when he's being double-teamed.
Injury update
Brett Brown said three weeks ago that Kendall Marshall could return at the earliest in November from a right anterior cruciate ligament tear. He added that Tony Wroten would be sidelined with the same injury at least until December.
The coach was asked after Friday's shootaround for an update on the return status of the point guards.
"I don't know," he said. "I really don't know. It's a ways away. It's like not even on my mind. . . . Stick with whatever we said [before]."
Undrafted rookie point guard T.J. McConnell is playing well as the starting point guard. Meanwhile, Phil Pressey, who joined the team Wednesday, fills a need as his backup.
But before McConnell's emergence, a lot of talk centered on the much-needed return of Marshall and Wroten.
"That thing that's coming, truly, is such a distance thought to me," Brown said. "I just care about this next month. What does that represent, 13 games or 14 games? You know it is a big number."
Noel in elite company
Nerlens Noel is showing signs that he can become an elite all-around player.
The Sixers power forward joined Anthony Davis, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard and Al Horford as the only players with at least 40 rebounds, eight blocks, seven assists and five steals in their team's first four games since the 2011-12 campaign.
Noel ranked sixth in rebounding (10.8) and is tied 10th in blocks (2.0). The 6-foot-11, 223-pounder also averages 13.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals heading into Friday's contest.
@PompeyOnSixers