Inside the 76ers: Brown working on getting Noel and Okafor to thrive together
LOS ANGELES - By now, most 76ers fans have their preference. Some think the team needs to keep Nerlens Noel at center and try to trade Jahlil Okafor. Others believe it's time to do the opposite. The popular belief is that two post players can't effectively coexist on the floor.
LOS ANGELES - By now, most 76ers fans have their preference.
Some think the team needs to keep Nerlens Noel at center and try to trade Jahlil Okafor. Others believe it's time to do the opposite. The popular belief is that two post players can't effectively coexist on the floor.
Brett Brown is not one of those people. The 76ers coach is far from ready to give up on playing the two 6-foot-11 post players.
But he sees what everyone else sees, and, as a result, Brown realizes their working together is a challenge. It's one that he's determined to tackle.
"If we can really get these guys comfortable on spacing with each other to give those shooters or Ish Smith the driving lanes, it's one of those 'have-tos' that we touch every single day," Brown said.
Brown is looking at four areas: How do Noel and Okafor space if a ball goes to a post? If one of them goes to a middle pick-and-roll, where's the other? If one of them goes to a sideline pick-and-roll, where's the other? And then, how do they space on a normal drive-and-dish?
"How do you get spacing . . . in those four areas," Brown said. "And if you can just make it pristine, perfect, then the space that those two can create will let everybody coexist.
"It's a challenge."
A major one, at that, considering they haven't been able to do it.
For a while, the popular belief was that it was a result of Noel's regressing. Then the Sixers reacquired Smith, a point guard, from New Orleans on Christmas Eve. Two days later, Noel, who had been playing power forward, started at center against the Phoenix Suns while Okafor missed the first of two games with a sore right knee.
Suddenly, we realized that Noel hasn't regressed at all. He's just less comfortable and less active as a power forward with Okafor on the floor.
Noel had elevated his game over the last four contests, going into Saturday night against the Clippers, as the starting center while playing with Smith. Noel started at center the first two games because of Okafor's absence. Because of his stellar play in those games, he remained there even though the Sixers went to a small-ball lineup in the next three, including Saturday night against the Clippers. Noel had been coming off the bench in those situations before this road trip.
Before Smith returned, the 21-year-old Noel was averaging 9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.04 blocks. He averaged 16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 2.5 blocks in four games before Saturday.
Brown was asked whether he sees Noel staying at center.
"I think he's fluid," the coach said. "I think he's a free safety. He will go back and forth. It's going to be what's required on the night."
Two factors will play into Brown's decision.
"First . . . growing those two [as players]. And a very close second: How do you go win?" Brown said. "But it goes in that order. How do I grow my young guys? How do you go win a game?"
Defensively, Noel can do certain things that Okafor can't at center. However, Okafor has an offensive skill set not seen in an NBA rookie since Tim Duncan came into the league in 1997-98.
Okafor was averaging 17.3 points before missing the two games. His numbers have been down since returning in a reserve role in small-ball situations. But he has still been effective. The 20-year-old had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings. Then Okafor finished with 12 points in 24 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Brown has the tough task of trying to make this work.