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Sixers see Noel as a center

The 76ers have experimented with playing Noel at the power forward position, but Brett Brown doesn’t think that is his best fit.

PHOENIX – The 76ers have experimented some with playing Nerlens Noel at the power forward position. But coach Brett Brown doesn't think that is his best fit.

"I think right now, it's a five," Brown said. "I feel that we're going to have to do the right thing by him and grow his game, which will allow him to better play alongside Joel Embiid."

Embiid is a rookie center out of Kansas. The 7-footer could miss the entire season while rehabilitating his right foot after being selected overall in June's NBA draft.

"If you ask him, he would say, 'I'm K.G. [Kevin Garnett] or Amar'e [Stoudemire] and not Tyson Chandler,' and over the course of time of time I think that we do have to grow his game where he can shoot a 17-, 18-foot shot," Brown said of Noel. "That's a ways away, but I think that is in him."

The 6-11, 217-pounder averages 7.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.67 steals and 1.37 blocks.

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