The Good:
- Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel played basketball in a real game that counted as teammates for the first time since their AAU days. In two games since returning, last season’s Rookie of the Year is averaging 16 points per game in 28.5 minutes played.
- The Sixers led for the majority of the game against a playoff team, the Houston Rockets. They fell apart late (more on that in the ugly section), but showed that there is a win, or 10-15, in them somewhere.
- It was that kind of week that something like this makes the “Good” section: Brett Brown says they’ve been practicing hard and no one is wasting days. That’s all.
The Bad:
- Several media members claim that Brett Brown pulled Carter-Williams aside to tell him to get back on defense quicker. Carter-Williams then pointed to the scoreboard, which indicated the Sixers were about to lose by 50+ points (123-70 was the final). While human nature makes the 23-year old’s attitude, from Brett Brown’s perspective, one of the things we can show out of the season that he gets his players to play hard. Without that, he doesn’t have much to show for his time here thus far.
- The Houston game demonstrated something the Sixers need to eventually address in their rebuilding plan: they need someone that can put the ball in the basket. MCW seemingly is sufficient as a distributor, but asking him to take the final shot is just not a fair expectation for him; that is not his game. In his two attempts Friday, he lost the handle on the dribble and then missed a jump shot. The Sixers have their big men, their point guard, and likely some bench pieces. But eventually, a scorer needs to enter the picture.
The Ugly:
- Everything about Thursday’s 53 point loss. From the jump it was ugly, including the fact that Noel and Carter-Williams were promoted to be playing together, but would have to come off the bench. “Hey fans, we’ll give you a reason to watch a little bit longer than you thought and you will have to wait until they come off the bench!” Then the fact that by the time they get settled into the game, you realized there was no chance whatsoever the Sixers would come within 30 points. Then, factor in MCW seemingly quitting on defense and it was a brutal night.
- Brett Brown’s technical foul in Houston. That really killed any momentum the Sixers had at that point, and the second it happened, you kind of got the feeling that the Sixers were no longer going to win the game. If you didn’t see it, here’s video of the play and ensuing technical foul, below. You've got to love Marc Zumoff's reaction.
Around the NBA:
- Kobe Bryant, after attempting 24 first-half field goals, scored 44 points against the Warriors. They still lost by 21 points.
- Houston, two days after struggling with the Sixers, shot 28.8% from the field and still managed to win against the decimated Thunder.
- The Knicks snapped a seven-game losing streak, as J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony each dropped 28 points against their former team, the Nuggets.
- Cleveland, in a 127-94 thrashing of the Hawks, made their first 11 three-point attempts. They became the first team in NBA history to make 9 of 9 or better in a single quarter. Maybe one day Trevor Ariza will accomplish that feat himself against the Sixers.
