Coming into this season, we all knew things weren't going to be good. Heck, they were going to be worse. At the beginning of last year, we still had Thad, Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes. With those guys now departed, the 0-10 Sixers are 100% set on their plan to build something special with young players that include the likes of Joel Embiid, Michael Carter-Williams , Nerlens Noel and perhaps even Tony Wroten.
Now that MCW is getting back up to speed with things, the main storyline this season, by far, is Nerlens Noel being completely healthy. Noel missed all of last season after suffering an ACL injury in his only season with Kentucky, where he averaged 10.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg. The question is was the 24 games he played in at the college level enough to prepare him for the NBA? I'm really leaning towards no at this point. Yes, I am aware that he's only played eight games and is playing his first professional organized basketball in 20 months.
While I completely understand the severity of ACL injuries, Noel is healthy. His speed looks good on the court, but that is one of the only things that I have noticed. With the exception of a couple of emphatic blocks here and there, Noel hasn't really shown that he has a lot of basic basketball instinct in general.
First of all, the 6-11 F/C is going to need to bulk up a good bit if he plans to be an effective post player in the NBA. Going up against the likes of Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan and others are going to be a test that Noel won't be able pass if he doesn't put on some weight as the season moves along. When there is a cluster of guys near the net fighting for a rebound, Noel's presence has been almost non-existent. Occasionally, he just looks lost on defense.
Secondly, while I am aware that he is a defensive big-man and will develop as the year progresses, Nerlens needs to work on his offensive game…a lot. His hook shots miss by a good bit, he doesn't show the ability to hit 5-10 foot jumpers or to catch lob passes for an easy two while the team is in transition. He is clumsy when posting up a guy in the paint too.
Sixers coach Brett Brown says Nerlens needs confidence, which I agree should help, but his game is a long ways away from impressing anyone. The pressure is on him to deliver, but the coach needs to get that mindset out of Noel's head.
"They are both coming along slowly, especially Nerlens," Brown said after the game. "I have to find ways to help him and build his confidence and put him where he belongs. At times, I think he feels the weight of the world, and he has to deliver. That is unfair and not true.
"He has not played in so long. His path and progress are going to be very deliberate and slow. Michael you can see just by playing him he is starting to get a better feel, but Nerlens is going to take some time and our city needs to understand that. He is young, he hasn't played, and I am going to help him get to that next level." [CSNPhilly.com]
Last night, Noel finished with four points and six rebounds in the blowout loss to the Spurs. In his first two games of the season, he tallied 10+ rebounds in each, but has failed to do so in any game since then. He blocked six shots over the first two games as well, but since then he has six blocks over the last six games. Noel knows that he is better than his performance last night, but admits things just aren't going his way right now.
"I know what I am capable of doing, and I am playing within myself," Noel said. "Tonight things just weren't going my way. I am not getting it done. I know I am capable of playing many times better than what I am right now. I am doing my best to stay focused and confident.
"I do think we have to do a better job on the offensive end, finding guys in open areas and not doing too much especially with turnovers. We need to make the easy pass." [CSNPhilly.com]
Maybe eight games into the season is too early to judge Noel. I guess I just don't see much to look forward to with him. Right now, I think the best possible situation is if he develops into a Tyson Chandler type player.
I am a supporter of Sam Hinkie's plan and maybe it is too early to label Nerlens Noel as a bust, but I don't really have too much confidence in his abilities as a whole. At least not yet. I know it is a process, let's just hope that there is progress made during the process. Right now, he is just raw talent.
Through eight games, Noel is averaging 6.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Oh, and his hair is still awesome.
The Sixers welcome Evan Turner and the Celtics to the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night. Tip-off is slated for 7PM.
Brandon Apter is a writer for Sixerdelphia.com
