The Sixers may be ready to abandon their experiment of pairing Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor in the starting lineup, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The move has come under heavy criticism as Philadelphia is just 1-5 with both big men starting. Pompey notes that the pairing forces Embiid to play out of position at power forward, where he has looked uncomfortable on offense and often gets pulled away from the basket on defense. Embiid sat out Thursday’s game at Utah because it was the first of a back-to-back, and coach Brett Brown wouldn’t commit to starting him and Okafor tonight in Denver. “We’ll figure that out,” Brown said. “I feel like when you study the numbers, look at gut feel, it has not been, at the moment, successful.”
There’s more this morning out of Philadelphia:
- Backup big man Nerlens Noel played 22 minutes Thursday, the most court time he has seen this season, according to Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly. Since returning from a knee injury, Noel has been unhappy with his lack of minutes and has been a frequent critic of the team’s abundance of big men. While he is considered a likely candidate to be traded before the February 23rd deadline, Noel is trying to help the team however he can while still in Philadelphia. “I’m just thankful,” Noel said. “Coach gave me an opportunity and I wanted to go out there and play my game. That’s what my focus was the whole night. Whenever I was in there, I wanted to contribute to the team’s winning efforts. When I wasn’t, I wanted to support my teammates to the best of my ability.”
- Injuries have left T.J. McConnell as the only healthy point guard for tonight’s game, Pompey writes in a separate story. A sprained left ankle suffered by Sergio Rodriguez means McConnell will be in the starting lineup tonight, with shooting guard Nik Stauskas as his backup. What looked to be a position of strength in training camp has been decimated by Ben Simmons‘ broken foot and Jerryd Bayless‘ season-ending wrist surgery.
- Thursday’s Sixers-Jazz game was a reminder of the impact of international basketball, Pompey states in another story. The teams have a combined 14 players on their rosters from outside the United States. “Basketball is all over the world,” said Turkish native Ersan Ilyasova. “Obviously in Europe, it’s still more like a soccer thing. But still, a lot of kids play and follow basketball, especially the NBA.”
So I watch the games, since I’m a homer. But seriously, Noel needs an attitude adjustment. When he entered the 2nd with just 1:33 left in the game all he did was roll his eyes, shake his head, still look winded as heck, and then he criticizes the coach for not playing him during the half time interview. In the 1st Q he was SOOO gassed it wasn’t even funny. I was hoping the Sixers would have picked Gobert in 2013. Noel didn’t look like he was fighting for rebounds, 6 in 22 mins is not effort. There was a lot of standing around, too much for a guy that is complaining about playing time.
If that’s true I don’t want him anywhere near the celtics
Trade Okafor. He doesn’t fit with us.
Honestly, even if it is true, I still want him. The Celtics can make a run this year. Not finals obviously, but they can be the 2 seed and have a shot at a conference final with Cleveland that would have the potential to be close. If that means adding Noel, even if he’s a total snob, whatever. Keep him happy. It’s only for the rest of the season since he’s an RFA. If it’s a failed experiment, it’s a failed experiment. It’s not like he’s gonna cost the Brooklyn pick or anything.
I think Noel still has value but not currently to a playoff team. Guy is still struggling to put it all together and that won’t be helpful for a playoff push.
Celtics need a defensive minded big and Noel fills that role, and is probably the best player compared to cost who will be available.
Trade okafor and noel for a vet
If I am trading one, I trade Noel. Okafor can play a back-up role. Embiid is not going to avg more than 30 minutes. So you have 18-20 minutes of Okafor against mostly back-up 5s which he can dominate. At this point I don’t know what Noel’s value will be, but the Rockets and Blazers are two teams in need based on injuries.
Ideally you’d want someone like Patrick Beverley but Houston wants a 1st round pick + a Vet the last time he was on the block during the draft. So Noel + a 1st or a couple 2s?
Imagine how nice Porzingus would look next to Embiid as opposed to Okafor. And Holiday at point instead of Noel on the bench.
Trade both of them for a collection of future draft picks.give Holmes the backup minutes at c,and open up more minutes at the 4 for Saric.find a vet for leadership and insurance.we have a problem with spreading the minutes out now,and we still don’t have Simmons out there.I get we’re gonna try him out at pg,yet he’s gonna be a pg with a questionable shot.we’ve also experimented with Embiid and Noel at the 4,and Saric at the 3,and they’ve all played beneath their potential out of position.at this point we know who the future is at the 5,and we know neither of the other 2 are the future at the 4.it’s to obvious that we have to make a move,teams aren’t gonna cave to our demands.but we’ll probably wait,trade Holmes and watch Noel walk after the season.