Philly Sports Jabronis
By Max Rappaport, Sixers.com
INDIANAPOLIS –– Sixers head coach Brett Brown said before Wednesday’s 103-91 opening-night loss in Indiana that it feels as if “a thousand years” have passed since his team upset the Heat to tip off last season.
The team’s roster has undergone a drastic transformation then, and with Michael Carter-Williams unavailable to start the 2014-15 season because of an injured right shoulder, not a single player who started against the Pacers did so the season prior against Miami. Likewise, only six of the 15 players currently on the Sixers’ roster were with team to start last season.
One year ago, Nerlens Noel watched Philadelphia season opener from the end of the team’s bench, wearing a freshly fitted Italian suit as he watched his teammate and childhood friend, Carter-Williams, flirt with a quadruple-double in his debut game. It would be naïve to judge the 6’11” big man’s first outing with the Sixers against the unrealistic standard set by Carter-Williams last season, but an up-and-down performance from Noel against Indiana should give fans a taste of the impact he can eventually make, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
In 35 minutes of action, the 20-year-old scored six points to go along with game-highs in rebounds (10) and blocks (3). Noel showed some rust on the offensive end, going 2-of-11 from the field and 2-of-6 from the free-throw line, but he made his presence felt in other facets of the game and was one of only three Sixers with a positive plus-minus rating. Noel drew a team-high five personal fouls and finished second to Tony Wroten in defensive rating at 96.6.
Standout Performer
In the absence of Michael Carter-Williams, head coach Brett Brown has taxed third-year combo guard Tony Wroten with taking on the majority of the team’s ballhandling duties. On Wednesday, the often-frenetic playmaker answered the call. He led all scorers with 22 points against the Pacers, also dishing out a game-high seven assists and notching eight rebounds and three steals. Perhaps most impressive, though, was the fact that Wroten, who had a near 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, committed just one against the Pacers.
Sneaky Good Stats
Coach Brown often talks about the importance of stopping the fast break and of protecting the paint. On Wednesday, the Sixers held a 67-45 advantage in those two categories. Philadelphia turned the ball over just 11 times against Indiana, with primary ballhandlers Tony Wroten and Alexey Shved combining for just one giveaway to 12 total assists.
Quotables
“We’re not worried about what’s on paper. They put the ball out there for a reason, to play 48 minutes. Every game, we come out to play hard and try to win.” – G Tony Wroten on the team playing with a chip on its shoulder
“I thought that [Chris Johnson] had an excellent game from a defensive standpoint, and Tony [Wroten] had some signs of just real athletic brilliance attacking the rim.” – Brett Brown on standout performers
“I just played more disciplined. I didn’t reach, just stayed in front of guys… I’m a rookie in this league, and those calls are going to happen.” – Nerlens Noel on staying on the floor despite picking up two fouls in the opening minutes of the game
