Philadelphia 76ers Brett Brown Continues Player Development

Despite the challenges of a losing more games than their roster shows they should, Philadelphia 76ers Brett Brown continues to develop players despite the ever increasing cries from fans to set a consistent starting lineup and stick with it.

The game was close. It went into overtime. It went into double overtime. But Jahlil Okafor sat.  The Sixers needed offense.  They squeezed out just enough to send the game against the New York Knicks into double overtime.  Still, he sat.  In fact, he sat through the fourth quarter and through both overtimes.   What gives?

Jahlil Okafor said all the right things. He was elated at the competitive nature of his teammates, but he was ready to play.

"“I was ready. I was staying ready, but the guys had it rolling,” Okafor said. “It was an exciting game. I’ve always been about the team. I’ve been around some really great organizations and it’s all about winning. That’s what we’re trying to do here and it was a great game.””"

Still, Jahlil Okafor was having a tremendous game on both sides of the court. Despite only playing 3 of the six periods, Okafor led the team with 20 points. He had seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and only one turnover. He had 26 minutes in the game, which was fifth behind Nerlens Noel (18 pts, 13 rebs), Robert Covington (11 pts, 5 rebs), Ish Smith (16 pts, 7 rebs), and Hollis Thompson (11 pts, 4 rebs). It’s a puzzler, particularly knowing that Okafor is the teams most prolific scorer.

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What did Brett Brown say afterwards?

"[It was] really difficult. But you looked on the floor, Ish and Nerlens had a thing going where we pick-and-rolled them, we got lobs, Ish made passes, we sprinkled shooters around it. I think Jahlil, when I kept looking over at him, you feel like is it going to be his time? And you never really felt like it was. I kept looking over there and he was an amazing teammate. First person off the bench, encouraging Nerlens. It was a very difficult decision, but that group was rolling and I didn’t see any fatigue and we rode them out.” – Brett Brown discusses keeping Okafor on the bench with game in balance"

Was it the success of the players on the court?  Was it something more.  There is a science behind the schemes in Philly.  They often have minutes restrictions on players returning to health.  In the games that Jahlil Okafor has returned from injury just after Christmas, he has amassed minutes per game: 20, 23, 18, 21, 27, 34, 32, 33, 29,26.  Has it had an effect?  Well, in the month of January he is shooting 61.5% from the floor, while his turnovers have fallen to 1.6 per game.  His season averages have been 48.8 % from the floor and turnovers at 2.3.   So the minute restrictions, if they are in effect, have benefited Okafor.  Are they hold him back?  It could appear that way.  But while there are those who appear to be held back, there are others have seized upon an opportunity to make an impact on an NBA roster.

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