What We’ve Learned About This Season So Far
By Josh Wilson
Nov 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Wells Fargo Center. The Mavericks won 92-86. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nerlens Noel is still impactful
Through the first 10 games, Nerlens Noel was averaging 11.5 points, 1.4 blocks, 9.0 rebounds, and 32.3 minutes per game. Really, it doesn’t seem like a whole lot, especially when his counterpart in the front court is doing so much. But when Nerlens missed two straight games, the team obviously missed him.
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After getting ejected against the Orlando Magic, Nerlens missed two straight games due to a wrist injury, which appeared to possibly be because he hit a wall on his way out of getting ejected. Regardless of how he hurt the wrist, he had to miss time, and the Sixers really seemed to need him.
Okafor did well trying to make up for the rebounds that Noel would have offered, pulling in 22 in the two games that Noel missed.
The two games Noel missed proved to be two of the worst games of the season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Of course, they resulted in losses, but they lost by an average of 19.3. The absence of Noel was clear.
When Noel scored just two points against the Indiana Pacers, the Sixers played poorly. When Nerlens is around and doing well, the Sixers do well.
Although not extremely loud, Noel is quietly making an impact on this Sixers team, despite his stat line not showing a whole lot of production on the offensive side. It also points to Noel not getting shuffled out as Okafor grows, and him being a big part of the next chapter of this franchise.
Next: The team is full of surprises