The Sixer Sense
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76ers Brown Pulls Plug On Power Forwarding Jahlil Okafor

By Bret Stuter

Jan 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) reacts with head coach Brett Brown after his score during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) reacts with head coach Brett Brown after his score during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brett Browns Dilemma

"“I think it’s one thing for me to sit here and beat my chest and say we’re going to persevere and we’re going to grow these two young guys, and it’s another thing to be too reckless and say ‘Jahlil go guard these high flyers and three point [shooters].  I don’t think Jahlil can guard chase guys (like) the Rudy Gays, Kevin Loves.  I don’t think he can do it. Nerlens can better do it,” Brown continued. “That’s never been him. And I think foot speed and his body right now won’t allow it. Every sort of gut feel, if you’re just trying to win the championship now, says you’d split them up and off we go,” “You have two great 5 men and you pair them up with the point guards and sprinkle shooters around them and life’s nice. But that’s not my place now. My place is to develop these guys and try to grow them and give it a chance,” Brown continued. “It comes with pain as a team, and at times with the individuals because they’re out of position at times, but to just say ‘You’re not this and you’re never going to be this’ at 21 years old is just so reckless and wrong and naive on my part.”"

If the Sixers had solid and consistant perimeter shooting, the team could theoretically make this work. Flashes of potential have ignited in Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas, and even Isaiah Canaan. But the gust of the next game seemingly has extinguished their shooting proficiency, and the team is back to moving the ball down the court, feeding to the post man Okafor, and hoping it works.

With a 4-36 record, that success rate is pretty bleak.

Next: Jahlil Okafor Does Post Game Well