The Sixer Sense
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How the Center Position Needs to Improve in 2016 for Sixers

Josh Wilson|
Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Jahlil Okafor (right) watch from the bench during the final minutes of a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Jahlil Okafor (right) watch from the bench during the final minutes of a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) takes a pass during shooting drills prior to playing Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) takes a pass during shooting drills prior to playing Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Nerlens Noel has a lot of individual improvements to make, but some fans seem to be overlooking that, compared to how hard they grade Okafor, especially since Noel has more experience than Okafor. Noel is a solid defender, especially in the paint, but can do almost no damage offensively from beyond a 5-foot radius from the rim.

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This can be a huge issue, especially since there are other players on the Sixers with the same issue. Ben Simmons himself can’t really finish shots if they aren’t at the rim. So if you have two players on the floor who can’t do much scoring away from the rim, you’re bound to have spacing issues.

Last summer Noel was reportedly working on his jump-shot in his hometown in New England, but when the regular season came around, it certainly wasn’t an evident improvement. Nerlens shot 30 percent from the field between 3 and 16 feet away from the hoop, and dropped down to 23 percent in between 16 feet and the 3-point line. Miraculously, because of only two attempted 3-pointers all season, he shot 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Although Noel has shown improvement in the past with catching passes (when he came into the league he had huge butter finger issues) he does need to continue to improve that. He seems sloppy when he’s going to catch the ball, and when he gets the ball, if he moves rapidly, he’s likely good for a turnover, somehow launching the ball 15 rows into the crowd.

Lastly, I’d like to see Noel do more off of the ball besides pick-and-roll. When he’s not setting a screen or waiting near the hoop for a lob or rebound, it seems like he just stands there. He needs to add some motion into his game, and build his stamina so that his body has the capabilities to add that layer to his game.

Next: Richaun Holmes