The Sixer Sense
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Can Joel Embiid Resolve Nerlens Noel Drama?

By Bret Stuter

Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with center Jahlil Okafor (8) during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with center Jahlil Okafor (8) during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Change Of Plans Fella’s!

And so, head coach Brett Brown tried to fuse the skills of Noel and Okafor on the fly.  The sudden appearance of Okafor threw Brown for a loop. Perhaps he was not among the inner circle. Perhaps he was already under duress for the team committing to Carl Landry, Tony Wroten, Kendall Marshall, Robert Covington, and the vacuum at point guard plugged by T.J. McConnell and eventually filled by Ish Smith at Christmas 2015.

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It was no wonder that the head coach did not have sufficient time to assess and develop the chemistry between Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. The team simply had too many other major fires to put out, and the embers of Okafor/Noel compatibility was pushed to the back burner.

Stick To The Plan

Since the plan was already in place to put Nerlens Noel out on the four, it was a simple and logical conclusion that Jahlil Okafor could align at the center position and commit Nerlens Noel to the power forward role.

However, the polarity of the two players were reversed from conventional NBA strategy. Traditionally, the better defensive player remains at center, serving as a rim-protector, and defending the basket. Likewise, the better offensive option traditionally plays power forward. While still owning some defensive responsibilities at the post, the power forward has more shot options from mid-range and even from the perimeter – leading to the term “stretch four”.

Right players, wrong roles.  What could be done?