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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Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers special advisor Jerry Colangelo (L) goes over first quarter stats with owner Joshua Harris (R) during a timeout against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. The Spurs won 119-68. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers special advisor Jerry Colangelo (L) goes over first quarter stats with owner Joshua Harris (R) during a timeout against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. The Spurs won 119-68. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Colangelo Chaos

Everything became far more complicated with the arrival of Jerry Colangelo. You may recall that Jerry Colangelo was brought to the Philadelphia 76ers as a sort of NBA liason representing the Philadelphia 76ers ownership in assessing the impact, direction, and competitive results of moves made or proposed by then President Sam Hinkie.

At least that’s what we thought.

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    • In the end, the appearance of Jerry Colangelo served as nothing more than as a vanguard to ensure the eventual hiring of his son, Bryan Colangelo. But as he worked the idea into the consensus among the Philadelphia 76ers ownership, he was actively aligning the team away from certain defeat.

    Here Comes Colangelo’s Crew

    You may recall the timing of acquiring assistant coach Mike D’Antoni, point guard Ish Smith, and power forward Elton Brand following closely on the heels of his alignment with the Philadelphia 76ers organization.

    But you may have missed the subtle redirection of the team’s efforts to arrange the front court.  In a curious statement strategically made to the media, Jerry Colangelo stated point blank that Nerlens Noel would never be a power forward. The process design was for Nerlens Noel to pair up with Joel Embiid originally.  In one fell swoop, that plan was derailed.  And so, the remainder of games with a healthy Jahlil Okafor (he played in just ten games after the Groundhog day announcement by JC) found Jahlil Okafor attempting the power forward role.

    And then he fell to injury, and his season was over.