The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Will Nerlens Noel Play Minutes Enough To Impress NBA?

By Bret Stuter

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown reacts to a basket by Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (not pictured) during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown reacts to a basket by Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (not pictured) during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

Quality over Quantity rules still apply

While Noel is fighting the battle of quantity playing minutes via the media, his real fight is getting quality minutes. Shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is getting playing time, but at a level which equates to an NBA scrimmage. Noel needs competitive minutes, in competitive games.  But right now, it’s Noel who needs to catch up to the team in terms of the playbook, game shape, and competitive hunger.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown is neither vindictive nor foolish. He understands that the most recent game in the NBA carries untold weighting. Noel just wants to play. Brown wants Noel to play well.

And so the onus remains on Noel to learn the playbook and know it instinctively. Noel must get himself up to playing shape.  Noel’s desire to play cannot take a higher priority than the team’s best five at any given moment. Coming off injury, solitude, and emotional outbursts, Noel does not represent one of the best five for many scenarios.