The Sixer Sense
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Nerlens Noel: “We Gotta Be A Transition Team”

By Bret Stuter

Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia 76ers pulled a rare win from the Atlantic division leading Toronto Raptors. Nerlens Noel weighed in on what was needed to get that victory.

The thoughts of center Nerlens Noel must be a kalaidescope of optimism and pessimism, hopes and fears. You see, he’s now the player with the longest tenure on the Philadelphia 76ers roster, his contract expires at the end of this season, and he’s competing for playing time.

As he practiced to prepare for a game with the Toronto Raptors, he had some valuable insight as to the upcoming competition:

"Raptors are good. I think we need to stay disciplined. They shoot a high percentage from the three, they are top of the league. We’ll have to stay down on the shot fakes. On offense we have to run. We gotta be a transition team and get some easy buckets” – Nerlens Noel interviewed 17 January 2017"

Good Analysis

It was a good analysis, but it was a better game.  You see, the Philadelphia scored 20 of the team’s 94 points off turnovers.  Despite creating just 11 turnovers to surrendering the ball 22 times, the 76ers had the better fast break.

The 76ers blocked seven shots, pulled down 57 rebounds, and picked 5 steals.

“We Gotta Be A Transition Team”-Nerlens Noel

The Philadelphia 76ers were able to trust Joel Embiid‘s defense in the paint, and challenged
the Raptors three point shooters. The Raptors found they would only sink 25 percent from the perimeter, far below their season average of 38.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the 76ers performed much closer to their season average at 33.3 percent from three-point range.

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DEE Fense

The key to the game was the Philadelphia 76ers defense. While Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry got their points (49 combined), the Raptors could only score 40 points from the remainder of the team. It’s that lack of offensive punch which gives new urgency to the call for the Raptors to consider trading for the Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor.

Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers are winning without making any personnel moves. And as such, there is little pressure for the team to do so going forward.  It will take a persuasive offer to make things move along now.

Brett Brown is content. The Philadelphia 76ers are winning games. The 76ers defense is showing flashes of future brilliance. And the strategy of going big as the NBA goes small appears to be the right move.

Next: NBA All-Star Starting Lineups: Times, TV, Live Streaming

It will still be a long climb to the top.  But as Nerlens Noel said, we gotta be a transition team. Right now the 76ers are transitioning into a winner.