Some thoughts and observations left over from the 76ers’ most recent game, a 103-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday at The Center.
Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel turned in arguably their most impressive and impactful performance as a tandem this season. The 40 combined points they tallied on Saturday matched their highest joint total yet. The young frontcourt contributors also teamed up for 40 points in the Sixers’ October 28th opener against the Boston Celtics. Additionally, their 21 dual rebounds stands as the second-highest haul the two have snagged in the same game. They grabbed 23 boards together on November 16th versus the Dallas Mavericks. Further underscoring the two-way effectiveness of Okafor and Noel on Saturday, they partnered to hit 17 of 27 field goal attempts, and sunk all six of their free throws. The pair each posted three blocked shots as well. Brett Brown was encouraged by the results he saw, as he continues to use Okafor and Noel in interchangeable defensive roles between center and power forward. “I think the big decision that we made was going with those two bigs down the stretch,” Brown said. He let personnel match-ups dictate his decisions. “You’re always confronted with the situation, how do you feel in your gut. It was, in my mind, more palatable. I thought the first half showed that Jahlil was doing a good job.”Okafor, whose highlight package can be found below, particularly stood out in the third quarter, when he dropped a dozen points. Tonight’s Jah-ighlights >>https://t.co/aHlb7cgqbB— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) February 7, 2016 With 22 points in all, Okafor reached the 20-point mark for a rookie class-leading 19th time this season. His 17 rebounds not only were a career-high, but matched Karl-Anthony Towns for the most caroms collected by a first-year player this season. Okafor’s double-double was his 10th, equaling Noel’s team-best total. Here are a few other statistical notes that emerged in the aftermath of Okafor’s performance:* Okafor’s 10 double-doubles are the second-most registered by a Sixer rookie through 45 career games. Charles Barkley had 15 double-doubles in his first 45 games in the 1984 – 1985 season. * Okafor has manufactured seven 20-point, 10-rebound showings through his first 45 games, the most ever for a Sixers player in that period of time. And a couple more nuggets from the newly-created, extremely informative @SixersStats Twitter account (which you should follow!):.@JahlilOkafor is first @Sixers rookie with 22p & 17r in a game since Charles Barkley had 29p & 18r against DET on 2/22/85, per @EliasSports— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) February 7, 2016 .@JahlilOkafor has 19 20-point games this season, incl. tonight. He leads all @NBA rookies w/ three more than @KarlTowns (16).— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) February 7, 2016 Noel himself felt comfortable with the assignments he and Okafor were given, saying, “I think it helps the team. Just personnel. I think me being around the rim keeps my shot blocking presence, especially in the pick-and-roll, when they usually bring a [center] up. I think it changes the game.”According to stats.nba.com, Okafor and Noel were on the floor together for 17 minutes. Brown indicated he is committed to finding out the best possible scenarios in which to use the Sixers’ top two post men.”That’s part of my job. We will continue to look at it.”
Tonight’s Jah-ighlights >>https://t.co/aHlb7cgqbB
.@JahlilOkafor is first @Sixers rookie with 22p & 17r in a game since Charles Barkley had 29p & 18r against DET on 2/22/85, per @EliasSports
.@JahlilOkafor has 19 20-point games this season, incl. tonight. He leads all @NBA rookies w/ three more than @KarlTowns (16).
Toughness, hustle, and scrappiness have so far come to define T.J. McConnell’s professional career. The undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona again exhibited those valued characteristics in essential fashion on Saturday while filling in for the injured Ish Smith at starting point guard. As welcomed as McConnell’s career-high tying 17 points were, his defense in the closing seconds proved critical to helping the Sixers’ seal their first Atlantic Division win of the season.McConnell’s night left his head coach impressed. “Wow,” Brett Brown said after the Sixers grinded out a five-point victory in a contest that featured 16 lead changes and 12 ties. “He was all over the place and disrupts so much. Whether it’s just picking up a ball carrier or blowing up a dribble hand-off or getting his hands on stuff in traffic — just all over the place.”McConnell himself spread credit around to his teammates.”As the season progresses, we’re going to be more comfortable with each other,” he said. “I think a lot of people made big plays, and that was the difference in the game.””He was inspirational,” said Brown of McConnell. “He ended up with 17 points and six assists. He did a great job, and I thought he was a big part of what we did [Saturday].”
