Some thoughts and observations left over from the 76ers’ most recent game, a 95-91 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday at Vivint.SmartHome Arena.
Monday’s confrontation between the 76ers and Utah featured some dramatic swings. At the outset of the game, the Jazz were in control, knocking down their first seven shots, en route to establishing a commanding 37-23 advantage by first quarter’s end. Utah nailed 12 of its 21 field goal attempts in the period, and planted the seeds for a pivotal theme in the contest by generating 11 free throw attempts. The Sixers, by comparison, took just two foul shots in the opening frame. Despite confronting a 14-point margin through 12 minutes of play, the Sixers stayed together. In particular, the team elevated its defensive focus, which allowed the Sixers to ultimately get back in the game. Between the second and fourth quarters, the Sixers limited the Jazz to 58 points. During this time frame, Utah connected on a mere 16 total field goals (remember, the Jazz sunk 12 buckets alone in the first quarter), while shooting 25.4 percent from the field. The Sixers made their most substantial move in the third quarter. Down 68-49, Richaun Holmes and Ish Smith combined to generate the first 19 points of a 33-10 burst that powered the Sixers to their first lead. They were in possession of 82-78 edge early in the fourth quarter, marking a 25-point swing on the scoreboard. “We just got a little more gritty,” said Nerlens Noel, who posted 10 of his season-high-tying 18 points in the second half. “They were getting too many offensive rebounds. They started getting to the basket and hitting open shots. We knew that we had to get something going to get back in the game.” The Jazz, however, boast a strong defensive track record themselves. Before getting hit with a slew of injuries in the month of December, Utah had held opponents to 94.0 points per game. At the time, that figure was third-best in the NBA. After the Sixers built up their four-point advantage in the fourth quarter, the Jazz would keep the Sixers without a point for nearly 5:20, and reclaim the lead. Still, down 93-91 with 20 seconds left in regulation, the Sixers had an opportunity to tie, or go back in front. Ish Smith, getting Rodney Hood to commit on a pump fake, was presented with a leaner just beneath the left elbow. It hit off the heel of the rim. “You want me to be honest?,” Smith said afterwards. “How I missed that last shot? I’m not happy about that one. I think that was probably the easiest shot I had all night. It looked like it was between a bank shot and going straight in.” “Overall, that was great,” said Smith of the Sixers’ effort. “We just kept gutting it out, kept grinding, kept grinding, kept pushing. That is a positive for our team. Grit and grinding, keep pushing and pressing. You can’t say enough about how we played.”Smith deposited a season-best 22 points, and handed out 11 assists for his sixth double-double of the year. Five of those helpers went to Nerlens Noel, who punched in eight of his nine field goal tries. “I think we showed resilience like we should have,” Noel said. “When we got down, guys stuck together, rallied, and talked about the little things that we need to focus on, turnovers and defensive rotations. I’m proud of my team.”Noel tallied a season-best five blocked shots. The 33.3 field goal percentage that he and his teammates yielded to Utah represented a season-low for the Sixers. They also surrendered 95 points or less for the first time since their 103-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 1st.
The Sixers’ past two games have certainly represented one of the strongest stretches of the season for Nerlens Noel. In roughly 61 minutes between Saturday’s visit to Phoenix, and Monday’s stop in Salt Lake City, the second-year big man manufactured a total of 32 points, hit 14 of his 16 field goal attempts, shot 4-6 from the free throw line, snagged 17 rebounds, swiped five steals, and posted seven blocked shots. The only other juncture of the season in which Noel has seemed so consistently energetic and productive was the opening week of the campaign, when he averaged 14.2 points (43.1 fg), 11.0 rebounds, and posted 10 steals and 10 blocks through his first five outings. The two most evident factors that have emerged amidst Noel’s current spurt is that 1). Ish Smith, with whom Noel teamed so well a year ago, has returned, with the duo recreating its effective pick-and-roll pairing, and 2). with Jahlil Okafor resting his sore right knee the past two contests, Noel has been re-assigned from power forward, now his primary position, to center, the spot that he occupied for the majority of his rookie season. Brett Brown recognizes that Noel, who’s also had to battle some nagging injuries, hasn’t been dealt the simplest of hands this season, and is encouraged by the Kentucky product’s recent output.”This thing that you’re seeing with our point guard, nobody’s got hurt more than Nerlens Noel out of going from a ‘five’ [center position] to a ‘four’ [power forward] offensively, going from a five to a four defensively, growing a point guard,” said Brown on Monday, adding that Noel has “made the most sacrifices out of anybody on this team. But I see, look at him, his spirit hasn’t wavered at all. He’s fantastic.””Obviously it’s been different,” Noel said of his sophomore NBA season. “I’ve been working to find my niche at each position I’ve been put in. Especially with a point guard like Ish, I think even no matter what position I really play, it will help me. Ish just brings a whole different dynamic. Now we’re just trying to solidify things, and I think we’ll figure it out now that Ish is back.”After developing a rapport in 23 contests together last February through April, Noel and Smith stayed in touch between Smith’s two stints with the Sixers. “We talked every-so often,” said Noel. “We’re great friends. We get along great. Ish is just a down to earth kid that’s very lovable. You love that in a guy, especially a point guard that’s having the ball in his hands so often.”Now reunited, and already familiar with one another, Noel believes the partnership will produce an even greater payoff.”We’ve already been touching on some things that even more pick and rolls. Last year, I think we just had it so naturally. This year, I feel like it’s something we can build on, and he learned some things in the past year that are going to help the both of us. I think we’ll be even a better one-two punch for the rest of this year.”
