Shootaround Report: 10/21 @ Heat

The following storylines were ones that emerged from the Sixers' morning shootaround on Friday, October 21st. They play the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena at 7:30 PM EST.Okafor UpgradedThursday, Jahlil Okafor was listed as “doubtful” for the Sixers' pre-season finale versus the Miami Heat. Friday morning, however, he participated fully in the team's shootaround. It was then announced that his status had been bumped up to “questionable.”Brett Brown said he feels “great” and “wonderful” about the prospect of playing Okafor Friday, and that he “absolutely” expects the big man to be out there.”Nobody's walking on pins and needles,” said Brown. “We feel like we've done our due diligence. We feel like we haven't skipped steps, and now is Jahlil's chance to enjoy the work that he has put in to arrive at an NBA season at the best shape of his life.”Okafor hasn't appeared in a contest of any kind since February 28th, when he dropped 26 points on Orlando. Right knee pain and a minor meniscus tear would end up sidelining him for the rest of his rookie campaign. “I'm excited about the opportunity, my teammates are excited, which is a great feeling, coaches are excited,” Okafor said Friday. He reported that movement in his knee felt fluid, and that he intended to meet with the medical staff at the Sixers' hotel before Friday's game. A collective decision would then be reached. “It feels like a debut again,” said Okafor. “I'm just ready to be back out there. I haven't  played, so it feels like a very long time. I'm happy I'll be able to get a game in in pre-season before the home opener.”  On Monday, Okafor took part in full-court, five-on-five activities for the first time since training camp.Rodriguez to StartAs he did last Saturday in the Sixers' 97-76 pre-season loss to Detroit, Sergio Rodriguez will receive the starting point guard assignment Friday in Miami. “He's a veteran point guard,” said Brett Brown. “I think that he's getting better, and better actually with our NBA defensive schemes and expectations. I hope that the house we've put him in is one that allows him to be Sergio Rodriguez, too. I think he's starting to learn how to most impact the game with the offensive structure that we put in there.”Rodriguez is averaging 5.8 assists per game, eighth best in the NBA this preseason. He is one of two players in the top eight to average fewer than 22.0 minutes per game, with Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook being the other.Brand Brings Group TogetherDespite announcing Thursday afternoon his intent to retire upon the conclusion of the preseason, Elton Brand accompanied the Sixers on their trip to Miami. In perhaps one final gesture of veteran leadership as an active player, he organized a team dinner later that evening, once the club had gotten settled in South Florida.”To get an entire NBA team under one roof at one dinner table in the city of Miami is an unbelievable effort,” said Brown. “It's just an incredible reflection of what the team thinks of Elton Brand. They were all in.”