Sixers Must Seriously Analyze Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid Pairing
The regular narrative surrounding Nerlens Noel was always whether the Sixers would pay him big money to be a second center, but his play with Joel Embiid could shake up that sentiment.
The Sixers front court has been the center of attention for quite some time. With a boiling point seemingly on the horizon, yet another wrinkle has come into play. In the Sixers win over Minnesota, the team was sparked by the debut pairing of Embiid and Noel.
Noel and Embiid were able to handle the Minnesota front court defensively, as expected. Both players versatility in switching off the ball was able to frustrate the flow of the offense.
More surprisingly was the offensive abilities shown between Embiid and Noel. Embiid’s passing ability was shown with Noel’s ability to free himself up in the lane.
It was a pleasant surprise seeing a pair of big men work well in game, as Embiid and Okafor has struggled to gel in their short time together on the court. Granted, the Minnesota game was a very small sample, but it was a step in the right direction for Noel. The Embiid effect will is a new wrinkle in the Sixers’ personnel decision.
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Building around a star is a new philosophy for the Sixers. If Noel is indeed a viable option next to Embiid, it may be worthwhile considering throwing a huge chunk of change to him as he enters restricted free agency. The Sixers must carefully analyze the pairing.
The trade deadline is quickly approaching, and if the team wants to assess the value of Noel to this team, it’d be wise to play the pair as often as possible.
The next slate of games will be intriguing. The Sixers play a free-range Boston front court next, and after that a struggling Brooklyn Nets squad. Of course, the return of Ben Simmons is on the horizon, and with tall ball still being experimented, Noel’s playing time will hinge on a staggering lineup where he comes off the bench to play next to Embiid.
It’s imperative the Sixers take a long look at this pairing. Noel’s worth to the team could increase incredibly if the duo is consistently successful. For once, it’s not a Noel versus Okafor scenario. This is a Noel next to Embiid situation.
It’s refreshing to see a new debate take the forefront. Could Noel now be worth the money to a loaded Sixers front court? Or is his role with the team still not enough? The waiving of Hollis Thompson also plays a part to this.
The Sixers are most likely freeing a roster spot up in preparation for 10-day contract season. But it also could be a move for a deal in the works. Either way, Noel’s future with the team gets two wrinkles in two days.
The Embiid-Okafor experiment will get more looks, as it should. But this Noel-Embiid pairing should not be overlooked. Moving forward, the rotations from Brett Brown could foreshadow the roster moves.