WASHINGTON — Nerlens Noel used the words "true point guard" to describe the play of Ish Smith after Monday's loss to the Lakers. For those who thought the rookie center was taking a shot at former teammate Michael Carter-Williams, Noel said that was not the case.
"I would never do that," Noel said after Wednesday's shootaround at the Verizon Center. "He [Carter-Williams] is a playmaker. There are times when you need a scoring point guard, a guy who is going to get in the lane and create. That is the way the NBA is. When you are 6-foot-6, it is good that you utilize your length and ability to get to the basket. I would never take a shot at him.
"Everybody is different. Point guards in this league bring so much to the table, whether you are a playmaker or a pass-first guy. I think Ish is a pass-first, a different type of point guard."
Brett Brown shared Noel's sentiments and had multiple examples to describe a "true point guard" versus a "scoring point guard."
"It is somebody who really doesn't look to score as much as they look to pass," Brown said. "It is no knock. I was a true point guard. Jacque Vaughn was a true point guard. Speedy Claxton was a true point guard. Tony Parker is a scorer. Steph Curry is a scorer.
"They are all good. Everybody is just a little bit different, though they are all point guards. When I hear the words true point guard I just think they are looking to pass first and shoot second."
The Sixers face a scoring point guard in John Wall tonight. Wall leads his team in scoring and assists with 17.7 and 9.8, respectively.
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Wall's assists rank second in the league behind Chris Paul (10.1). Brown believes players like Wall and the Thunder's Russell Westbrook, who leads the NBA in scoring with 27.6 points per game, create for others because people have to respect their ability to score.
"John Wall, I think he is looking to put the heat on the rim and score often," Brown said. "That often instigates people getting open. You have to have a mindset to make plays. Things may collapse, and then they pass. We have seen Russell Westbrook this year go from being hell-bent on scoring to him having that same attack mentality but will come in with 17 assists that night. We are all bucketed up in different ways — coaches, players, whatever. It is a little bit harsh to bookmark everybody."
The Wizards are currently the 5-seed in the East and have twice beaten the Sixers this season. The Sixers are 18-57, having dropped three games in a row.