Brett Brown’s end-of-the-game strategy is no secret these days. His closer, Nerlens Noel, is going to get the ball with the game on the line.
The only question is where and when.
Three times in Monday night’s hard-luck 113-111 overtime loss at the Wells Fargo Center, Brown called on Noel to win it for the Sixers and for the most part he delivered.
It was Noel who gave the Sixers a two-point lead with a pair of free throws with 17.6 seconds left in regulation and again it was Noel who found point guard Ish Smith streaking to the basket for the potential game-winner at the buzzer in the fourth quarter.
Then there was the lefty four-footer with 12.9 seconds left in overtime that knotted the game at 111. That’s three big chances in the closing seconds of the game and the rookie responded with three plays that could have given his team a chance to win.
“I take pride in that,” Noel said of his ability to make a play in the clutch. “When I get the ball like that I want to put my team in a position to win the game. I also think I have to be more efficient and hit more shots.”
NBA
Instead, Noel and the Sixers left a little too much time on the clock.
Jordan Clarkson snuck backdoor for a pass from former Episcopal Academy star Wayne Ellington for the game-winner with less than a second remaining in the game to cap off a big night for the duo (see Instant Replay).
Clarkson led all scorers with 26 points while Ellington poured in 20 and Jabari Brown came off the bench for 22 to lead the Lakers. But it was the backdoor bucket that erased another big night from Noel (19 points, 14 rebounds and four assists).
“We got beat backdoor,” Brown said. “It was a bit of a scramble situation.”
A cynic might say that Brown and the Sixers had it both ways on Monday night. Noel had another solid performance and showed he was not afraid of the big moment. At the same time, the Sixers lost to fall to 18-57 and remain three games ahead of the Lakers (20-53) for the third-worst record in the NBA.
After all, it’s the ping-pong balls that matter most to the team’s front office this time of year.
Brown, obviously, isn’t one of those cynics and says losses like the one the Sixers took on Monday night bother players like Noel.
“You keep answering the question and answering the question and all you can say is just look at the effort,” Brown said about the loss that kept the Sixers safely ahead of the Lakers in the battle for futility. “I don’t have much more to say.”
More importantly, Brown and the Sixers may have identified a bona fide building block in Noel that they did not believe they had in reigning Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams.
Yes, Noel likely will be asked to expand his defensive duties when center Joel Embiid is finally cleared to play, but Brown says the confidence his rookie is building during the waning days of the season is very valuable.
Just think, Noel very well could be a red-shirt sophomore playing for the University of Kentucky these days instead of trying to will the Sixers to another worthless win.
“He wants the ball,” Brown said. “I’m at a stage where I have confidence that he’s going to step up and not be intimidated by the moment. He’s not afraid of shooting a free throw. I think it’s a reflection of his growth, which has allowed me to have the confidence that I have in him.”
Noel wasn’t the only standout for the Sixers. Isaiah Canaan came off the bench to score 18 points and starting point guard Smith scored 17 points and did not commit a turnover.
Next, the Sixers head to Washington to take on the playoff-bound Wizards on Wednesday night. This weekend the Sixers have their final back-to-back of the season when they travel to Charlotte on Saturday and face the lowly Knicks on Sunday.