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The 2014 NBA Draft was one of the most highly-hyped in
recent memory. By all accounts, the draft contained tons of talent, and it is
expected to provide the NBA with at least a few future all-stars.
It is difficult to evaluate a draft class prior to the start
of the inaugural season, but if the Summer League showings over the past couple
weeks were any indication, that hype was not misplaced. The incoming rookie
class is stock full of talented young players popping with potential, some of
whom may have immediate impact.
There’s the high-flying Andrew Wiggins, who already appears
to be a tightened-handle away from being a legitimate offensive option. There’s
sharp-shooting Doug McDermott, who has already begun to ease fears about his
transition from college to professional play. Jabari Parker was solid, if not
spectacular throughout his summer league stint, displaying the skill set that
made him such a promising prospect.
As expected, T.J. Warren showed that he could be a scoring
machine for the Suns, and Orlando lottery pick-via Philadelphia, Elfrid Payton
showed strong signs of versatility as a guard.
Image from cnsphilly.com |
Still though, the most impressive, and potentially promising
performance from a rookie thus far this summer came not from a selection of the
vaunted 2014 Draft, but rather a player picked in the comparatively paltry 2013
Draft class.
For a guy that has been pining to play since 4-4-14, and likely
long before then, the Summer League showcase couldn’t have gone much better for
Nerlens Noel.
Yes there were a couple concerns about injury issues—a brief
scare with an ankle injury, and some speculation about his sitting on the
sideline for full games, which the team assured was just a cautionary measure—but
such concern is commonplace for a guy coming off such a serious surgery. Until
Noel can demonstrate over the course of a season(s) that he can stay out on the
court, every time he lands wrong or looks to be limping, the Philadelphia
faithful will hold its collective breath.
Injuries aside however, Noel’s play was promising, and he displayed
the immediate impact he could have on the Philadelphia franchise. Touted as a
high-energy paint-protector, Noel demonstrated those skills exactly, blocking
every ball he could get his hands on, and serving as a defensive deterrent on
many other opportunities, often forcing an incoming offensive player to alter
his approach. His 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game this summer were solid
statistics, and they will only be improved upon once he gets back to game-shape
and becomes more accustomed to NBA play.
With all the big names dominating the Summer League stage,
Noel came away not only looking like the player that will have the most
immediate on-court impact, but also as a realistic Rookie of the Year
candidate.
Noel finished Summer League in the top spot of NBA.com’s
Rookie Ladder, and his performance also landed him in the top spot of their
Rookie pre-season top 10 (read: Rookie of the Year rankings).
It wasn’t just his paint protection that was impressive
about Noel in Vegas and Orlando, but also his ability to defend and pressure
players all the way out to the perimeter. His foot speed and athleticism allow
him to defend players on the perimeter in a manner not typical for someone of
his stature. He is also adept at defending the pick-and-roll, an increasingly
important skill in today’s spread-the-floor NBA. Several times throughout the
Summer Leagues Noel was able to not only defend, but defeat the pick-and-roll,
securing a steal and igniting a fast break for his team. He recently discussed
this aspect of his game with ESPN.
“I like to get out on pick-and-rolls,” he told the Worldwide
leader. “If the point guard tries to spilt the screen, I think I’m very capable
of picking his pocket. I think it gets us on the fast break, gets us going, and
creates a lot of opportunities for a team like us that really strives for a
high pace.”
Andrew Wiggins has the potential to be an excellent
lock-down defender, but based off of Summer League, it certainly seems that
Noel will have the greatest, and most immediate impact on the defensive end out
of all those debuting this upcoming season. Considering the import of defense,
and the comparative rarity with which dominant defenders are drafted, Noel
projects to be a pretty impactful player.
Sitting out the entirety of last season was a struggle for
Noel, who was admittingly, and understandably, itching to play. There was a
silver lining to his sidelined season however, and that lining could be seen on
the offensive end throughout the Summer Leagues. While far from dominant, Noel
looked much improved offensively. Along with his ability to create second
chances, Noel displayed a developing drop step, expanded range, potential as a
passer, and maybe most importantly, consistency from the foul line.
Sixers coaches, namely Greg Foster, worked with Noel
throughout last season to expand his offensive arsenal, and the work is clearly
paying off. Everyone expected Noel to be a force defensively, but if he can
average a consistent and efficient sixteen points per, he could become
downright dangerous.
Find the rest of the article here.
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