Nerlens Noel looked genuinely sad on Tuesday after practice.
It was an understandable mood for the Sixers’ big man. After, all it had been a tough 24 hours.
Noel made his NBA debut in his hometown of Boston on Monday night during the Sixers’ preseason opener. It didn’t go well for Noel or the team, as the Sixers suffered a 98-78 loss.
Noel struggled offensively, shooting 2 for 9 from the floor to finish with four points. He also grabbed six rebounds, committed four turnovers and blocked one shot before fouling out in 27 minutes.
"I just have to learn the game the way the NBA plays," Noel said. "I watched all last season, but now that I am in it I have to adjust to the physicality and get back to the principles I need to play with."
Noel will have a chance to be more effective on Wednesday night when the Sixers host the Charlotte Hornets … if he listens to Brett Brown’s advice.
"He just needs to be a committed runner rim to rim," Brown said. "Missed shots, he should be taking off. He is a deer. We are always encouraging that he is as commanding as he can at the defensive rebound, but it is such a wide menu of things that he is being hit with. We are trying to shrink it into small things and nurse him through as we move forward."
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Noel is learning on the job. One day soon things will become second nature for the 20-year-old, but right now the rookie does a lot of thinking.
"I have to keep in mind, whether it is Henry [Sims] or me, whoever doesn't get the rebound runs for the rim and gets deep post position," Noel said. "Coach Brown emphasizes that and we are going to continue to improve on it."
Noel has played very little basketball the past two years after suffering a torn ACL in his lone season at Kentucky. Growing pains are a reality, but Noel possesses a characteristic that makes the mistakes easier for his coach to watch.
"He is so prideful [as a person.] He was hurt yesterday," Brown said. "He wanted to play well and didn't think he did. The reality for me, looking at him, is that he cares. He genuinely cares. That in itself is a wonderful sign."