Brown: Sixers ‘naked,' unprepared without injured shooters

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The Sixers have already been hit hard by the injury bug.

Last year's leading scorer, Robert Covington, is still dealing with a knee sprain and bruise that will keep him out of Friday's home opener against the Utah Jazz.

Newly acquired guard Nik Stauskas dealt with a stress reaction in his tibia during the preseason, and was then scratched from the season opener Wednesday with back spasms.

Factor in veteran point guards Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall both coming off ACL injuries and that's three projected starters missing from the lineup.

Even some of the players that were available against the Celtics Wednesday missed time during the preseason, including big men Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. Brown attributed the Sixers' 24 turnovers and meager assists total of 12 to a lack of continuity.

"I felt naked, I didn't feel prepared at all," Brown said. "I felt as less prepared as I've ever felt coaching an opening game because I didn't have the opportunity to coach our guys to where you have some rhythm to what you're doing offensively.

"I felt a little bit like when we make massive trades after All-Star deadline and you just get two or three new people and you don't really have much to go to."

A thin bench doesn't help the healthy players, either. Brown essentially used seven players with rookies Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood both playing under 10 minutes. It was a big jump in minutes for most of the regulars.

Despite the injuries and erratic play on the offensive side, Brown liked what he saw out of Okafor and Noel. Getting some quality players back healthy will only help the growth of the two young big men.

"I didn't sleep long, but I slept last night because you feel comfort in that I can see what can be," Brown said. "You really can see what can be on a few fronts. First, [Okafor is] good. Second, he and Nerlens can coexist. And I think life's gonna be even simpler when we start getting Covington back that can shoot, and Stauskas back that can shoot."

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