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76ers writer for the Daily News, Bob Cooney, reported earlier today that Nerlens Noel is unlikely to play at all this season.
Again: Brett brown said he and everybody else doubts Noel will play this year
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) October 21, 2013
Brown said it wasn’t the original plan to sit Noel all season. It’s not official, but plan is for rookie to sit all year.
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) October 21, 2013
Brown on Noel: I like the fact that he is with us every single day, in every single way.”
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) October 21, 2013
Brown on Noel: “we don’t want to waste this year. We want to work (on a lot if things). We’re starting from ground zero.
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) October 21, 2013
I realize that this is not the greatest news that 76ers fans could have heard this evening, but you can look at it in two different ways.
Here is one way you can look at it (positively, best case scenario): Without Noel playing this season, the tanking for Wiggins campaign is now looking even better for the 76ers. He also has one more year of preparation for the NBA, so he can work on conditioning, and build more strength than he had before.
There is also the other way too look at it (negatively, worst case scenario): Noel will miss an entire season, and will gain a lot of weight (fat weight, not muscle weight), just like Andrew Bynum did. Also, Michael Carter-Williams will have one less target to his this season, hence his confidence will be lowered for next season. The entire 76ers rebuilding process will be thrown out of whack.
I feel like both of these approaches seem fair. I mean, your 5th overall pick in the draft missing his entire rookie season is never a good thing, but there are a few positive things that come out of it. This is all about your personality. I, being the negative person that I am, am looking at this negatively. After what the 76ers and their fans went through with Andrew Bynum, I, and a lot of other 76ers fans are paranoid. I just think that if Nerlens Noel spends his time off wisely by exercising and getting nice and fit for next season, then this could be a good thing. Conditioning is key. There is always the possibility that he will be like Andrew Bynum though, and go bowling and dancing, and gain a lot of weight over his season off. Let’s hope that Noel will not turn out like Andrew Bynum, but all we can do right now is hope that he won’t.
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