Top 5 Sixers Performances Last Season

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Yesterday, I broke down the worst 5 individual efforts from Sixers players during the 2014-15 season. Today, I’m going to be the Zelda to that Zoe and go over the 5 best performances from the campaign. After all, even in defeat, there were a fair amount of good times to be had, or we fans wouldn’t have stuck around for 82 games. As a reminder, I’m using Basketball-Reference’s Game Score statistic to separate the cream of the crop. Without further ado, let’s make like Chris Rock and run down the top 5:

5) Michael Carter-Williams (12/6/14 @ Detroit) – 8-12 FG, 4-5 FT, 8 RBS, 15 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK, 7 TOV, 3 PF, 20 PTS

In one of his more efficient scoring efforts as a Sixer, MCW didn’t attempt a three, but instead attacked the basket to help the Sixers stick it to Stan Van Gundy with a W. Carter-Williams did have his usual turnover difficulties, but also just missed his career-high of 16 assists set a week prior against Dallas. If this version of MCW was more the norm than the exception, he might still be in a Sixers uniform.

4) Robert Covington (4/8/15 vs. Washington) – 8-11 FG, 4-6 3PT, 7-8 FT, 3 RBS, 1 AST, 2 STL, 1 TOV, 1 PF, 27 PTS

The Sixers’ best find of the 2014-15 season was the team’s biggest threat from the perimeter, but this game was about Covington showing off more than his outside shot. As the season progressed, RoCo continued to shape his game beyond being more than just a spot-up shooter, and his 8 free throw attempts here show off his expanded game. Covington looks to have a long NBA career ahead of him based on his three-point shooting alone, but whether he continues to develop his off-the-bounce game will determine whether he can be more than an off-the-bench, role player type.

3) Nerlens Noel (3/27/15 vs. Clippers) – 12-17 FG, 6-8 FT, 14 RBS, 2 AST, 2 STL, 4 TOV, 3 PF, 30 PTS

Ironically, Noel’s second-best performance of the year came in a game in which he didn’t record a block. The Sixers were blown out by LA, but it was through no fault of Nerlens, who put up the first 30-point, 14-rebound game by a Sixer since Elton Brand in 2001 (looking down the list, it was a feat Barkley made look absolutely routine, which is incredible). So much of the excitement around Noel’s outstanding rookie year stemmed from his work on the defensive end, but games like this one also provided hope for the former Kentucky Wildcat to eventually be a two-way force at the pro level.

2) Isaiah Canaan (3/4/15 @ Oklahoma City) – 10-16 FG, 8-13 3PT, 3-3 FT, 7 RBS, 6 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV, 1 PF, 31 PTS

Canaan-ball! As much as it hurt for fan favorite K.J. McDaniels to be shipped out of town, for a while, Canaan was a breath of fresh air for a Sixers roster largely devoid of outside shooting. This night in Oklahoma was the high point, as he and J-Rich combined to force overtime in the face of a superhuman Russell Westbrook performance. It was only the 4th time in Sixers history that a player hit at least 8 threes in a game, and the first time since The Answer went off on Toronto in the 2001 playoffs. Unfortunately, over time, Canaan looked to be a one-trick pony, unable to beat defenders off the dribble or adequately defend. For one night though, Canaan was king.

1) Nerlens Noel (3/20/15 vs. New York) – 9-14 FG, 5-7 FT, 14 RBS, 1 AST, 5 STL, 3 BLK, 1 TOV, 2 PF, 23 PTS

Man, Noel sure had a great month of March. Once again channeling his inner Chuckwagon, Noel joined Barkley as the only 2 Sixers to reach at least the above thresholds for points, rebounds, steals, and blocks in a game. This performance in a win over the Knicks was more representative of the two-way impact Nerlens made on a fairly regular basis. It is a prime example of the possibility for Noel to eventually record a rare 5×5 game (at least 5 each of points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks), an achievement only reached by 8 different players in NBA history. The young Sixers big man has shown the tools in each of those areas at one time or another; it should be fun to watch Noel continue to reach his potential.