Thoughts on the NBA’s Newest Defensive Clout

Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers from the Kentucky Wildcats, rookie Nerlens Noel brings the same defensive intensity that got him picked up by the big boy league.

Many recent news stories regarding the Philadelphia 76ers have been mostly negative. Starting the season with seventeen consecutive losses and having injured 1st-round pick, Joel Embiid, the 76ers are having one of their worst seasons in franchise history. However, there is a silver lining during this tanking and rebuilding phase. Nerlens Noel is averaging 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game as a rookie starter for the struggling 76ers.

Noel, a defensive juggernaut, is emerging as one of the league’s best rim protectors. Listed at 6’ 11” and 228 lbs., he is lightweight for a center. But his wiry frame, combined with raw strength and high-ranging mobility, allows the Noel to be nimble and quick. Heavy-weighted centers have a tendency towards slower speed and restricted agility. This is not the case with Noel. He hustles down the court during the fast break and poses a threat, instead of an easy bucket.

With those two steps, he just bought real estate in the paint. There is no denying the athletic ability Noel possesses. The raw talent is there, but needs to be molded and shaped with the help of the team’s coaching staff and offseason training. He does not have a great post up game and struggles with mid-range shots, but this can easily be cultivated in forthcoming years. A good way to bolster his offensive ability would be to get a specialized coach, similar to Dwight Howard working with legendary Hakeem Olajuwon to improve Howard’s footwork and post moves.

His field goal percentage is approximately 44%, excluding him from the company of elite big men. As was mentioned before, this number could be obsolete in a year’s time, if the center is willing to improve his jump shot. In diagram above, Noel shows a lackluster offensive arsenal. Most of his buckets are in the paint. This is due to the fact that he stays in the there to grab boards, box out for others to get rebounds, and because other variables keep him leashed to the low post and elbows. However, if Noel wants to become a beast on both ends of the court, he and Coach Brett Brown must be willing to flesh Noel out to the short corner and below the three point arch. Besides his inside game, the only portion on the floor that Noel is successful in is right above the charity strip. This offensive efficiency is most likely attributed by the correlation with Noel’s 61% free throw percentage.

The NBA is evolving and centers are not only responsible for rebounds, picks, and points within the paint. Players like Al Horford, Anthony Davis, and Marc Gasol utilize their silky jump shot, immensely padding their personal statistics and leading their teams to victory.

Noel is an incredible specimen who has the tools to become a top tier two-way player if he augments his defense and immensely improves on his offense.

Although it is too early to speculate on the rookie’s career, Noel looks like a hybrid between David Robinson and Ben Wallace. I know it is a little ballsy to include two legendary all-stars in the same sentence as a rookie who has yet to prove himself, but the potential is there. Noel is a top candidate for Rookie of the Year, but will probably be triumphed by NBA’s number one pick in the draft: Andrew Wiggins. This should not be a problem in the long run for Noel as long as he continues to grow. He will surely become a dominant defensive paradigm in the league and an offensive threat, if he improves on his mid-range shot.

The defensive powerhouse, as of now, has found his comfort zone in the low post, prowling and surveying the paint to find his next victim to put on Sports Center.

Image Source: Associated Press, Vorped.com, The National Basketball Association