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NBA Awards Watch: Good Morning, Look At The Rise Of Our Rookies

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Jan 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) passes the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) passes the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 26, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Nerlens Noel – Philadelphia 76ers/PF

Last Week: No. 3

Being a rookie center is a tough job. The center’s responsibility is to bang with the other big bodies in the paint, to stay in front of them, and to jump over them to grab rebounds. If that was a job description of a center, then the most essential skill necessary for the job is strength, and right now that’s what the Philadelphia 76ers center, Nerlens Noel, lacks.

It takes some time to gain strength to have the mass and size to play against center’s such as Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas, Memphis’ Marc Gasol, and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, as Noel had to do this week. In each of the games Noel’s production dropped.

Noel had a great game against the Raptors finishing with 12 points, 14 rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Then against Gasol he finished with seven points, six rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot. To cap off the week he had two points, five rebounds, two assist, and two blocks against the Pelicans.

Thankfully the week wasn’t lost as Noel had a road win against the Detroit Pistons where he finished with five points, four rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocked shots.

Next: 4. Dante Exum