Jahlil Okafor scored 21 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, but it was a 48-minute struggle for the rookie and his Philadelphia 76ers teammates against the big Chicago Bulls. Nikola Mirotic scored 20 points to lead Chicago, who sailed to an 111-88 win.
The result wasn’t unexpected. Once Brett Brown announced that Nerlens Noel would miss the game, this one was pretty much over. The Sixers were without way far too many players that they are counting on to stay competitive, especially a promising young defender in Noel. Here’s what I saw:
• How shorthanded were the Sixers? Let’s just say I didn’t expect to see a Pressey-Canaan-Thompson-Holmes-Wood five-man unit to log much tick before the season started (or even when Pressey was signed).
• Okafor undoubtedly struggled with the 7-foot-4 wingspan of Pau Gasol in the first half, but he also just missed some chippies en route to starting 2-12 from the floor. The second half was much better as the rook really hit the boards hard, but he took his bumps and bruises while being thrown to the wolves. Okafor took 25 shots and went 3-8 from the line for his 21 points. Until reinforcements arrive, look for the Sixers to continue to jam the ball into him down low.
• One qualm with Okafor that we also saw in the preseason/summer league: He consistently doesn’t do a good job establishing deep post position, not yet anyway.
• Pressed into the starting lineup, it was a learning experience for rookie second-round Richaun Holmes. Chasing a stretch-4 on the perimeter like Mirotic is a tough ask for Holmes, who fell for a couple of pump fakes and committed a few fouls. Holmes does do some impressive stuff, though: 11 points (4-9 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, and an assist.
• Nik Stauskas is essentially this current roster’s best perimeter scorer, so some of his shots are pretty tough. Still, Sauce Castillo hasn’t found the range from three-point distance season. After a 1-7 effort from behind the line, his three-point percentage is all the way down to 29 percent on the season.
• T.J. McConnell’s passing continues to be a bright spot. Tonight, the undrafted rookie had eight assists to only two turnovers.
Up next
The homestand continues on Wednesday night against the favorites in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Raptors (5-2). Philadelphia native and Villanova product Kyle Lowry shed some pounds in the offseason (earning the nickname “Skinny Kyle Lowry”) and has started off the season strong for the Raps. Tip is around 7:10 p.m. in South Philly.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann