76ers settle in as NBA Global Games hits Manchester

Philadelphia 76ers were first on court practising on Monday afternoon in Manchester’s Phones4u Arena ahead othe NBA Global Games pre-season fixture against the biggest challengers to Miami Heat’s crown, Oklahoma City Thunder.

Head coach for the Sixers, Brett Brown, was also in charge of the Australian Olympic side that knocked out Team GB last year at London 2012. He has fond memories and is looking to the reception for everyone involved in the game: “It’s good coming back no matter what team you’re coming with; how can you not enjoy coming to this part of the world? Good people, very reminiscent from my Aussie days – there are a lot of similarities, and to take my group and travel Europe and experience Spain and come to Manchester; it is a great opportunity for all of us.”

New rookie guard, Michael Carter-Williams, who signed alongside Nerlens Noel, hopes that with the arrival of the NBA in Manchester, as the league hosts its first ever game outside of London, that it will reach out further to British fans of the game: “As soon as people get to see us live and play basketball, hopefully it builds a fan base.”

Spencer Hawes sees this as a chance to broaden the horizons of some of his team-mates and allows for the young side to gel more in a close-knit environment: “Obviously having the opportunity to come over here, you lose a couple of days of practice and adjusting to everything, not just basketball -wise, but we’ve handled it pretty well.

“Going back with camaraderie long term, it’s definitely good for us,” the 7ft 1in center went on to say, “the non-basketball stuff, it gives guys a different perspective it’s a lot of new experiences if it weren’t for this, the guys wouldn’t have.”

Trying to analyse what is to come for the Sixers over the forthcoming season, there is a general feeling that this year will see them struggle to make the playoffs which such an inexperienced side, and after coming through and scraping a 106-104 victory against Bilbao on the Spanish leg of this Global Games tour, team-building is high on the agenda.

Carter-Williams will be hoping for the more experienced players on the roster to lend a hand to those, like himself, and get a feel for the NBA: “I just hope by the end of the year we get to build an identity, figure out each other’s games and come together as a team.

Coach Brown thinks that in time, a bond will come, but this trip has already allowed for that to happen: “It’s inevitable when we’re travelling on buses, the hotels, team dinner tables, pre-season meals and first few games, you start sitting next to someone and start talking a little bit more; things just sort of add up. I do see signs that those things are for real and they are part of chemistry and creating development.”

Speaking of Sunday night’s result, Hawes was relieved but knows there is more to come from the Sixers: “It was closer than we would have liked, but at the end of the day, I think having so many new pieces and so much in such a short period of time trying to get everyone together; we’ll take it.

“There’s a lot of guys fighting just to get on the roster – competition always brings out the best in everybody so tomorrow night is a continuation of that.”