Why didn't centers Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor share time on the floor together Wednesday in the season-opening 103-97 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder?
That was a hot topic for 76ers coach Brett Brown during practice Thursday at the team's facility in Camden.
"It's not intelligent to play them together now when you only have X amount of minutes with both of them," Brown said.
The Sixers played Embiid for just 22 minutes, 25 seconds as a way to bring him along slowly after missing the previous two seasons following foot surgeries. Meanwhile, Okafor played just 15:42 while overcoming a sore right knee. He had surgery in March to repair a meniscus tear in his knee that cost him the final 23 games of last season.
However, Embiid and Okafor are eager to play together in what would be the Sixers' latest version of the Twin Towers.
"I think they understand that I, too, want to play those two guys together," Brown said. "I can't wait to play those two guys together. But when somebody gives you the frugal budget that I've been given, it's just not smart to spend all of your money now."
That would leave third-string center Richaun Holmes left to play the majority of the minutes. Once their minutes increase, the Sixers will experiment with the Twin Towers.
