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Noel: Compliment to Ish Smith wasn't meant as a shot at MCW

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Nerlens Noel meant no disrespect toward former teammate Michael Carter-Williams on Monday when he called Ish Smith the first true point guard he's ever played with.

Carter-Williams, the 2014 Rookie of the Year, was the Philadelphia 76ers' starting point guard until getting shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal at the trade deadline. Isaiah Canaan initially took over the reins at point following the transaction, but Smith has assumed the responsibility for each of the team's last nine games.

Noel, a 2014 first-rounder who missed the entirety of last season following knee surgery, has had an opportunity to play with all three during his rookie campaign. He insists his endorsement of Smith was not a disguised way to trash Carter-Williams.

"Nah, I'd never do that," Noel said, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "He's a playmaker. There are times when you need a scoring point guard that's going to get in the lane, create and make scoring opportunities.

"That's just the way the NBA is when you are that big (6-foot-6). It's good that you utilize your length and your ability to get to the basket. I would never take a shot at him."

Noel added that Smith is a different type of point guard from Carter-Williams due to the former's pass-first nature. 

Carter-Williams averaged more shots per game this season than any teammate during his 41-game run with the 76ers, despite nailing only 38 percent of those attempts. His conversion rate hasn't gotten any better with the Bucks, either, as his 38.3-percent mark from the field on the season ranks second-to-last among 115 qualified players. 

The samples aren't incredibly large and various factors could skew the numbers, but Noel has played his best basketball since Carter-Williams left town. These numbers reflect his production over periods of time when each guard has been the starter, not his actual on-court stats solely based on minutes he's played alongside them.

Combo PPG FGA REB ORtg USG%
Noel w/MCW 8.1 7.8 7.2 80 15.8
Noel w/Canaan 12.7 10.1 10.2 99 18.7
Noel w/Smith 15.8 11.9 11.0 114 21.3

Noel has clearly made strides, regardless of how much of that depends on who's running the point. He leads all rookies in double-doubles, as well as rebounding, blocks and steals per game, while ranking fourth in scoring. 

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