Carter-Williams gets point, but Brown wants more

Brett Brown likes what he sees from Sixers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams.

With six assists and no turnovers in Friday night’s 97-85 victory over the Celtics at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center, Carter-Williams has accumulated 16 assists and just one turnover through his first three NBA preseason games.

That’s quite an improvement from the Orlando Pro Summer League in July, when Carter-Williams led all players with 4.8 turnovers, including games of eight and nine.

“I thought he was exceptional,” said Brown after Friday’s contest. “Each game I see him, he does something that gets you even more excited.”

Perhaps most impressive was that he slender Carter-Williams handled the pressure of Celtics physical defender Avery Bradley well.

But Brown believes Carter-Williams, the 11th pick in June’s draft, can more aggressively push the ball up the court.

“I actually think we can play faster and he can play faster,” Brown said. “I think we can get it out of the net on makes better. I really feel that's where we want to place a lot of our focus.”

Playing at a more rapid pace typically results in more turnovers, so it’s possible Carter-Williams will commit more if he does what Brown wants. But given a roster short on low-post scoring threats or quality perimeter shooters, going at a fast pace and avoiding the half-court offense is almost a necessity.

“We’re trying to play a fast tempo and go as fast as we can,” Carter-Williams said. “That’s how we’re going to win some games.”

Brown has used the same starting unit — Carter-Williams, free agent James Anderson, Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes — in all three games and the unit appears to be growing more comfortable and familiar with each other.